The day Britains history changed forever.

[ruddersrangers44]

Today marks 99 years when Britain declared war on Imperial Germany for violating her invasion of neutral Belgium which changed the coarse of history forever.....the first pic is outside Whitehall recruitement station taken on the very same day.......the second is an Imperial propaganda notice issued the very same day......remembered always.

[Jerry B]

You have to wonder how many of those trying to join up survived to the end of the hostilities.

For the 2nd battalion RWF, of the original circa 1000 men it would have had when they went to France in 1914 only 10 survived still in the unit until after the wars end.

[Adrian]

There is a fundraising event happening - I don't have the details to hand which is trying to raise £51,000 for the 51 villages and towns around the country who had all of their men who went to war return safely.

There is no memorial to these men so the fundraising is to fund some sort of monument to these men who will otherwise pass into history and be forgotten.

There is also another initiative happening where a flagstone will be placed in the birthplace of all the V.C. winners from the Great War.

[KMMorris]

Sadly many of these groups succumb to time. As in every conflict there has to be two sides of the coin. The photo of the group was dated September 1918 and states that out of the 91 men present 74 would die in the last two months of the war. For all sides War is a tragic.
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Morris

[HPL2008]

For the benefit of the non-German speaking members, allow me to add an English translation of the above notice:

"Citizens of Berlin!

After long, blessed years of peace, we once more see our men and boys march into the field.
They go off into a war that has been forced upon us by hate-filled enemies, against whom we stand in holy self-defence.
Our people take up arms for German nature and German culture, for the safety of the Empire that we had fought for at great cost, for the balance in Europe.
Now is the time for every one to give their best, now is the time of trial to our core.
Push back all thought on money and material wealth, on vanity and comfort.
Those who now, in the hour of grave peril to the Empire's territory, strive to bring their pennies from the public coffers or banks into their own money stockings, who use the excitement to enrich themselves through the food prices or who raise the prices by foolish panic buying take upon them a severe liability before their fellow countrymen.
They are guilty if the Germans gain the reputation of dishonoring a grand time by self-seeking and headlessness.
That is not our nature.
We are a manly, faithful people, who rush to follow the call of the Fatherland and who flock around our Emperor's banner with enthusiasm.
Berlin, the national capital, must and will lead the way in self-sacrifice and self-discipline.
But you, sons of Berlin, who rush to face the enemy, eager to fight: Take with you your home city's glowing wish for you to persevere until the end, undomitable in bravery and, through hardship and battle, to return home victoriously.

Berlin, 3 August 1914.

The Magistrate
of the Royal Capital and Residential City.
Wermuth."

Dr. Adolf Wermuth was the mayor of Berlin from 1912 to 1920. To him, food rationing was a crucially important issue, the importance of which he had realized very early on. Indeed he was instrumental in convincing Germany's government to institute the nationwide wartime food rationing system, having already created a local rationing/food distribution system in Berlin.

For German-language biographical information see:
Zweckverband Groß-Berlin 1912-1921 - Berlin.de
An der Spitze Berlins

[Paul D]

Today is also the date of death of the only man to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice in WW1 Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC & Bar, Military Cross & Mentioned in Despatches. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died on 4th August 1917 aged 32. Buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery.

[ruddersrangers44]

Yes Paul indeed i was reading only today about him,rescued 3 comrades in no mans land at the somme (i think) and was within 25 metres of the german front lines was wounded then recovered only to be at the third battle of ypres where he again showed outstanding bravery and being wounded again finally loseing his fight for life,a truely outstanding and courageous individual to the end..............

[Jerry B]

You have to wonder how many of those trying to join up survived to the end of the hostilities.

For the 2nd battalion RWF, of the original circa 1000 men it would have had when they went to France in 1914 only 10 survived still in the unit until after the wars end.

And the 1000 does not include all the replacements they would have had throughout the war.

The regiment lost 9,971 dead, with the first battalion losing 1,343 dead, the 2nd not many less, whilst of the service battalions who were at the front for at least a year less two lost more than 700 men whilst the 10th battalion lost nearly 800 men dead and the 9th battalion about 40 less than that.

[Jerry B]

T
There is also another initiative happening where a flagstone will be placed in the birthplace of all the V.C. winners from the Great War.

A mention about the VC pacing slab scheme.

Angus shows way as plans for Victoria Cross memorials unveiled - Angus & The Mearns / Local / News / The Courier