Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

100 Years Ago: New Years Eve 1914


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Historic Antwerp Photographed Last Week by Tony Langley
Central Station in the Background

Imagine New Year's Eve in beautiful Antwerp, Belgium, 100 years ago. Do you suppose there was a single citizen who imagined that before the year's end his city would be bombed, besieged, and occupied for four years by enemy forces?

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Bombing Damage in Central Antwerp



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German Marines on Parade in Antwerp's Grand Place

3 comments:

  1. Great photo, Tony! Thank you and Happy New Year to you. Must get to Antwerp, especially now that the Red Star Line museum is open. My great-grandparents sailed from there in 1901.

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  2. I don't mean to be picky, but New Year's Eve 1914 heralded I January 1915.

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  3. I wish all of you not only a Happy New Year but as the year progresses and we begin to see the fruition of the many and varied plans to mark the anniversaries of the next five years I wish everyone success in their efforts.

    Coming from a country in which generations of school children could be forgiven for assuming that World War One was fought on one day in April 1915, I hope to play a small part in gently bringing home the enormity of what their grandparents or great grandparents endured.

    Thank you to all those involved with 'Roads' - long may it continue.

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