[Munki Bhoy]

No, it means its been a good while since it did happen. And hopefully will never happen again.

[MK Chris]

As long as people don't forget the people involved and the lives lost, that's all that matters.

[Yudster]

No, it means its been a good while since it did happen. And hopefully will never happen again.

The only thing that might stop it happening again is to keep it firmly in people's minds - and once memory, direct memory, is lost from that, and all you have is books and film, that becomes increasingly difficult. It turns it into a story rather than a reality. That's where the danger lies.

[Ed Pummelon]

All of which is, sadly, inevitable.

[Munki Bhoy]

No, it means its been a good while since it did happen. And hopefully will never happen again.

The only thing that might stop it happening again is to keep it firmly in people's minds - and once memory, direct memory, is lost from that, and all you have is books and film, that becomes increasingly difficult. It turns it into a story rather than a reality. That's where the danger lies.

Yes, I know, but when the alternative is "oh shit, they've all died, we'd better have another world war to keep it in living memory" I know which one I'm opting for.

Anyway, WWII came within living memory of WWI, so this living memory stuff is bollocks.

[S4B]

Fantastic book!

[foot-loose]

...and it's available NOW from Waterstones for only £5.59!

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesw ... ku=6558974

[S4B]

Foots I love you!

Were you proud of me for not advertising? It was really hard not to

[jocky85]

I love it when my post is completely overlooked

[S4B]

Was that the one about Frank McCourt? I probably ignored it cos although I kind of enjoyed the book it was a generally miserable story. Sorry Jocky no "oh Noes" from me!

[MK Chris]

I hate it when it's called 'The Great War' - it really wasn't. No war was or is.

[Yudster]

Anyway, WWII came within living memory of WWI, so this living memory stuff is bollocks.

The causes of WW1 and WW2 couldn't have been more different though.The "memory stuff" surely is about being aware of circumstances which lead to those kinds of conflicts - understanding what caused WW1 wouldn't really have impacted much on the circumstances which led to WW2. But actually, the more I think about it the less convinced I am about the whole thing. Iraq and Afghanistan aren't exactly supporting my case are they?

[Console]

I hate it when it's called 'The Great War' - it really wasn't. No war was or is.

I think it's fair to call it a Great War - it was certainly the greatest of it's time, even if we've had greater ones since.

[Yudster]

I hate it when it's called 'The Great War' - it really wasn't. No war was or is.

Depoends whether you are using the actual or the colloquial meaning of the word "great". It doesn't mean "good" in any way shape or form - it means "* BIG".

[Munki Bhoy]

Anyway, WWII came within living memory of WWI, so this living memory stuff is bollocks.

The causes of WW1 and WW2 couldn't have been more different though.The "memory stuff" surely is about being aware of circumstances which lead to those kinds of conflicts - understanding what caused WW1 wouldn't really have impacted much on the circumstances which led to WW2. But actually, the more I think about it the less convinced I am about the whole thing. Iraq and Afghanistan aren't exactly supporting my case are they?

In which case it doesn't matter if WWI and WWII are in living memory or not because it's quite conceivable that WWIII could be something completely different as well.

[Yudster]

Hence the last 2 sentences of my post!

[MK Chris]

Add the last Tommy, Harry Patch to Henry Allingham. Oh no.

[Yudster]

I just read that. Harry Patch was the last British WW1 veteran still living, died aged 111.

[MK Chris]

Not according to the BBC:

The only British survivor of World War I is now Claude Choules, who is aged 108 and lives in Perth, Australia.

[bradcali]

Harry Patch was the last soldier who saw active service to die.Claude Scholes was in the navy

[Boboff]

We met Harry last year when I went to Bodmin DCLI annual Fete thing, he signed his book for the kids, he was lovely. Spoke like a * Darlek chewing on Molasses, but hey!

[Ed Pummelon]

It's just been announced that Bobby Robson's died. Oh no.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8169351.stm

[Ed Pummelon]

Wrong URL in previous post - correct one is http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8177945.stm

[Yudster]

They just had that England-Germany match for him didn't they? He looked ever so rough at that. He'll be missed.

Oh no!

[bradcali]

thats a real big 'oh no'. He seemed like a really nice man as well as a legendary player/manager.A lot of people will be crying today