On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month, the Guns Fell Silent
Am commemorating Veteran's Day by waiting in an internet cafe at the airport, aware that many have been sacrificed for the privilege of my doing so. The above Black Adder clip, while comedic, might as well be a real transcript of low-level British commanders steeling themselves with black humour before embarking on a suicidal attack in the Great War. Here's Hugh Laurie of "House M.D." fame playing the Leftenant who greets a glum Captain Darling, sent down by a general to join the deadly fanfaronnade:
Laurie: "Well this is splendid comradely news! Together we'll fight for king and country and we'll be sucking down sausages in Berlin by tea-time!"(Credits to "WTF is it now?")
Darling: "...rather hoped I'd get through the whole show. Go back to work at Pratt & Sons...keep wicket for the Croydon Gentlemen...marry Dorothy. Made a note in my diary on the way here...it simply says, 'Bugger.'"
2 comments:
Interesting. Am guessing that it us oldish arseholes who may possibly have any emotional attachment - or understanding to/of that date.
Obviously, September 11, will always have more emotional impact with the next generation.
Hi Davo,
yes you're right, the Great War and Modern Memory are intertwined in ways that are, umm, no longer remembered much.
9-ll ushered in the Asymmetric Age, a bitterly ironic militarily milestone.
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