Comments on: It Was The War of the Trenches http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 11:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: AllisonWunderland http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758285 AllisonWunderland Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758285 "Great War" "Civil War" -- ironic oxymorons, eh? “Great War”

“Civil War”

– ironic oxymorons, eh?

]]> By: animationarchive http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757520 animationarchive Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757520 Bruce Bainsfather was the cartoonist who was best known for his ww1 cartoons. His black humor reflected the attitudes of soldiers perfectly, because he was one himself. Google bainsfather bystander old bill to see his terrific work. Bruce Bainsfather was the cartoonist who was best known for his ww1 cartoons. His black humor reflected the attitudes of soldiers perfectly, because he was one himself. Google bainsfather bystander old bill to see his terrific work.

]]> By: Russell Letson http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757778 Russell Letson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757778 Anyone interested in following up on this period and its war might want to check the Military Channel, which has aired a number of very good documentaries, including the ten-part "The First World War." And either Military or History ran "The Last Day of World War I," narrated by Michael Palin. There are other programs as well, including one on the Battle of the Somme and another on archaeological excavations of the trenches. You don't need to engage the international-political level to get the depth of social and political stupidity that powered this bloodbath, right up to the last day. Anyone interested in following up on this period and its war might want to check the Military Channel, which has aired a number of very good documentaries, including the ten-part “The First World War.” And either Military or History ran “The Last Day of World War I,” narrated by Michael Palin. There are other programs as well, including one on the Battle of the Somme and another on archaeological excavations of the trenches.

You don’t need to engage the international-political level to get the depth of social and political stupidity that powered this bloodbath, right up to the last day.

]]> By: Shelby Davis http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758036 Shelby Davis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758036 Briefly scanning through the blurb, I read "brings the Great War to life in all its mud- and blood-soaked GLORY." Kinda scared me when I realized my mistake. Says something about me/the culture, I guess. :( Briefly scanning through the blurb, I read

“brings the Great War to life in all its mud- and blood-soaked GLORY.”

Kinda scared me when I realized my mistake. Says something about me/the culture, I guess. :(

]]> By: igzabier http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758050 igzabier Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758050 John Babcock was the LAST WW1 participant(officially,though he never actually soldiered he said-so he was also a sort of a witness/historic memorist) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Babcock John Babcock was the LAST WW1 participant(officially,though he never actually soldiered he said-so he was also a sort of a witness/historic memorist)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Babcock

]]> By: Trent Hawkins http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757540 Trent Hawkins Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757540 is it bad that I've learned more about WW1 through Black Adder then any other source? is it bad that I’ve learned more about WW1 through Black Adder then any other source?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758824 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758824 Anyone interested in WWI should ckeck this book out. http://www.thenausea.com/elements/documents/waragainstwar.html Anyone interested in WWI should ckeck this book out. http://www.thenausea.com/elements/documents/waragainstwar.html

]]> By: turn_self_off http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-759613 turn_self_off Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-759613 while true, what nations leaders picked a fight in the middle east? while true, what nations leaders picked a fight in the middle east?

]]> By: Dan Mac http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758345 Dan Mac Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758345 Judging by the number of posted videos, a number of people are spending their weekends on these old battlefields "Relic Hunting", armed with only metal detectors, magnets and flashlights (for exploring bunkers). Here are a few: (Mainly WWII) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTRnTybTQI&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNos9g1RHps&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuBZ_OYp8KM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izr1pGseU6o&feature=related Judging by the number of posted videos, a number of people are spending their weekends on these old battlefields “Relic Hunting”, armed with only metal detectors, magnets and flashlights (for exploring bunkers).
Here are a few: (Mainly WWII)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTRnTybTQI&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNos9g1RHps&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuBZ_OYp8KM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izr1pGseU6o&feature=related

]]> By: Raj77 http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758859 Raj77 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758859 The fact that orders of magnitude more people died in WWI, to me, means that we must be extremely careful to avoid making glib, disrespectful comparisons to current events. The fact that orders of magnitude more people died in WWI, to me, means that we must be extremely careful to avoid making glib, disrespectful comparisons to current events.

]]> By: quitterjunior http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758614 quitterjunior Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758614 I have a strong serve. But a weak Black Hand. I have a strong serve. But a weak Black Hand.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757335 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757335 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charleys-War-June-1-August-1916/dp/1840236272 charley's war is another profound account of the great war, collect them all!! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charleys-War-June-1-August-1916/dp/1840236272

charley’s war is another profound account of the great war, collect them all!!

]]> By: Gilbert Wham http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757354 Gilbert Wham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757354 In a similar vein, I recommend Pat Mills' excellent Charley's War. In a similar vein, I recommend Pat Mills’ excellent Charley’s War.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758893 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758893 This is interesting because I just this weekend finished reading "A Yankee in the Trenches" by R. Derby Holmes. This WW1 memoir was written and published during the war and pulls no punches. I found it on Project Gutenberg for free and I'm extremely happy I did. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13279 This is interesting because I just this weekend finished reading “A Yankee in the Trenches” by R. Derby Holmes. This WW1 memoir was written and published during the war and pulls no punches. I found it on Project Gutenberg for free and I’m extremely happy I did.

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13279

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757871 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757871 Tardi... http://www.boingboing.net/2010/03/12/luc-bessons-steampun.html ...a time machine? :) Tardi…

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/03/12/luc-bessons-steampun.html

…a time machine? :)

]]> By: MooseDesign http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757371 MooseDesign Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757371 Looks great... I chuckled at the "...the trenches are better organized, because they're German" Looks great… I chuckled at the “…the trenches are better organized, because they’re German”

]]> By: JesterJoker http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757887 JesterJoker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757887 This could be interesting. Graphic novels could be a good way to get a whole lot more people interested in the Great War. I'll keep an eye out for it. This could be interesting. Graphic novels could be a good way to get a whole lot more people interested in the Great War. I’ll keep an eye out for it.

]]> By: igzabier http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757376 igzabier Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757376 his/herstory is awesome! Is John Babcock in it? (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/02/18/war-veteran018.html) .cbr - personally, getting a new kick from illustrated stuff on iphone now. his/herstory is awesome! Is John Babcock in it? (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/02/18/war-veteran018.html)
.cbr – personally, getting a new kick from illustrated stuff on iphone now.

]]> By: RuthlessRuben http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757386 RuthlessRuben Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757386 Looks awesome, though either Binet is going to go through some pretty awesome character development, or I'm not going to miss him that much. Still, it's depressingly close to the documentations I saw. Looks awesome, though either Binet is going to go through some pretty awesome character development, or I’m not going to miss him that much.

Still, it’s depressingly close to the documentations I saw.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757644 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757644 That's people who served, who were in their late teens, at least. Anyone over 100 is old enough to remember the war. That’s people who served, who were in their late teens, at least. Anyone over 100 is old enough to remember the war.

]]> By: MelSkunk http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757903 MelSkunk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757903 Dangit, I spent ages trying remember the name of my ex's original collection of his comic (a period inheritance from a grandfather) (It was called Bullet and Billets) and here's the name of the artist. If only I had realized. I strongly recommend Bairnsfather myself. I loved the well done Fragments from France comics he also had, but I recommend the reprint of B&B (it includes his latter work, which I don't know but assume will be equally well done) Dangit, I spent ages trying remember the name of my ex’s original collection of his comic (a period inheritance from a grandfather) (It was called Bullet and Billets) and here’s the name of the artist. If only I had realized.

I strongly recommend Bairnsfather myself. I loved the well done Fragments from France comics he also had, but I recommend the reprint of B&B (it includes his latter work, which I don’t know but assume will be equally well done)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-759201 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-759201 This looks interesting, but people should really read Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory to really understand the experience of the trenches. This looks interesting, but people should really read Paul Fussell’s The Great War and Modern Memory to really understand the experience of the trenches.

]]> By: Marja http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757420 Marja Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757420 The French high command believed that properly-organized trenches would dull the offensive spirit of the troops; badly-organized trenches would remind everyone that these were only temporary expedients, until they could drive the German troops out of France. The French high command believed that properly-organized trenches would dull the offensive spirit of the troops; badly-organized trenches would remind everyone that these were only temporary expedients, until they could drive the German troops out of France.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757676 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757676 I once had a Michelin guide to the French battlefields, published in the early 1920's if I recall properly. I wish I still had it; it was a really chilling book. It included the standard "you are here" photos showing that much of the battlefield areas hadn't yet been reclaimed by nature. The trenches were still there, and shelled areas looked like the surface of the moon. Coupled with the guide-book style text - that relentless "and on the left here you see the only tree left standing in a two-mile radius" faux-cheery tone - it was one of the most disturbing things I've ever read. I once had a Michelin guide to the French battlefields, published in the early 1920′s if I recall properly. I wish I still had it; it was a really chilling book. It included the standard “you are here” photos showing that much of the battlefield areas hadn’t yet been reclaimed by nature.

The trenches were still there, and shelled areas looked like the surface of the moon. Coupled with the guide-book style text – that relentless “and on the left here you see the only tree left standing in a two-mile radius” faux-cheery tone – it was one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read.

]]> By: Matteus http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757424 Matteus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757424 Looks incredible. But I don't necessarily agree that leaving out the politics and major developments is a wise idea. I mean, I'm not criticising the author of this for having told the story the way he chose to and I'm sure it's great, but I'd really like to see an accessible account of how the political machinations behind the line impacted on the troops. I'm sure someone could do it, and it would be a useful resource because so few people nowadays know about the political background of WW1 (myself included). This is probably due to the tendency, which has been around since the trench poets, to gloss over the political element in favour of communicating the pity and horror of the troops' daily existence. At the time this was necessary because outspoken criticism led to court-martial and writing about the lived experience was a great method for exposing to contemporary audiences (who knew more than we do about the political context than we do) just how horrific it was. But I reckon there'd be an audience today for a combination of the political and day to day strands. Looks incredible. But I don’t necessarily agree that leaving out the politics and major developments is a wise idea. I mean, I’m not criticising the author of this for having told the story the way he chose to and I’m sure it’s great, but I’d really like to see an accessible account of how the political machinations behind the line impacted on the troops. I’m sure someone could do it, and it would be a useful resource because so few people nowadays know about the political background of WW1 (myself included). This is probably due to the tendency, which has been around since the trench poets, to gloss over the political element in favour of communicating the pity and horror of the troops’ daily existence. At the time this was necessary because outspoken criticism led to court-martial and writing about the lived experience was a great method for exposing to contemporary audiences (who knew more than we do about the political context than we do) just how horrific it was. But I reckon there’d be an audience today for a combination of the political and day to day strands.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-782517 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-782517 Yes we (The US) picked that stupid little fight in the Middle East and we are still paying for it in tons of tax money and blood. Hopefully we will learn from this mistake and get outta there soon, ...a black stain on our modern history. Yes we (The US) picked that stupid little fight in the Middle East and we are still paying for it in tons of tax money and blood.

Hopefully we will learn from this mistake and get outta there soon, …a black stain on our modern history.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757448 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757448 idd Charleys War is a nother amazing comic on the 1st world war, great art and stories. idd Charleys War is a nother amazing comic on the 1st world war, great art and stories.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758222 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758222 The Michelin guide is available from http://www.archive.org/details/michelinguidetob00mill The Michelin guide is available from http://www.archive.org/details/michelinguidetob00mill

]]> By: MichaelWalsh http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-757457 MichaelWalsh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-757457 "Few people alive today are old enough to remember World War I" Few? Probably not even that many. According to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_veterans_of_World_War_I there are 3 verified living veterans of WWI. “Few people alive today are old enough to remember World War I”

Few? Probably not even that many. According to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_veterans_of_World_War_I there are 3 verified living veterans of WWI.

]]> By: chronopsis http://boingboing.net/2010/04/09/it-was-the-war-of-th.html#comment-758225 chronopsis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-758225 My wife and I made a tour of the Western Front a couple summers ago; thrilled to see an english translation of this! I wish more could see how present WW1 is in that region, the giant mine craters, bunkers and trench remains, the hundreds of military cemeteries, the unexploded munitions that still require areas to be essentially sealed off from use nearly 100 years later. Some anaglyph pix (I found it the only way to come close to conveying the scale): http://chronopsis.com/wordpress/?page_id=1307 My wife and I made a tour of the Western Front a couple summers ago; thrilled to see an english translation of this! I wish more could see how present WW1 is in that region, the giant mine craters, bunkers and trench remains, the hundreds of military cemeteries, the unexploded munitions that still require areas to be essentially sealed off from use nearly 100 years later. Some anaglyph pix (I found it the only way to come close to conveying the scale): http://chronopsis.com/wordpress/?page_id=1307

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