Falklands vessels with flags at half-mast in remembrance of World War I

Saturday, June 28th 2014 - 01:49 UTC

Full article 7 comments

Falklands' Master Malcolm Jamieson has requested that vessels in Falklands harbours and Falklands registered vessels at sea, lower flags or ensigns to half-mast on Saturday 28 June to indicate mourning in remembrance of World War I. Read full article

Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

redp0ll
There is a famous spook headline:
“Archduke Francis Ferdinand and wife Sophie found in a geriatric home in Greece. First World War fought by mistake”
Commemorating the outbreak of a war is pointless and in very poor taste.
We should remember the countless young lives that were sacrificed during the conflict.
Four of my relatives contributed to the butchers bill, three on the Somme and one at Jutland. Let's not forget the men of the then Dominion of Newfoundland regiment.
They went over the top 780 strong and less than 80 answered the roll next day.
What a squandering of lives.
Jun 28th, 2014 - 02:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
golfcronie
@1
“ Commemorating the outbreak of a war is pointless and in very poor taste”
I agree, but I think you are missing the point, they are respecting the loss of many young lives lost in th War. At our golf club and many around the country flags are flown at half mast to respect the passing of a collegue. So I think ” Commemorating the outbreak etc is out of context.
Jun 28th, 2014 - 07:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
boufiewolf
@1
I always thought and was taught at school that the events began the beginning of the fun up to war. The great war as it was known at the time began weeks later. Europe was literally a house of cards, when Austria-Hungary eventually declared war, Serbia allied to Russia, Allied to France allied to GBR were dragged in with Germany on the Austrian side. Yes the day was terrible in European politics but it was simply the beginning of the end.
Jun 28th, 2014 - 10:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
lsolde
The UK & Empire declared war on Germany on the 4th or 5th of august, because the Germans invaded Belgium.
We had a treaty with Belgium.
The Kaiser asked us if we would go to war over a “scrap of paper”.
RIP All those young lives.
Jun 28th, 2014 - 12:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
redp0ll
“The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”
- Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary 3rd August 1914.
He didn't, dying in 1933
He knew what was coming. A humane man I think he did his best to prevent it but once the spark of the Archdukes assassination had ignited the powder train it was impossible to stop.
Jun 28th, 2014 - 03:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Biguggy
@1 redpoll
Thank you for remembering the Newfoundland Regiment in WW 1.

1st July is 'Memorial Day' in Newfoundland, the day the slaughter at Beaumont Hamel took place and this was after the Regiment had been at Gallipoli.

The real tragedy is that the Newfies did not actually get to 'go over the top'. They were supposed to be the 3rd wave but when they tried to 'move up' the communication trenches were choked with wounded and dead from the first 2 waves, so the Newfies left the shelter of the communication trenches to try and move forward, most of their casualties actually occurred before the forward trench was reached, even then they tried to form up and go forward.

A massive tragedy which played a large part in Newfoundland (Britain's oldest colony) ceasing to be an independent Dominion and reverting to being a 'sort of' colony' in the 1930's.
Jun 28th, 2014 - 09:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+
Conqueror
@1. Do you have trouble with the words “to indicate mourning in remembrance of World War I”? WE remember those that gave their lives. 100 years later WE remain grateful. You seem to be bitter. Would those of your predecessors who gave their lives be equally bitter? Or would they consider 20 years of “rocky” peace worth their lives? How about the courage to resist nazi Germany? Leading to victory and 70 years of peace! Fortunately, the UK will always be willing to fight against the slime in the world.
Jun 29th, 2014 - 01:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
-+

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!