Richard's telling facts for silent observers

We stood in silence this week remembering those who died in World War 1, but probably not dwelling much on the appalling human price so many paid – being shot, blown up, run down, caught by a grenade, or bayoneted.

It’s not very likely that many of us thought of it all in the terms of the pounds shillings and pence our forebears paid in addition to their blood and pain.

One man certainly did and the conscience of London historian and tour guide Richard Jones inspired him to do much more than wish we all could somehow know or experience the horror of it.

The real charge

Society stood silent for two minutes to recall a courageous side to war, on both Sunday and Monday for many of us.

But it seems that Richard Jones realised that we should be reminded of, or made aware of, much more than the notion of a victorious band of uniforms charging an enemy post.

His well-recommended Richard Jones' walking tours site carried the link to his YouTube five-minute reminder of the price the common man pays when politicians resort to war to resolve national disputes.

Yes, nations borrow huge wads of cash, but the true price – the costliest charge – is in human life.

Richard reminds us that military and civilian casualties in World War I numbered about 40 million. Between 15 and 19 million humans died, Wikipedia reports.

Continues on the blogs for my ocean adventuring book, Sailing to Purgatory, at 

http://sailingtopurgatory.com/index.php/feeds/464-richard-s-telling-facts-for-silent-observers