A framed photograph of men playing football hung beside the door. Taken in December 1914, the photo showed Germans and Englishmen playing side by side, festive smiles on their faces as they beamed with the confidence of men who thought the war couldn’t continue. He’d won awards for his images, but their medals were sent to bereaved families. Would it all be remembered, in a century’s time? Would another conflict, perhaps even bigger, overshadow their losses? Would names like Ypres and the Somme be remembered, or would they fade into history, taking their ghosts with them?
Faraday knew that some ghosts shouldn’t be forgotten, capable as they were of returning, bringing a fresh hell with them. He knew sleep would continue to elude him, so he got up, saluting the soldiers as he passed. He went to the bureau to sort through his photographs, the ones not yet published. Faraday would do everything he could to keep these ghosts alive, to ensure they were remembered, if only to stop another, even greater, war from swallowing up the world.
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A hundred years later, one marvels at how little has been learned, and how unimportant the motivations behind most Great Wars truly are.
Thank you for remembering through your story. Touching and well told.
So strange that events can be remembered, but the wrong lessons drawn from them.
Ghosts worth remembering. Nice story, Icy.
I’ve always wondered how reporters and photographers could handle all the strong emotions of the men and women of war surrounding them. You’ve done fabulous in showing us a bit of that Icy!
Crowns crumble, empires fall, only the ghosts of those who died remain. Great vignette, Icy.
Ugliness can run through anyone who has to deal with it long enough. Brilliant to keep this so concise, Icy.
Beautiful and pertinent. Loved this.
I have heard the expression “The war to end all wars.” Wouldn’t it have been something if that had turned out to be true?
A powerful story, Icy.
You’ve written a beautiful snapshot of a tortured life. Nice work.
Well-written, strong images. If only people would learn…
Always worth remembering – nice story Icy!
It always shocks me a little when I remember the Great War will soon be a hundred years away in history. It still seems so immediate. These people lived with a lot of the same conveniences we do: telephones, cars…
Great job of showing what happened to even some of those who were non-combatants.