The Somme - 100 years ago

[Paul K 1,316]

Today marks the centenary of the start of the Somme offensive, and there have been numerous commemorations both in France and here in the U.K.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36674451

 

It was the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. By sundown, the Fourth Army had suffered 57,470 casualties, of which 19,240 men were killed.

 

The Somme is to Britain and Ireland what Verdun is to France. Though the slaughter would continue until November, when the offensive was finally called off, it is that first dreadful day and that dark, almost funereal name, that are still etched on our national psyche. 1st July 1916. The Somme.

 

Rest in Peace.

[mwilk 1,106]

Amazing how brutal humans can be to one another.

[cmpbellsjc 2,960]

Amazing how brutal humans can be to one another.

And not getting any better with all the terror attacks happening all over the world with innocent people getting killed for nothing.

[Murmur 3,941]

And not getting any better with all the terror attacks happening all over the world with innocent people getting killed for nothing.

 

Contrary to common perception, deaths due to terror attacks are (numerically speaking) minor compared to deaths due to other types of armed conflicts (most of the deaths due to terror are included in the "one sided violence" pink line. The spike in 1994 is the rwandan genocide):

 

 

The number of war deaths is declining since 1945:

 

https://ourworldindata.org/war-and-peace-after-1945/

 

[scottb613 1,188]

Hi Folks,

 

Yep - the scope and scale of warfare back then was unimaginable... Our biggest battles today wouldn't even be worth discussing when compared...

 

Regards,

Scott