Topic: 100th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme

[72 yellow]

Saw a story on BBC World news today.  57,000 British casualties in one day.  Read letter from Captain Harry Cromie to his sweetheart. 

[demon78]

It destroyed the cream of Newfoundland youth that day and set Newf's back decades, out of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment's action only 68 could make it to roll call the next day.
Bill the demon.

[simon#42]

yes 90% of the newfoundland regiment was lost the first day or to put it in perspective one in five of the male population
lost in a day . in total 1.3 million men died there , what a terrible waste .

[eigenvector]

Not to take away from the anniversary, but I just got done reading a examination of the Gallipoli campaign.  At least the battles on the Western Front served a purpose.

[demon78]

Agreed still to destroy a small country means that some should be held accountable.
Bill the demon.

[74cb750]

I bemoan the numbers of dead in the Somme as much as those dying today of starvation and wars.

As Edwin Starr sang,
("War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'!")

I am NOT saying I am against the US military, or other nations rights to Defend themselves. I am agreeing with the lyrics of the song.
 None of my immediate relatives (Back to 1637 A.D.) have ever been in uniform,
(that I could find)  & I am just as proud of that as those whom have the opposite; ie, generations of military tradition  in their family. Most of my family have been in healing services.

What I object mostly to are the facts that most wars are fought for financial reasons, not Peace, Justice and the American Way.



peace,
michel