Gen Y on Lost Gen
The impact of Channel 4's The Somme on today's young generation
BEFORE watching:
What comes to mind when you hear the words 'The Somme'?
Everyone appeared to recognise the importance of the battle. Responses included:
'Death, mud, waste.'
'Battle, soldiers, death, pointless, turning point.'
'Most horrendous battle of World War One, mistake, turning point towards a more cynical attitude.'
'Needless loss, sheer horror.'
'Senseless casualties.'
'The huge loss of life at the hands of machine gunners.'
'Loads of young men dying on one day – a human tragedy.'
'One of the bloodiest battles in history.'
'War... what is it good for?'
Where is the Somme?
Everyone knew it is in France, and a small minority could pinpoint it to northern France.
What comes to mind when you hear the words 'First World War'?
'Mud, rats, violence, gas.'
'Trenches, young men, death, rats, poetry, literature, new war fought on old lines.'
'Fighting, the front, Allied troops, Germans, trench warfare, bombing, the dead, the young, shell holes.'
'Poppy Day. The first conflict with such huge losses.'
'Archduke Ferdinand and the Black Hand Gang.'
'Trenches, mud, Triple Entente, Triple Alliance, death.'
'A war that was meant to solve problems, but was pointless because of the destruction.'
'Trenches, poetry, "Dulce et Decorum est".'
Do you think the young men and women who went to the front during the First World War were brave or foolhardy?
'They were brave, but they may not have known the true nature of the war.'
'They were given a very glorified picture of warfare and they were certainly brave, especially when you think of how sheltered and irresponsible many 17-year-olds are today.'
'Foolhardy and perhaps naïve to begin with, going to war to feed the lust for blood and for honour and glory, but brave upon realising the harsh reality of war.'
'The courage itself was forced and ultimately the people had little choice. Perhaps those who glorified the war were foolhardy.'
'They were brave because they put their lives at risk for their country.'
'They did their duty even though they knew they might die, so they were brave.'
'Their sort of sacrifice is so rare in today's world.'
'I think they went to the front with the illusion that the war was glorious and brave. Those who persevered were certainly brave.'
Would you have volunteered to fight in the First World War? And would you volunteer for any war now?
'I don't believe war is the only solution. At the time of World War One, I would have volunteered, however, to avoid imprisonment or being branded a coward. Now I would not think twice about objecting.'
'No and I wouldn't volunteer now. I don't believe in innocent people dying in wars the leaders of their countries cause.'
'Definitely not now. War is unnecessary.'
'Yes, I would have volunteered and I would now if the cause was right, but not for the Iraq war.'
'Yes. I would have volunteered. "Better love has no man than one who lays down his life for his friends." Jesus Christ.'
'I would not have the courage to risk my life and I would volunteer now only if the war was completely necessary.'
'I would not have volunteered for World War One, but I would now because the conditions and equipment are better.'
'Yes. Adventure, something new.'
'I would have volunteered, but, as a girl, I guess it would have been an unusual decision to make. I wouldn't volunteer now. You'd like to think there were options other than war.'