The War To End All Wars.

Today, November 11th (11/11/18) marks both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.

It is appropriate these two events fall on the same day. It also marks the 100th Anniversary of the original Armistice Day.

In the spring and summer of 1914 the German Empire, The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire were all itching to expand their territory. By invading and annexing the territory of their neighbours. Starting with Serbia and the Russian Empire.

On June 28th 1914 (28/6/14) they got the excuse they were looking for.

Serb nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. An assassination which was only made possible because Ferdinand's driver had made a wrong turn outside a cafe where Princip had stopped for a sandwich.

This assassination gave the Austro-Hungarian Empire and their allies the German Empire and the Ottoman Turkish Empire the excuse they were looking for to attack Serbia and its ally the Russian Empire.

The German Empire's concern was that if they attacked the Russian Empire to the east then the Russian Empire's ally France would attack the German Empire from the west. So in August 1914 the German Empire launched a pre-emptive attack on France.

This attack plan saw them invade France via Belgium. Bringing Belgium's ally Britain into the war.

At the time these Empires all had colonies across the globe. The fighting quickly spread to them as the war began to rage across both the Middle-East and Africa.

In the Middle-East the British Empire, France and the Russian Empire along with Armenians and Assyrians fought the Ottoman Empire. Across what is modern day, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Across what is modern day Syria, Iraq and Iran. Across the Caucus region which contains modern nations such as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In Africa the British Empire, the Belgian Empire and the Portuguese Empire fought the German Empire. Across almost all of central and eastern Africa. Essentially from the modern nations of Uganda and Kenya down to modern day South Africa. Including Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This East African Campaign is often a shamefully overlooked part of what became known as the First World War.

In May 1915 the Imperial German Navy sank passenger liner the RMS Lusitania murdering 128 American citizens. Causing considerable tension between the two nations.

Tensions which were not improved by the German Empire's decision to issue a medal celebrating the sinking of the Lusitania. A medal which depicted evil Americans buying their tickets to death.

In February 1917 a diplomatic cable was intercepted detailing the German Empire's plan to ally with Mexico to invade the US across its southern border. So in June 1917 the US entered the war in Europe.

All these great Empires had all been built at a time when war was a relatively civilised affair.

Armies would meet in tight formations in a field at daybreak. They would then fight until sunset. At which point one side was forced to accept it had lost. Everyone shook hands and went home.

The First World War was the first major conflict fought using the modern machine gun. These could wipe out the hundreds of men in those tight military formations in a matter of seconds.

Within weeks of the German Empire's attack on France in August 1914 all sides realised that the war had been a mistake. However no-one could figure out a way to bring the war to an end.

So they spent the next four years sending the men of these tight military formations to their deaths against enemy machine guns. All for no real territorial gain.

By the end of the conflict 17,000,000 people had been killed across all sides. 10,000,000 combatants and 7,000,000 civilians.

For some context America's 17 year War On Terror is estimated to have killed 500,000 people.

Such was the scale of the slaughter and the contempt the ruling class showed for its subjects that in 1917 the Russian people rose up in revolution and overthrew their Tsar. Bringing an end to the Russian Empire.

Faced with famine in 1918 the German people rose up and overthrew their Kaiser. Bringing an end to the German Empire.

Stripped of its territory across North-Africa, the Middle-East, Europe and the Caucus region the Ottoman Turkish Empire limped on until 1924.

At 02:00 on November 11th 1918 (11/11/18) the Supreme Command of Allied Forces in Europe, French General Ferdinand Koch met with German Finance Minister Matthias Erzberger in a train carriage in the forest of Compiegne, France. At 05:15 Erzberger signed Germany's surrender in an Armistice Agreement.

That Armistice Agreement came into effect nearly six hours later. At the 11th hour of the 11th month, 1918 (11/11/18).

Having declared themselves victors the British Empire held a Victory Parade on July 19th 1919 (19/6/19). Part of the parade route through central London included a wood and plaster sculpture to honour the unknown dead. Those who had died without ever being identified.

In December 1919 this Empty Tomb or; "Cenotaph" was dismantled and placed in a museum. As the British Empire tried to return to business as usual and erase the memory of war.

A nation which had seen an entire generation of young men lost. Either killed, wounded or deeply psychologically scarred were having none of it.

They demanded that the Cenotaph be rebuilt in its original location from 120 tonnes of stone. They also demanded that every year Britain's leaders visit that empty tomb and stand in silence as they think about what they have done.

So at its root Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday and the Cenotaph are the World's largest and longest running anti-war protest. The hope at the time was that it would mark the war that had ended all war.

Clearly they failed in that goal as 100 years on we still find ourselves fighting wars. For me the past four years have been spent by the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). Back exactly where the Ottoman Turkish Empire was defeated all those years ago.

Particularly in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF/QSD) and their International Freedom Brigade this leaves me feeling an affinity for those forced to gather at the Cenotaph.

From the comfort and safety of my home I have dozens of times cheered as the SDF and others are sent into battle against ISIL. Knowing full well that not all of those sent into battle will return. They are being sent out to die.

These are the members of the SDF's International Brigade that did not return.

Ashley Johnston; Aged 29, from Australia. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. February 23rd 2015 (23/2/15).

Konstandinos Erik Scurfield; Aged 25, from Britain. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. March 2nd 2015 (2/3/15).

Ivana Hoffman; Aged 19, from Germany. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. March 7th 2015 (7/5/15).
  
Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Iran. Killed by ISIL fire during the Tel Abyad/Gire Spi campaign. May 15th 2015 (15/5/15).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. At time unknown between March 7th 2015 (7/3/15) and May 19th 2015 (19/5/15).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. At time unknown between March 7th 2015 (7/3/15) and May 19th 2015 (19/5/15).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. At time unknown between March 7th 2015 (7/3/15) and May 19th 2015 (19/5/15).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. At time unknown between March 7th 2015 (7/3/15) and May 19th 2015 (19/5/15).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. At time unknown between March 7th 2015 (7/3/15) and May 19th 2015 (19/5/15).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Cizre Campaign. At time unknown between March 7th 2015 (7/3/15) and May 19th 2015 (19/5/15).

Bedrettin Akdeniz; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Tel Abyad/Gire Spi campaign. May 25th 2015 (25/5/15).

Mahir Arpaçay; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Tel Abyad/Gire Spi campaign June 2nd 2015 (2/6/15).

Keith Broomfield; Aged 36, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Tel Abyad/Gire Spi campaign. June 3rd 2015 (3/6/15).

Reece Harding; Aged 23, from Australia. Killed by ISIL fire during the Tel Abyad/Gire Spi campaign. June 27th 2015 (27/6/15).

Kevin Jochim; Aged 21, from Germany. Killed by ISIL fire during the Tel Abyad/Gire Spi campaign. July 6th 2015 (6/7/15).

Aziz Güler; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during defence of Hasakah City. September 21st 2015 (21/9/15).

John Gallagher; Aged 32, from Canada. Killed by ISIL fire during the al-Shadaddi campaign. November 4th 2015 (4/11/15).

Gunter Helsten; Aged 47, from Germany. Killed by ISIL fire during the al-Shadaddi campaign. February 23rd 2016 (23/2/16).

Mario Nunes; Aged 22, from Portugal. Captured and Executed by ISIL near Tell Tamer. May 3rd 2016 (3/5/16).

Jamie Bright; Aged 45, from Australia. Killed by ISIL fire during the al-Shadaddi campaign. May 25th 2016 (25/5/16).

Eylem Ataş; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Manbij. June 28th 2016 (28/6/16).

Levi Shirley; Aged 24, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Manbij. July 14th 2016 (14/7/16).

Martin Gruden; Age unknown, from Slovenia. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Manbij. July 21st 2016 (21/7/16).

Dean Evans; Aged 22, from Britain. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Manbij. July 27th 2016 (27/7/16).

Jordan MacTaggert; Aged 22, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Manbij. August 3rd 2016 (3/8/16).

William Savage; Aged 27, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Manbij. August 10th 2016 (10/8/16).

Amir Qobabi; Age unknown, from Iran. Killed in ISIL IED  attack while on patrol near Kobane. Mid-August 2016.

Micheal Israel; Aged 27, from America. Killed by Turkish Airstrike in Manbij. November 24th 2016 (24/8/16).

Anton Leschek; Age unknown, from Germany. Killed by Turkish Airstrike in Manbij. November 24th 2016 (24/8/16).

Ryan Locke; Aged 20, from Britain. Killed by ISIL fire during first phase of Operation: Wrath of Euphrates. December 21st 2016 (21/12/16).

Nazzareno Tassone; Aged 24, from Canada. Killed by ISIL fire during first phase of Operation: Wrath of Euphrates. December 21st 2016 (21/12/16).

Muzaffer Kandemir; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during second phase of Operation: Wrath of Euphrates. January 7th 2017 (7/1/17).

Paolo Todd; Aged 33, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during second phase of Operation: Wrath of Euphrates. January 15th 2017 (15/1/17).

Albert Harrington; Aged 49, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during second phase of Operation: Wrath of Euphrates. January 18th 2017 (18/1/17).

Ulaş Bayraktaroğlu; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Tabqa. May 10th 2017 (10/5/17).

Ayşe Karacagil; Aged 23, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during Madan campaign. May 29th 2017 (29/5/17).

Hasan Ali; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during Madan campaign. May 29th 2017 (29/5/17).

Robert Grodt; Aged 28, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. July 5th 2017 (5/7/17).

Luke Rutter; Aged 22, from Britain. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. July 5th 2017 (5/7/17).

Nicholas Warden; Aged 29, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. July 5th 2017 (5/7/17).

David Taylor; Aged 26, from America. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. July 16th 2017 (16/7/17).

Nubar Ozanyan; Aged 61, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. August 14th 2017 (14/8/17).

Gökhan Taşyakan; Aged 38, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. Mid-August 2017.

Frederic Demonchaux; Aged 49, from France. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. September 7th 2017 (7/9/17).

Siyabend Nasir; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by ISIL fire during Operation: Cizre Storm. September 16th 2017 (16/9/17).

Mehmet Aksoy; Aged 32, from Britain. Killed by ISIL fire during the Battle of Raqqa City. September 26th 2017 (26/9/17).

Jac Holmes; Aged 24, from Britain. Killed defusing ISIL IED in Raqqa City. October 24th 2017 (24/10/17).

Oliver Hall; Aged 24, from Britain. Killed defusing ISIL IED in Raqqa City. November 25th 2017 (25/11/17).

Sinan Ateş; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by Turkish fire during the defence of Afrin Canton. February 2nd 2018 (2/2/18).

Olivier Le Clainch; Aged 40, from France. Killed by Turkish fire during the defence of Afrin Canton. February 10th 2018 (10/2/18).

Samuel Leon; Aged 24, from Spain. Killed by Turkish fire during the defence of Afrin Canton. February 10th 2018 (10/2/18).

Sjoerd Heeger; Aged 24, from the Netherlands. Killed by ISIL fire during Operation: Cizre Storm. February 12th 2018 (12/2/18).

Haukur Hilmarsson; Aged 32, from Iceland. Killed by Turkish fire during the defence of Afrin Canton. February 24th 2018 (24/2/18).

Jake Klipsch; Aged 32, from America. Killed by Turkish fire during the defence of Afrin Canton. March 14th 2018 (14/3/18).

Anna Campbell; Aged 26, from Britain. Killed by Turkish fire during the defence of Afrin Canton. March 16th 2018 (16/3/18).

Alina Sánchez; Aged 32, from Argentina. Killed in vehicle accident near Hasakah City. March 17th 2018 (17/3/18).

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by Turkish fire in defence of Afrin Canton. March 2018.

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by Turkish fire in defence of Afrin Canton. March 2018.

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by Turkish fire in defence of Afrin Canton. March 2018.

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by Turkish fire in defence of Afrin Canton. March 2018.

Name Withheld to Protect Family; Age unknown, from Turkey. Killed by Turkish fire in defence of Afrin Canton. March 2018.

Jack Klebs; Age unknown, from America. Killed in Turkish IED attack whilst on patrol near Ayn Issa. April 2018.

Kendal Ramon; Age unknown, from Spain. Killed by ISIL fire near Mount Baghuz during Operation: Round Up. May 13th 2018 (13/5/18).

Farid Medjahed; Aged 36, from France. Killed by ISIL fire during Battle of the Hajin Pocket. October 6th 2018 (6/10/18).

These are the members of Combined Joint Task Force: Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTFOR) that did not return.

Captain William H. DuBois Jr; United States Air Force. Aged 30. Killed in F-16 crash returning from Syria mission. November 30th 2014 (30/11/14)

Captain Muath al-Kasabeh; Royal Jordanian Air Force. Aged 26. Captured and burned alive by ISIL in Raqqa City. January 3rd 2015 (3/1/15).

Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Dayton; United States Navy. Aged 42. Killed defusing ISIL IED during first phase of Operation; Wrath of Euphrates. November 24th 2016 (24/11/16).

Sergeant Matthew Tonroe; British Army. Aged 33. Killed in Turkish IED attack whilst on patrol in Manbij. March 30th 2018 (30/3/18).

Master Sergeant Jonathon J. Dundar; United States Army. Aged 36. Killed in Turkish IED attack whilst on patrol in Manbij. March 30th 2018 (30/3/18).

I take some consolation from the fact that as they prepared to go into battle they all knew what they had signed up for

They also knew that not all of them would return. They knew that some of them were being sent out to die.

Yet they went anyway.

09:35 on 11/11/18 (UK date).