100 years on.

Next year is the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of WWI. There has been much discussion about how this date should be marked. The fear in some government circles, is that it should be not seen as too 'triumphalist'. We now have a very good relationship with Germany and the German people. Despite the football. On Wednesday BBC 2 had a very good drama based on true events The Wipers Times about life in the trenches during that bloody war. The story was told via a satirical newspaper written by the officers and men. Ian Hislop was one of the script writers - the weekly rag had some similarities to Private Eye - of which he is the editor. What the drama managed to capture was  the absurdity of war, coupled with the indomitable spirit of the men and their camaraderie. There was some great acting roles - Michael Palin playing a superb sardonic general Mitford captured the mood. Captain Fred Roberts the editor was brilliantly played by Ben Chaplin. Its very difficult to know just how to remember these terrible events that have had such a devastating impact on the last 100 years. All our lives have been touched and influenced by the loss of great grandparents, siblings and friends. The war in Syria will have similar long term consequences.