Haunting effects of war last a lifetime for many
I RECALL growing up in Cleethorpes in the 1950s visiting many times the home of my best friend's grandparents.
The last weeks of his grandfather's life were not kind to this once strong, fearless man who was hardly able to converse with any of his family due in no small part to the outpouring of pent up emotion he had kept hidden for more than half his life.
I learned some years later he had signed up with the Army in 1914 and spent time in northern France before witnessing first hand the slaughter that was the Battle Of The Somme as a 20-year-old in 1916.
He carried his injuries received for the rest of his life without complaint, although he was, according to his wife's accounts, a totally different man who returned home after involvement in more than four years of conflict.
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Never did he discuss any aspect of the war and would withdraw into himself at any mention of it.
As his life drew to a close at the age of 58, he allowed himself to return to those terrible times he had experienced and tried to relieve himself of the guilt he carried at having survived the ordeal while so many had not.
My final memory of him is visiting his home with my friend and his parents. The most vivid recollection I have is how he held his wife's hand so tightly her fingers turned white and as he sobbed out years of never before seen emotion he repeated over and over things such as "Whatever have they done? Whatever have we done? Who is going to take responsibility for this madness? Just what bloody difference has it all made?".
As a six-year-old boy I had no idea what the significance of these comments were.
As we learn of yet another two British and four US soldiers killed in Afghanistan by those supposedly on the same side, as five young Australian lives recently lost in just one day in this futile war in Afghanistan I can't help but feel my friends' grandfather's questions will be asked just as earnestly by many others in relation to this unwinnable conflict that seems to have neither an end nor a solution.
Terry Wiseman
Joondalup
Western Australia
The Telegraph says
Following the arrival of this letter to Viewpoint, we discovered how local soldier Ryan Rowbottom was seriously injured in the attack, last Friday, that killed his commanding officer, Grenadier Guard Lance Corporal Duane Groom.
This news was a stark reminder to the people of North East Lincolnshire of the horrors of war and the suffering that continues in Afghanistan.
Somehow a conclusion needs to be found, which will see an end to this conflict – however, would any end see a return to persecution for many natives of that country?
Comments
by des22
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 4:04PM
“The Swiss have been very lucky because their neutrality has been respected. It suited everyone to have somewhere like that where they could do business. Not all neutral countries are so lucky - Belgium was neutral in 1914 and look what the Germans did there. Can you imagine the UK being allowed to be neutral after all these years of being allied to the USA? Would it stop a terror attack? I doubt it. The prosperity of Switzerland depends largely on its secret banking system that operates at what some would call a criminal level. Who knows what treasures are hidden away there from the Third Reich and elsewhere.
War is a dreadful thing but sometimes a dreadful necessity. It is doubtful that Afghanistan is such a necessity but 1914 and 1939 certainly were.”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:43AM
“Thanks for replying Mr Wisemen.My Grandmother ran a Grocery shop in Daubney St and Hope St Grimsby called Lumleys.I think you chose the best country to emigrate to.I agree with everything you say.I am an Immigrant like you and have had to learn to speak Afrikaans,Zulu,Fanagalore and some Sotho. I have been in Africa since 1978 and 32 years in S.A. and am a South African citizen.The U.S. is a great ally and without them we would be all speaking German but I can't help looking at countries like Switzerland which keeps its nose out of trouble.None of their soldiers have died in wars for hundreds of years .I think that this is a time for Britain to let other countries fight their wars and for the Brits to take a back seat.Britain is just a small European country .It hurts me to see good people's lives wasted and to see people crippled for a war that is going nowhere! I also think that Britain should look after their own people rather than sending aid to foreign countries.”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:35AM
“Thanks for replying Mr Wisemen.My Grandmother ran a Grocery shop in Daubney St and Hope St Grimsby called Lumleys.I think you chose the best country to emigrate to.I agree with everything you say.I am an Immigrant like you and have had to learn to speak Afrikaans,Zulu,Fanagalore and some Sotho. I have been in Africa since 1978 and 32 years in S.A. and am a South African citizen.The U.S. is a great ally and without them we would be all speaking German but I can't help looking at countries like Switzerland which keeps its nose out of trouble.None of their soldiers have died in wars for hundreds of years .I think that this is a time for Britain to let other countries fight their wars and for the Brits to take a back seat.Britain is just a small European country .It hurts me to see good people's lives wasted and to see people crippled for a war that is going nowhere! I also think that Britain should look after their own people rather than sending aid to foreign countries.”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:34AM
“Thanks for replying Mr Wisemen.My Grandmother ran a Grocery shop in Daubney St and Hope St Grimsby called Lumleys.I think you chose the best country to emigrate to.I agree with everything you say.I am an Immigrant and have had to learn to speak Afrikaans,Zulu,Fanagalore and some Sotho. I have been in Africa since 1978 and 32 years in S.A. and am a South African citizen.The U.S. is a great ally and without them we would be all speaking German but I can't help looking at countries like Switzerland which keeps its nose out of trouble.None of their soldiers have died in wars for hundreds of years .I think that this is a time for Britain to let other countries fight their wars and for the Brits to take a back seat.Britain is just a small European country .It hurts me to see good people's lives wasted and to see people crippled for a war that is going nowhere! I also think that Britain should look after their own people rather than sending aid to foreign countries.”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:18AM
“Thanks for replying Mr Wisemen.My Grandmother ran a Grocery shop in Daubney St and Hope St Grimsby called Lumleys.I think you chose the best country to emigrate to.I agree with everything you say.I am an Immigrant and have had to learn to speak Afrikaans,Zulu,Fanagalore and some Sotho. I have been in Africa since 1978 and 32 years in S.A. and am a South African citizen.The U.S. is a great ally and without them we would be all speaking German but I can't help looking at countries like Switzerland which keeps its nose out of trouble.None of their soldiers have died in wars for hundreds of years .I think that this is a time for Britain to let other countries fight their wars and for the Brits to take a back seat.Britain is just a small European country .It hurts me to see good people's lives wasted and to see people crippled for a war that is going nowhere! I also think that Britain should look after their own people rather than sending aid to foreign countries.”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:18AM
“Thanks for replying Mr Wisemen.My Grandmother ran a Grocery shop in Daubney St and Hope St Grimsby called Lumleys.I think you chose the best country to emigrate to.I agree with everything you say.I am an Immigrant and have had to learn to speak Afrikaans,Zulu,Fanagalore and some Sotho. I have been in Africa since 1978 and 32 years in S.A. and am a South African citizen.The U.S. is a great ally and without them we would be all speaking German but I can't help looking at countries like Switzerland which keeps its nose out of trouble.None of their soldiers have died in wars for hundreds of years .I think that this is a time for Britain to let other countries fight their wars and for the Brits to take a back seat.Britain is just a small European country .It hurts me to see good people's lives wasted and to see people crippled for a war that is going nowhere! I also think that Britain should look after their own people rather than sending aid to foreign countries.Would you like to let me have your e mail address. I am at tenpastten.rowe@gmail.com”
by AfricanMeggy
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:18AM
“Thanks for replying Mr Wisemen.My Grandmother ran a Grocery shop in Daubney St and Hope St Grimsby called Lumleys.I think you chose the best country to emigrate to.I agree with everything you say.I am an Immigrant and have had to learn to speak Afrikaans,Zulu,Fanagalore and some Sotho. I have been in Africa since 1978 and 32 years in S.A. and am a South African citizen.The U.S. is a great ally and without them we would be all speaking German but I can't help looking at countries like Switzerland which keeps its nose out of trouble.None of their soldiers have died in wars for hundreds of years .I think that this is a time for Britain to let other countries fight their wars and for the Brits to take a back seat.Britain is just a small European country .It hurts me to see good people's lives wasted and to see people crippled for a war that is going nowhere! I also think that Britain should look after their own people rather than sending aid to foreign countries.Would you like to let me have your e mail address. I am at tenpastten.rowe@gmail.com”
by TerryWiseman
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 9:18AM
“Sorry about the 3 posts - each time I clicked the "submit" button it told me it had failed and to try again. So I did....”
by TerryWiseman
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 9:06AM
“Stuart Rowe - Yes, I certainly did attend Queen Mary Avenue Infants school in the fifties where Miss Devlin ruled supreme as well as Barcroft Junior School. I never lived in North Sea Lane, I was born in Carr Lane on the corner of Craven Road where my mother ran a grocery business and where I lived until I was 16.
Insofar as the comments by yourself and EWW01 (?) are concerned certainly the United States is an ally you want on your side in this war torn world we now inhabit. Certainly their involvement in Vietnam was nothing short of disastrous and doomed to failure from the start. Australia took part in the Vietnam War losing many sons and it is only in recent times that the returned servicemen have been recognised as such by the Australian Returned Servicemens League. For years they were shunned as in Australia it was seen as a war we had no business to be involved with. This sentiment is now being voiced here by many in respect to the Afghanistan conflict as we continue to lose young men for seemingly little benefit. The conflict has created increased ill feeling towards the on going rhetoric from politicians who insist on thrusting down our throats that multiculturism is the way forward and that it benefits us all.
Many, including myself are questioning the long term effects this now ingrained culture the developed world has adopted will have on our children and grandchildren. This is especially concerning if we don't soon see a far more enthusiastic attempt by those from other cultures and religions to assimilate into the customs and lifestyle choices that form part of the new societies they have decided now to call their home.”
by TerryWiseman
Wednesday, September 26 2012, 9:05AM
“Stuart Rowe - Yes, I certainly did attend Queen Mary Avenue Infants school in the fifties where Miss Devlin ruled supreme as well as Barcroft Junior School. I never lived in North Sea Lane, I was born in Carr Lane on the corner of Craven Road where my mother ran a grocery business and where I lived until I was 16.
Insofar as the comments by yourself and EWW01 (?) are concerned certainly the United States is an ally you want on your side in this war torn world we now inhabit. Certainly their involvement in Vietnam was nothing short of disastrous and doomed to failure from the start. Australia took part in the Vietnam War losing many sons and it is only in recent times that the returned servicemen have been recognised as such by the Australian Returned Servicemens League. For years they were shunned as in Australia it was seen as a war we had no business to be involved with. This sentiment is now being voiced here by many in respect to the Afghanistan conflict as we continue to lose young men for seemingly little benefit. The conflict has created increased ill feeling towards the on going rhetoric from politicians who insist on thrusting down our throats that multiculturism is the way forward and that it benefits us all.
Many, including myself are questioning the long term effects this now ingrained culture the developed world has adopted will have on our children and grandchildren. This is especially concerning if we don't soon see a far more enthusiastic attempt by those from other cultures and religions to assimilate into the customs and lifestyle choices that form part of the new societies they have decided now to call their home.”