11.11

"I am making this statement as an act of wilful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the War is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it. I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this War, on which I entered as a war of defence and liberation, has now become a war of aggression and conquest. I believe that the purpose for which I and my fellow soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them, and that, had this been done, the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation. I have seen and endured the sufferings of the troops, and I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust. I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed. On behalf of those who are suffering now I make this protest against the deception which is being practised on them; also I believe that I may help to destroy the callous complacency with which the majority of those at home regard the contrivance of agonies which they do not, and which they have not sufficient imagination to realize."

Siegfried Sassoon, July 1917.

A heartfelt statement from ninety three years ago. The heartbreaking part is that certain circles don't appear to have paid it any heed whatsoever.

As for the image, this is the book I'm reading at present. It was recommended by a work mate and is, obviously fiction, but is based on the documented stay of Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen and others and their treatment from Dr william Rivers at Craiglockhart Hospital here in Edinburgh. I've not finished it yet but so far it's a great read. Apparently the film adaptation is very good too.