Not a lot to disagree with there Grishka. Where you say we should not judge their morality, I see no disagreement in this thread. There are those however who see cold reflection and judging of the situation by today's standards as judging the prevailing morality of those who fought. If you read some posts, and in particular those of Keith A of Hertford, questioning the cause or questioning the methods of war is pounced upon as being disrespectful.

And that is sad.

The war memorials are a mixture of commemoration of those who fell, especially when people reading the names could still put faces to them, and reminding us of sacrifice in order to have the peace afterwards.

Nowadays they also serve as sentinels to the worst methods of resolving political failures. War occurs when humanity fails. Every death is ultimately futile on the basis that they shouldn't have been in that situation in the first place.

The first world war especially. Im not anti monarchist as such, but a pissing contest between cousins with empires as gambling tokens. ..... weak politicians caused that war. Stumbled into it.

Futile.

Unnecessary.

A stain on what we were calling civilisation.