The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #156062 Message #3678335
Posted By: GUEST,18 Nov 14 - 11:17 AM.
19-Nov-14 - 09:22 AM
Thread Name: Oh! What a Lovely War! - BBC Radio 2
Subject: RE: Oh! What a Lovely War! - BBC Radio 2
GUEST - 18 Nov 14 - 11:17 AM.
Terebus: "I would recommend that you go to Youtube and watch the 1964 BBC Documentary Series "The Great War". Watch it from start to finish and you can hear the recollections of the men who served and lived through it."
I watched it when it was first broadcast, sitting with my grandfather who served in the ranks for the whole war. His perception - I have no idea if it was formed at the time or if he was influenced by later reading - was one of generals well behind the front, on both sides, playing a game of chess, each piece representing 10s of thousands of men. It was expressed with despair. His emotion whilst watching was an embarassment for a young person.
He thought the leadership was better in WW2. From what I read and hear it is vastly better now. It seems to be a trend - even by WW1 the "no great mischief if they fall" attitude (look it up) seems to have gone.
back to your books guys