For me, trying to imagine the world's armies throwing down their arms to prevent war is almost like imagining the world's drivers giving up their cars to save oil.

And even if it were to happen, there'd be no shortage of civilians eager to fill in.

Many socialists thought the First World War was impossible because the enlightened workers of Europe would never take up arms against each other.

In fact, so many millions were eager to do so that the UK didn't even need conscription till 1916.