Our true, age-old enemies knew exactly what they were doing when they turned Britain and Germany against one another, not once but twice. Now look what the true enemy is doing to us all. Nie Wieder Bruderkrieg!
These interviews are an absolute treasure for the preservation of the human experience for future generations. What incredible men to have such a razor sharp recollection of even the smallest details of such an unimaginably horrific experience almost 100 years later. I am not the most religious of people, but I can't help but think these men were protected so that they could tell these stories to so many future generations and eventually be immortalized via film and the internet.
The distance between the grave of the first commonwealth man to lose his life on the western front in 1914 and the grave of the last to lose his life in 1918 are only 7 yards apart. They are facing each other. There’s a saying: “the distance measured in 10 steps and a million lives”, and it makes my heart sink.
How fortunate that this series was made, these interviews are precious and of course completely irreplaceable. George Littlefair will live in my mind forever, his memories were intensely moving and I would loved to meet him.
@@dudeybagz I quite agree...been there, done that, on quite a few occasions actually, with collected several "souvenirs" collected... In the countries where I operated, literally nothing has changed, in fact worse now; the egotistical and narcissistic politicians need to be put on the frontlines, not the "common" folk.
I had a paper route in the middle 60s and there was this man the to me was rather odd and on the mean side. I started talking to him now and then and he warmed up to me and told me that he was in world war 1. Told me that there was no water and the men were drinking there piss water. Told me the mud was up to their knees and the rats were terr. ible. I could see why he was a little on the mean side but he was cool with me. You get respect when you give respect. The 60's were great for me - my parents were living, saw the beatles in augest 1966and saw the rolling stones in june of 1966 and saw Bob Dylan in november of 1965. In 1960 jfk came to cleveland and i met him. He was running for president in 1960 and won. Great days. Finally met Bob Dylan in 1991 in cleveland, ohio. He was walking down by lake erie the day of his concert. He was very nice to me. Wish everyone peace and love .
They never talk about those who initiated the war. Those who benefited from the war, those who promoted the war. Just the human suffering of naive human beings who were sucked into the venture. It sickens me and makes my blood boil.
They didn't have freedom and they didn't give it to us by dying. Freedom doesn't exist on this planet. You will always be under the influence of another human, no matter where you go, or who you are. There is no escape, and some would even try to reach into your last bastion, your own mind, by using psychological manipulation, religion and armed forces for example.
Judging by your education that you think the word "today" is 2 words... Not very much. Imagine telling one of these dead guys that you died for a future people that can't even spell today.
They fought and died for the future you are living. You aren't enslaved, locked up, or dead. You take the good with the bad and be grateful that you get to see the younger generation act stupid.
@@lakitceps4177They fought a meaningless war that they should've never been apart of. All because one Serbian shot and ended an archduke means 20 million lives must be taken? They never fought to not be enslaved either. Who would be enslaving who? You act like losing the war would've been the end of it all.
This story reports he horrors of the World War 1, and also the trauma & life's challenges the Lost Generation (1883-1900) went through where they witnessed two global wars, a recession, and a pandemic. Much respect to all of them!
I grew up just next to a WW1 cemetery where several hundreds, if not thousands of French, British and German soldiers are buried. I walked by these graves countless times and everytime i couldn't help but think of all these wasted lives, most of the men who lie there were just in their 20s. The bravest generation of european men has been slaughtered in the trenches ww1 was truly a mass hysteria that should have never happened.
What a horrible manner of fighting; Going up and out of those trenches in the face of machine gunfire. The British Empire killed off a major part of their male population in that war. RIP! So Many Young People. 🙏🏿
The comment made by one of those soldiers about the reason he joined and the general attitude of the men, “ we did it for the people who would come after us “ so sad that the people who have come after them are not even from this country, and are the least deserving of any sacrifice from our brave lads , rest in peace
Terrible attitude to have. The British Empire spanned continents-- full of various cultures, ethnicities and races. A White British soldier would fight for the safety of his fellow Indian Servicemen. They were fighting for Empire.
i love this so much feels like im talking to my grampas about their war stories. people from that point in time are so interesting and valuable, we really have lost our way as a society.
I’m Australian, and had two great-uncles who fought in The Great War, one of whom was gassed in France. I never knew them, merely through pictures. Being 23, I am about the age they were when they served. It provides me focus and grounding to think about how I can live my life and what I can do with the freedom they played a part in providing me. Living honourably with the seriousness they possessed at my age. There’s a reason their generation (including the later-born men who fought in the Second World War) is called the Greatest Generation. This video is a beautiful historical document and testament to all those who served, died, or were affected by the war.
My Great great great grandfather Fought in American civil war (1861-1864) . My great grandma told me firsthand about conversation she had with him when I was growing up.. Her husband fought WW1 and 2 brothers WW2 daughter in the Korean war I ended up with service documents pictures etc. Now that I'm older I regret not asking more questions about them.. most people don't care but we have honor our ancestors and preserve history accurately ..
Great uncle was commissioned into the regular army in 1913. In 1914, he knew nothing, a youngster commanding a platoon of hardened old sweats. He was wounded for the first time during the initial retreat. He was wounded again in 1915 and was returned to the UK to be a company 2IC in one of the service battalions raised by his regiment. He returned to France in 1916 and was wounded yet again on the Somme, serving as a company commander at the time. Attrition was murder. His final wounding occurred in 1917. It was so bad he was left badly disfigured. He ended up commanding a small depot in Scotland comprised of soldiers deemed no longer fit for service. According to my uncle, he ended his days in a mental hospital after a suicide attempt around 1941.
A lot of my generation are so disrespectful to these legends even in the minute silence at college kids were laughing I’m so privileged to be able to hear them speak about the horrors of this war
@1:05:50 Notice the way that this worn face of a brave man gasps. Time may carve away our youth and so many memories may fade. That terror, however, was an undying shock that still rises to the topmost of a scarred souls mind. A burden that could only be lifted in death. PTSD is when the memory stays forever just yesterday. God Speed Mr. Richards. While we will remain from different times, wars, and countries, this former soldier will respect and remember the cost of your great sacrifice. So should we all in a world seeking peace. War is hell and you should NEVER be pro war. Don't idolize or pity the soldier. Support them. War breaks men.
My great grandfather was a Canadian Veteran from both World Wars. His brother was a Sapper with the 3rd Canadian Tunnel co. He fought mostly in Ypres, was gassed and shot. He died not long after from complications. My great grandfather was a very quite man, never was angry, my grandmother told me the only time she seen him get angry was when he was asked about his brothers death, he snapped, “Oliver died a horrible death and never bring it up again!”
I watched this program many many years ago when I was still very young and naive, it really touched me then and surely it does now more than ever. It makes me think that indeed everything the humankind does here is just toil and trouble. How can these men's souls rest in peace when everything they fought is corrupted?
The salt of the earth these men were. They were prepared to sacrifice everything including their lives for the defense of the country. My great grandfather was one of them, having fought in the 1st and 3rd Battles of Ypres, on The Somme, and at Neuve Chapelle with the 4th Territorial Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. As a lad I knew many of these men, being towed by great grandad down to the British Legion Club every Sunday for pop and crisps. I looked on every single one of these men as hero's, true hero's. What they had seen and suffered in putting their lives on the line was beyond horrific. The accounts of these men could not be believed by mere civilians of the time. Broaching any subject of the war was taboo at home. Even a mention would be met with, 'Shut up, we are not interested.' But for these men the war never left them. At the Legion they could release themselves to an audience who did understand, because they had been there too. Many conversations of battles, of staff, of tactics, of those who never returned, heard and remembered. Even tears too. Men with legs and arms missing. I remember all of them to this day. They should never be forgotten. Theirs was gallantry beyond brave.
A totally different mindset back then. Pride in britain at its maximum. They are too soft nowadays fighting amongst themselves. These films should be shown as part of schooling, not to show the horrors, but to show what pride means. It's only mentioned with gay parades now.
I’m 39 and had an interest in the history from a very young age. I’ve always been acutely aware these gentlemen wouldn’t be around for much longer and would constantly do the maths as to how old the youngest survivor of the Great War would likely be. Now there’s barely a living WW2 vet.
I'm 14. If a soldier joined at age 17 around 1918 and survived, he would’ve likely died around my birthyear at the latest. It's pretty sad, I never got the chance to see or hear any of them alive.
The last British Tommy to die was called Harry Patch , he lived through all that and lived to be 109 years old 😥 if any one deserved a knighthood it was this gentlemen, RIP Harry Patch .
The last British Tommy to die was called Harry Patch , he lived through all that and lived to be 109 years old 😥 if any one deserved a knighthood it was this gentlemen, RIP Harry Patch .
The word Hero has been made worthless in our society today we have compleatly lost the meaning Lady's and gentlemen, you're looking at the true definition,
Those men and their sons were the greatest generations our island has ever produced and our so called government betrayed them in the worst way possible and they are still doing it today . We will never see anything like these guys again . 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
It’s amazing hearing these accounts. It’s crazy leaders were so careless with lives. The Coalition forces lost 4,825 soldiers in the War of Iraq from 2003-2011, the British lost 4 times as many in the first day of the war of The Somme.
I ended up watching this through the night. Transfixed by these amazing people and their stories. I veered from pride at their resilience and fortitude to horror at the scale of suffering to blind fury at those in power who led them to such senseless slaughter. I’m going to watch this again with my teenage son and daughter so they can appreciate the sacrifices of the past generations as well as an insight into how the ordinary citizens of a country are really (de)valued by the powers that be…tax base and cannon fodder..
At 42:36 to be able to remember something from 70+ years previous and relive it like it was yesterday, you can feel the decades of pain and regret he must have still felt - compare that to the officer who said that he 'rather enjoyed' the war
Thank god these men were given the attention, respect, and value... To hear their stories one final time, preserved. The public, chooses which wars are heroic, which are evil, and judge the exact same men, differently and unfairly. They also forget the old warriors as soon as they can. But soldiers remember soldiers and never forget.
All those keyboard warriors need to listen and learn from these old men who really know what war means. There are no heroes, just the living and the dead, and those who died never really knew why. That’s war, a lot of young men dying for an idea sold to them by a few powerful old men, thus never changes.
Exactly they were sheep slaughtered for the ruling classes to keep their monarchies alive but one good thing came from WW1 the major monarchies died off or became symbolic only .y
I'm old enough to remember when some of the US WW1 veterans were still alive. American Legion in the 1970's My Grandpa was post commander, WW2 Veteran. Some of these old boys were still around.
To the men that gave the ultimate sacrifice to those who faced pure brutality no man after can begin to imagine what you have done for all of us we’ll never be able to thank you. Though your names may be faded but know you will never be forgotten
These people were incredible, when they came back there was no help for them, they just had to get on with their lives as best they could! Then in 1920 the flu/covid epidemic wiped out even more people throughout Europe than died in the First World War. Truly remarkable people!!
It's amazing those survivors didn't all become alcoholics, or drug addicts from what they experienced as young men. No support given to them for the remainder of their long lives.
These are the LIVES these young people LIVED. Maybe as young as FIFTEEN fighting hand to hand viscous combat. JUST TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY. Not for these warriors the worrying about being ‘mis pronouned’. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US? Zero world wars has meant the softening of the human spirit. When someone who has NEVER experienced adversity in their lives can be ‘harmed’ or ‘HURT’ by someone saying something, they should be MADE to learn about these wars and these men, and maybe they would then understand what REAL adversity is all about. My own father fought from D Day on Sword beach, fought for Caen, the battle of Normandy, Nijmegen, Arnhem, the battle of the Bulge in Belgium, over into Germany and was at the liberation of Belsen. He would be appalled at what constitutes ‘offence’ these days.
As a full screw Sherwood Forester (3WFR, B Coy Ilkeston Platoon) Im wondering why cockney Jack was in my mob. Good on yer Jack. Glad you made it through fellah,
Wish you could all come back for a few hours to see how it all worked out lads, the country you laid down your lives for is being given away , so sorry for your sacrifice, 2024.
Pictures of my grandfather from the Argonne sector show that they didn't have leggings, they had that wrapping around their lower leg that they called Spatz. They got new fatigues every time they could because they had no way to wash their clothes. They got a week on the line and a week off. He got extra time off because he had trench foot.
"Comrade, I did not want to kill you... You were only an idea to me before, an abstraction that lived in my mind and called forth its appropriate response. I thought of your hand-grenades, of your bayonet, of your rifle but now, I see your wife and your face and our fellowship. Forgive me, comrade, we always see it too late. Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying, and the same agony... Forgive me comrade; how could you be my enemy?" --------------------- "They ask me where I've been, and what I've done and seen, But what can I reply, who knows it wasn't I, But someone just like me, who went across the sea And with my head and hands, killed men in foreign lands Though I must bear the blame, because he bore my name". These are no mine, I wasn't there. ----------------------- "If any ask us why we died, tell them, because our fathers lied'". - Rudyard Kipling, hopelessly searching for the grave of his son... he never forgave himself, for the liar was he. Next time they ask, don't go, just say no, that's all, just no.
I had to stop watching because i was so sad to see these old fellas losing their mates , the look in their eyes , they never realy left that damn war ❤ crying my damn tits of overhere
We still havent learned from this, we still go to war for other people, very rarely for the defense of ones country. The only species to willing kill each other
Shame that so little is learned, from these harrowing experiences... Only 20 years later, almost the entire world would explode. And now only about 100 or so, we seem to heading in that exact direction. It's terrible that perceived beliefs or internal fear, will make humans do these things. And the cause is still only a few individuals, that send thousands to their death. Why? Why do that, why not deny and turn the tide of imperialism and cult of personality
German here
No more brother wars. The state of our European countries is a disgrace to the fallen.
Our true, age-old enemies knew exactly what they were doing when they turned Britain and Germany against one another, not once but twice. Now look what the true enemy is doing to us all. Nie Wieder Bruderkrieg!
Every time I see a cenotaph the blood boils. We betray our forefathers for permitting those Davos traitors to hold office.
You lot are disgusting as it were
agreed
100% Europe for Europeans! “All wars are banker wars” though. Good watch!
When Mr Barron said "back then England meant something" i couldn't hold the tears in any longer. How true he was and how much worse it has gotten.
It's absolutely heartbreaking people need to wake up fast
Lol. Harden up cupcake
I mean it’s you losers letting it happen.
I absolutely agree with you.@DinoWaffen
Meant nothing good that's for sure
These interviews are an absolute treasure for the preservation of the human experience for future generations. What incredible men to have such a razor sharp recollection of even the smallest details of such an unimaginably horrific experience almost 100 years later. I am not the most religious of people, but I can't help but think these men were protected so that they could tell these stories to so many future generations and eventually be immortalized via film and the internet.
Common theme. Couldn’t wait for war war. And then understood how horrible it was. Should be avoided at all cost. Human condition. Youth
Honestly think the Ukraine 🇺🇦 war is worse yet than this without mustard Gas
Twas luck, not some "god" that saved them from the slaughter.
@@Ramboniias it stands the ukraine war is not even somewhat comparable
@Rambonii Worse how? Comparing WW1 to the war in Ukraine is absurd in any context.
The distance between the grave of the first commonwealth man to lose his life on the western front in 1914 and the grave of the last to lose his life in 1918 are only 7 yards apart. They are facing each other.
There’s a saying: “the distance measured in 10 steps and a million lives”, and it makes my heart sink.
Have been reading/watching WW1 history for over 45 years. This series has made me truly realize the obscenety of this conflict.
I realise now how weak we have all become
How ungrateful how heartless and soft we now are
Such a big change in 100 years
Nothing weak in not wanting to go too hell for rich traitorous politicians and bankers.
Speak for yourself
All by design.
How fortunate that this series was made, these interviews are precious and of course completely irreplaceable. George Littlefair will live in my mind forever, his memories were intensely moving and I would loved to meet him.
Me too. He’s left a lasting impression on the soul
“You’ll be with her in a few minutes, don’t worry” that’s brutal, poor chap
This type of warfare was insane.. absolutely incredible what these men did… and the fact that they survived.. just wow
I started to type your comment it’s a couple times but I couldn’t even express it into words. Insane. That’s the word
It was pure luck if you survived that type of warfare
All war is insane
@@dudeybagz I quite agree...been there, done that, on quite a few occasions actually, with collected several "souvenirs" collected... In the countries where I operated, literally nothing has changed, in fact worse now; the egotistical and narcissistic politicians need to be put on the frontlines, not the "common" folk.
That'd defeat the purpose xanthus
I had a paper route in the middle 60s and there was this man the to me was rather odd and on the mean side. I started talking to him now and then and he warmed up to me and told me that he was in world war 1. Told me that there was no water and the men were drinking there piss water. Told me the mud was up to their knees and the rats were terr. ible. I could see why he was a little on the mean side but he was cool with me. You get respect when you give respect. The 60's were great for me - my parents were living, saw the beatles in augest 1966and saw the rolling stones in june of 1966 and saw Bob Dylan in november of 1965. In 1960 jfk came to cleveland and i met him. He was running for president in 1960 and won. Great days. Finally met Bob Dylan in 1991 in cleveland, ohio. He was walking down by lake erie the day of his concert. He was very nice to me. Wish everyone peace and love .
They never talk about those who initiated the war. Those who benefited from the war, those who promoted the war. Just the human suffering of naive human beings who were sucked into the venture. It sickens me and makes my blood boil.
The biggest human sacrifice in history.
No, the biggest human waste
Zionists
Deep 😂
Putin wants you to fight for him 🫡
A timeless generation, the world is lesser now they are gone, so privileged to view their experiences though!
The freedoms for which they fought and died for, is not ours to give away. The government need to take note of that.
This government has zero respect for that freedom.
The government isn’t your friend
❤
They didn't have freedom and they didn't give it to us by dying.
Freedom doesn't exist on this planet.
You will always be under the influence of another human, no matter where you go, or who you are.
There is no escape, and some would even try to reach into your last bastion, your own mind, by using psychological manipulation, religion and armed forces for example.
You go first tough guy
What would they think of their country to day .
Judging by your education that you think the word "today" is 2 words... Not very much. Imagine telling one of these dead guys that you died for a future people that can't even spell today.
🤬🤮🫣😭🥵😥🤧
Shame too see there great sacrifice forgotten and spit on so fast
They fought and died for the future you are living. You aren't enslaved, locked up, or dead. You take the good with the bad and be grateful that you get to see the younger generation act stupid.
@@lakitceps4177They fought a meaningless war that they should've never been apart of. All because one Serbian shot and ended an archduke means 20 million lives must be taken? They never fought to not be enslaved either. Who would be enslaving who? You act like losing the war would've been the end of it all.
This story reports he horrors of the World War 1, and also the trauma & life's challenges the Lost Generation (1883-1900) went through where they witnessed two global wars, a recession, and a pandemic. Much respect to all of them!
Defending our country for the people coming after us, I cried at that point.
Yea the people that can't even spell and sit watching Sky TV all day. It's good they'll never know the future people they died for. It's too painful.
Given away to so many immigrants who did no fighting for it
The gentleman says Ey. Priceless
Mr. Littlefare.
I grew up just next to a WW1 cemetery where several hundreds, if not thousands of French, British and German soldiers are buried.
I walked by these graves countless times and everytime i couldn't help but think of all these wasted lives, most of the men who lie there were just in their 20s. The bravest generation of european men has been slaughtered in the trenches
ww1 was truly a mass hysteria that should have never happened.
What a horrible manner of fighting; Going up and out of those trenches in the face of machine gunfire. The British Empire killed off a major part of their male population in that war. RIP! So Many Young People. 🙏🏿
What makes this generation sooo eerier is the fact it literally just passed on, an soon the same will be said of the Second World War
The best documentary I've seen in a long time...thank you for posting.
You know your a bad ass when your a former fusilier
The comment made by one of those soldiers about the reason he joined and the general attitude of the men, “ we did it for the people who would come after us “ so sad that the people who have come after them are not even from this country, and are the least deserving of any sacrifice from our brave lads , rest in peace
Terrible attitude to have. The British Empire spanned continents-- full of various cultures, ethnicities and races. A White British soldier would fight for the safety of his fellow Indian Servicemen. They were fighting for Empire.
They were not fighting for empire, who told you that
@@houseofdelights9568 they absolutely were fighting for EMPIRE
twas a commercial empire, everybody benefited.
Without a doubt the saddest thing ive ever watched in ma life .
Even more so when you see how far we have allowed our wee island to deteriorate .
Would have been a great documentary without adverts every 5 minutes
i love this so much feels like im talking to my grampas about their war stories. people from that point in time are so interesting and valuable, we really have lost our way as a society.
I’m Australian, and had two great-uncles who fought in The Great War, one of whom was gassed in France. I never knew them, merely through pictures. Being 23, I am about the age they were when they served. It provides me focus and grounding to think about how I can live my life and what I can do with the freedom they played a part in providing me. Living honourably with the seriousness they possessed at my age. There’s a reason their generation (including the later-born men who fought in the Second World War) is called the Greatest Generation. This video is a beautiful historical document and testament to all those who served, died, or were affected by the war.
My Great great great grandfather Fought in American civil war (1861-1864) . My great grandma told me firsthand about conversation she had with him when I was growing up.. Her husband fought WW1 and 2 brothers WW2 daughter in the Korean war I ended up with service documents pictures etc. Now that I'm older I regret not asking more questions about them.. most people don't care but we have honor our ancestors and preserve history accurately ..
Great uncle was commissioned into the regular army in 1913. In 1914, he knew nothing, a youngster commanding a platoon of hardened old sweats. He was wounded for the first time during the initial retreat. He was wounded again in 1915 and was returned to the UK to be a company 2IC in one of the service battalions raised by his regiment. He returned to France in 1916 and was wounded yet again on the Somme, serving as a company commander at the time. Attrition was murder. His final wounding occurred in 1917. It was so bad he was left badly disfigured. He ended up commanding a small depot in Scotland comprised of soldiers deemed no longer fit for service. According to my uncle, he ended his days in a mental hospital after a suicide attempt around 1941.
A lot of my generation are so disrespectful to these legends even in the minute silence at college kids were laughing I’m so privileged to be able to hear them speak about the horrors of this war
Mate at least you know. One day it could be them facing this situation.
This is absolutely heartbreaking to watch. Never ever forget.
@1:05:50 Notice the way that this worn face of a brave man gasps. Time may carve away our youth and so many memories may fade. That terror, however, was an undying shock that still rises to the topmost of a scarred souls mind. A burden that could only be lifted in death. PTSD is when the memory stays forever just yesterday. God Speed Mr. Richards. While we will remain from different times, wars, and countries, this former soldier will respect and remember the cost of your great sacrifice. So should we all in a world seeking peace. War is hell and you should NEVER be pro war. Don't idolize or pity the soldier. Support them. War breaks men.
Ah, you mean shellshock. The people back then had very little knowledge of emotions and the human psyche.
Absolutely gold...
These men are owed so much by all of us. Their whole generation gave up everything and millions were killed. The bravest ever.
My great grandfather was a Canadian Veteran from both World Wars. His brother was a Sapper with the 3rd Canadian Tunnel co. He fought mostly in Ypres, was gassed and shot. He died not long after from complications. My great grandfather was a very quite man, never was angry, my grandmother told me the only time she seen him get angry was when he was asked about his brothers death, he snapped, “Oliver died a horrible death and never bring it up again!”
I watched this program many many years ago when I was still very young and naive, it really touched me then and surely it does now more than ever. It makes me think that indeed everything the humankind does here is just toil and trouble. How can these men's souls rest in peace when everything they fought is corrupted?
The salt of the earth these men were. They were prepared to sacrifice everything including their lives for the defense of the country. My great grandfather was one of them, having fought in the 1st and 3rd Battles of Ypres, on The Somme, and at Neuve Chapelle with the 4th Territorial Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. As a lad I knew many of these men, being towed by great grandad down to the British Legion Club every Sunday for pop and crisps. I looked on every single one of these men as hero's, true hero's. What they had seen and suffered in putting their lives on the line was beyond horrific. The accounts of these men could not be believed by mere civilians of the time. Broaching any subject of the war was taboo at home. Even a mention would be met with, 'Shut up, we are not interested.' But for these men the war never left them. At the Legion they could release themselves to an audience who did understand, because they had been there too. Many conversations of battles, of staff, of tactics, of those who never returned, heard and remembered. Even tears too. Men with legs and arms missing. I remember all of them to this day. They should never be forgotten. Theirs was gallantry beyond brave.
I live in America. I love these men and their stories. So brave and fearless.
My great grandpa was a sniper on the American side during ww1. The old breed is something else. Hard times make strong men easy times make weak men
Such brave brave men! My great grandfather JOHN HENRY BROCK from bude in Cornwall was killed in the Somme
No more brother wars.
A totally different mindset back then. Pride in britain at its maximum. They are too soft nowadays fighting amongst themselves. These films should be shown as part of schooling, not to show the horrors, but to show what pride means. It's only mentioned with gay parades now.
What a sad but beautifull words spoken by Florence Billington at 3:46:20. …
I’m 39 and had an interest in the history from a very young age. I’ve always been acutely aware these gentlemen wouldn’t be around for much longer and would constantly do the maths as to how old the youngest survivor of the Great War would likely be. Now there’s barely a living WW2 vet.
I'm 14. If a soldier joined at age 17 around 1918 and survived, he would’ve likely died around my birthyear at the latest. It's pretty sad, I never got the chance to see or hear any of them alive.
The last British Tommy to die was called Harry Patch , he lived through all that and lived to be 109 years old 😥 if any one deserved a knighthood it was this gentlemen, RIP Harry Patch .
The last British Tommy to die was called Harry Patch , he lived through all that and lived to be 109 years old 😥 if any one deserved a knighthood it was this gentlemen, RIP Harry Patch .
What year were these interviews filmed? The quality is very good. Almost too good for the 1970’s and 80’s. Was the film extensively cleaned up?
The early 1990s. See the Wikipedia article for the series “The Last Voices of World War 1”
I was just thinking the same thing. Video quality is great for the time period.
the "blind bravery" of those that volunteered to fight in WW1,
is wholly incomprehensible to me.
they had no idea how bad it would be...nobody did...just industrialised murder
They were told the Germans wanted England of course they were going to defend England meant something back then
The word Hero has been made worthless in our society today we have compleatly lost the meaning Lady's and gentlemen, you're looking at the true definition,
This was an excellent depiction of what the WW1 troops went through...
The honorable die. The cowards that send them to die live, and prosper. And we forget. And they count on exactly that.
Amazing! Please more WW1 content!
Great recital of the poem Sir. Top-notch
I listen to at least 4 or 5 times sooo good!
13:20 I love this guy's story. You can see the ferocity in his eye's.
The wasted lives of British and German young men for what? Inch a terrible loss
Total respect to them…
Remembering 2nd Lieutenant Edward Archibald Beauchamp, killed at Iepers, December 1914.
Those men and their sons were the greatest generations our island has ever produced and our so called government betrayed them in the worst way possible and they are still doing it today . We will never see anything like these guys again . 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
It’s amazing hearing these accounts. It’s crazy leaders were so careless with lives. The Coalition forces lost 4,825 soldiers in the War of Iraq from 2003-2011, the British lost 4 times as many in the first day of the war of The Somme.
I ended up watching this through the night. Transfixed by these amazing people and their stories. I veered from pride at their resilience and fortitude to horror at the scale of suffering to blind fury at those in power who led them to such senseless slaughter.
I’m going to watch this again with my teenage son and daughter so they can appreciate the sacrifices of the past generations as well as an insight into how the ordinary citizens of a country are really (de)valued by the powers that be…tax base and cannon fodder..
What gentlemen with gentle damaged souls.
War is utter madness.
I will forever love all of you
At 42:36 to be able to remember something from 70+ years previous and relive it like it was yesterday, you can feel the decades of pain and regret he must have still felt - compare that to the officer who said that he 'rather enjoyed' the war
Richard Hawkins tells it how it should still be…”it’s the duty of every young man to defend the country, and give their lives if necessary.”
i have two family members served in World War l in the 1918 they both were are great uncle and great grandfather
They did a poll now in uk. The younger generation said 89% they wouldn't fight for uk. I don't blame them. Britain is done.
GSTK. 🎒🔫
If there’s another world war we are fucked
Destroyed from the inside out by the zionists who rule the world unfortunately. Austrian painter was correct
When a place or thing is "for everybody", it is in fact, for nobody.
Britain is done because of the people who don't care enough to fight for it.
Thank god these men were given the attention, respect, and value... To hear their stories one final time, preserved. The public, chooses which wars are heroic, which are evil, and judge the exact same men, differently and unfairly. They also forget the old warriors as soon as they can. But soldiers remember soldiers and never forget.
All those keyboard warriors need to listen and learn from these old men who really know what war means.
There are no heroes, just the living and the dead, and those who died never really knew why.
That’s war, a lot of young men dying for an idea sold to them by a few powerful old men, thus never changes.
Exactly they were sheep slaughtered for the ruling classes to keep their monarchies alive but one good thing came from WW1 the major monarchies died off or became symbolic only .y
My dad was a ww2 vet. Many stories but not for me. He didn't talk talk of it. I can't get enough first hand stories now.
I'm old enough to remember when some of the US WW1 veterans were still alive. American Legion in the 1970's My Grandpa was post commander, WW2 Veteran. Some of these old boys were still around.
To the men that gave the ultimate sacrifice to those who faced pure brutality no man after can begin to imagine what you have done for all of us we’ll never be able to thank you. Though your names may be faded but know you will never be forgotten
Poor buggers if they could see Britain now 😢 would they of thought
To imagine over fifty thousand casualties in just one day of fighting is mind boggling. It was a very tragic war but aren’t they all.
Thank you for this video
These people were incredible, when they came back there was no help for them, they just had to get on with their lives as best they could! Then in 1920 the flu/covid epidemic wiped out even more people throughout Europe than died in the First World War. Truly remarkable people!!
Brilliant nothing blurred out either
RIP Harry Patch September 22nd 1917
111 1
I really wish that they had subtitles for some of these guys. I can barely understand them. N I know what they’re saying is important
It's amazing those survivors didn't all become alcoholics, or drug addicts from what they experienced as young men. No support given to them for the remainder of their long lives.
Saw a video of Ted Francis recite a poem of the day.. very sad.. hopefully still on UA-cam
These are the LIVES these young people LIVED. Maybe as young as FIFTEEN fighting hand to hand viscous combat. JUST TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY. Not for these warriors the worrying about being ‘mis pronouned’.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US?
Zero world wars has meant the softening of the human spirit. When someone who has NEVER experienced adversity in their lives can be ‘harmed’ or ‘HURT’ by someone saying something, they should be MADE to learn about these wars and these men, and maybe they would then understand what REAL adversity is all about. My own father fought from D Day on Sword beach, fought for Caen, the battle of Normandy, Nijmegen, Arnhem, the battle of the Bulge in Belgium, over into Germany and was at the liberation of Belsen. He would be appalled at what constitutes ‘offence’ these days.
We are in a world war, you just don’t realise it.
As a full screw Sherwood Forester (3WFR, B Coy Ilkeston Platoon) Im wondering why cockney Jack was in my mob. Good on yer Jack. Glad you made it through fellah,
Wish you could all come back for a few hours to see how it all worked out lads, the country you laid down your lives for is being given away , so sorry for your sacrifice, 2024.
What series was this taken from please?
Pictures of my grandfather from the Argonne sector show that they didn't have leggings, they had that wrapping around their lower leg that they called Spatz. They got new fatigues every time they could because they had no way to wash their clothes. They got a week on the line and a week off. He got extra time off because he had trench foot.
What is the song playing at beginning
Wonderful, but sad.
Haig should have been charged for war crimes to his own men, sending them to certain death, absolutely no idea about warfare
Rubbish. Educate yourself.
"Comrade, I did not want to kill you...
You were only an idea to me before,
an abstraction that lived in my mind
and called forth its appropriate response.
I thought of your hand-grenades,
of your bayonet, of your rifle but now,
I see your wife and your face and our fellowship.
Forgive me, comrade, we always see it too late.
Why do they never tell us that you are poor devils like us,
that your mothers are just as anxious as ours,
and that we have the same fear of death,
and the same dying, and the same agony...
Forgive me comrade; how could you be my enemy?"
---------------------
"They ask me where I've been, and what I've done and seen,
But what can I reply, who knows it wasn't I,
But someone just like me, who went across the sea
And with my head and hands, killed men in foreign lands
Though I must bear the blame, because he bore my name".
These are no mine, I wasn't there.
-----------------------
"If any ask us why we died, tell them, because our fathers lied'".
- Rudyard Kipling, hopelessly searching for the grave of his son... he never forgave himself, for the liar was he.
Next time they ask, don't go, just say no, that's all, just no.
2:35:20 That's so sad. So much suffering
generals failed them time and again, they werent the ones to die
More than 200 high ranking officers were killed wounded or captured during ww1
Yet more British Generals were killed and wounded than any other Army. 78 Killed, 148 wounded or captured. Junior Officer mortality was around 50%.
We had not even said so long to one another ❤ 😢
You son of a . I'm in .there goes my sleep 😂.
To think, that in the year 2124 people will look back at the current conflicts, much the same way as we do about WW1 & 2.
You would think man had learned our lesson from war
All for nought.
The poem at 44:00...
I’m only about an hour into it, but I have to make this comment that guy talking about that navy rum. He must’ve. Been talking about that 151 son.
I had to stop watching because i was so sad to see these old fellas losing their mates , the look in their eyes , they never realy left that damn war ❤ crying my damn tits of overhere
Enough with the commercial every 3 mins !!!!
We still havent learned from this, we still go to war for other people, very rarely for the defense of ones country.
The only species to willing kill each other
Shame that so little is learned, from these harrowing experiences...
Only 20 years later, almost the entire world would explode.
And now only about 100 or so, we seem to heading in that exact direction.
It's terrible that perceived beliefs or internal fear, will make humans do these things.
And the cause is still only a few individuals, that send thousands to their death. Why?
Why do that, why not deny and turn the tide of imperialism and cult of personality