Grandma had mementos of the GREAT WAR
Her youngest brother had left his cozy office job
in quaint old Jaffna town to join the British
Army in Mesopotamia in 1914…
He had returned after four years of desert warfare
Grandma’s photos of her brother’s comrades
Before and after the war
Bright young faces had become haggard,
Wrinkled, old and weary, although still in their
Thirties…
Millions had perished in that war.
He returned to his job in tranquil Jaffna town,
Thankful to be alive…
– Jegatheeswari Nagendran
Colombo 05
So many in the “War to End All Wars” which became World War 1 when there was a two, suffered in inconclusion, not knowing any purpose, but yet having been brave and courageous and bold, distinguished and noble. Many in the wars were more noble than their top leaders who fretted about things more strategic than a common death, a common family catastrophe. The winning is for the theorists, the bloody losing is for the Mothers of Tears.