Today marks the one hundredth anniversary of Britain's declaration of war against Germany.
Germany had attacked Luxembourg on 2nd August 1914 and declared war on France on the following day. On 4th August Belgium refused to allow German troops to cross its territory so that they could invade France. When the Belgians refused, Germany declared war on them.
As a signatory to the 1839 Treaty of London, the British sent an ultimatum to Germany regarding the Treaty's protection and guarantee of Belgium's neutrality. When they received an 'unsatisfactory reply' to their ultimatum, Britain declared war on Germany at midnight, Berlin time/11.00pm, London time.
Today is a day when we should remember all who died during the 'War to end Wars' ... and all those people who have died in wars since then.
Germany had attacked Luxembourg on 2nd August 1914 and declared war on France on the following day. On 4th August Belgium refused to allow German troops to cross its territory so that they could invade France. When the Belgians refused, Germany declared war on them.
As a signatory to the 1839 Treaty of London, the British sent an ultimatum to Germany regarding the Treaty's protection and guarantee of Belgium's neutrality. When they received an 'unsatisfactory reply' to their ultimatum, Britain declared war on Germany at midnight, Berlin time/11.00pm, London time.
Today is a day when we should remember all who died during the 'War to end Wars' ... and all those people who have died in wars since then.
Indeed it is Bob- a time to take a moment out to remember and reflect...
ReplyDeleteThere is a service at our parish war memorial that I will attend because I am an ex soldier and members of my extended family died in both world wars. I am not, however, at all comfortable with the mummery that attends the national events and that sometimes creeps into small local commemorations.
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
ReplyDeleteI shall be spending time today in silent contemplation and in remembrance of all those - and in particular my immediate relatives - who died during the Great War.
All the best,
Bob
Nobby,
ReplyDeleteI live in Woolwich and yet I cannot find out if there is any form of remembrance ceremony taking place in this area today. (There was nothing on the local council's website or in the local newspaper, and the Royal Artillery Museum is closed because it is Monday,) If there had been, my wife and I would have gone.
You are right about the way in which so many of the ceremonies that will take place today will focus on the 'great and the good' who will be there rather than on those who were affected by the war.
All the best,
Bob