Armistice Day

[Biggles]

92 years ago on this very day, the guns went silent on the Western front, at exactly 11:00. Up until then, men still fought and died along the entire front.

One of the most senseless wars in the history of human kind was about to end. Let us remember those who died, and those who survived.

http://classicalgreg.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/inflandersfields.jpg
http://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2009/12/German-soldiers-at-Verdun.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Trincheiras_La_Lys.jpg/511px-Trincheiras_La_Lys.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R05148%2C_Westfront%2C_deutscher_Soldat.jpg/793px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R05148%2C_Westfront%2C_deutscher_Soldat.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/British_infantry_advancing_at_Loos_25_September_19 15.jpg/800px-British_infantry_advancing_at_Loos_25_September_19 15.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/British_55th_Division_gas_casualties_10_April_1918 .jpg/800px-British_55th_Division_gas_casualties_10_April_1918 .jpg
Poor sods...I still wonder if they died in vain or not...

[Herr-Berbunch]

Even with conflict still occurring around the world I find pictures from the war to end all wars shocking and moving.

[Buddahaid]

The Lost Generation

[Sledgehammer427]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R05148%2C_Westfront%2C_deutscher_Soldat.jpg/793px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R05148%2C_Westfront%2C_deutscher_Soldat.jpg


This picture is very moving to me. That guy looks like a kid not much older than I am. I'm 19. I've had an interest in warfare all my life and this picture...well, it puts it all in a different perspective. Ever have one of those moments you could go back in time and just have a conversation with someone? This is mine.

[Rilder]

Much love and respect to all soldiers, past, present and future... Soldiers of all nations across the world.. who fought and died in service of their country.

[Penguin]

This picture is very moving to me. That guy looks like a kid not much older than I am. I'm 19. I've had an interest in warfare all my life and this picture...well, it puts it all in a different perspective. Ever have one of those moments you could go back in time and just have a conversation with someone? This is mine.

I agree, a very touching picture, haven't seen this particular one yet. If the caption of the picture is correct this poor sod had still 2 more years to survive.
This is a photo that you cannot stage, a very good example of the 1000-mile-stare. The people who suffered from PTSD were called "Kriegszitterer" (war shudderers) in Germany after WW1. As there was no medical or psychological treatment at this time, they were put into an asylum if the symptoms were too stong.
There was a very moving picture book which came out in the late 70s here. It showed only pictures of survivors of WW1, with a little description if available. The book was censored and iirc even banned, I guess the german government assumed that even after 60 years you could not show the people the uncensored truth.

[papa_smurf]

I payed my respect today at my local war memorial despite it raining and been VERY cold.

Lest we never forget:salute:

[Jimbuna]

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/poppy.gif

[HunterICX]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F863oLNC3RI&feature=fvw

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/1597/136258d1277344016offici.gifMay we never forget

HunterICX

[krashkart]

Lest we never forget.

[frau kaleun]

I saw a man this morning
Who did not wish to die;
I ask, and cannot answer,
if otherwise wish I.

Fair broke the day this morning
Upon the Dardanelles:
The breeze blew soft, the morn's cheeks
Were cold as cold sea-shells.

But other shells are waiting
Across the Aegean Sea;
Shrapnel and high explosives,
Shells and hells for me.

Oh Hell of ships and cities,
Hell of men like me,
Fatal second Helen,
Why must I follow thee?

Achilles came to Troyland
And I to Chersonese;
He turned from wrath to battle,
And I from three days' peace.

Was it so hard, Achilles,
So very hard to die?
Thou knowest, and I know not;
So much the happier am I.

I will go back this morning
From Imbros o'er the sea.
Stand in the trench, Achilles,
Flame-capped, and shout for me.

- Lt. Cdr. Patrick Shaw-Stewart, RNVR, 1888-1917

Written just prior to the battle of Gallipolli, which the author survived only to be killed in action in France two years later.

[papa_smurf]

Heres the story on how the unknown soldier was picked:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11710660

And heres images of the warriors last journey - stiring images indeed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11713676

[Oberon]

I payed my respect today at my local war memorial despite it raining and been VERY cold.

Lest we never forget:salute:

Likewise, although they had the ceremony in the town hall. Always a sobering moment. One giant butchering machine the first world war, even though the Second World War would kill more people than the first, the first always seems the most dreadful of them all with the gas warfare, trench conditions and near stalemate conditions for the most part of the war.

However, the Christmas day armistices and the football matches played, they really, really hit home to me...I ponder how my great-granddad saw that time, he was quite the footie player, played for his regiments team IIRC. He was lucky, he made it out of both wars, my great grand-uncle didn't.

All those who have fought in war, any war, have my thoughts today, both the living, the dead and those they left behind.