It is 100 years since World War I began...

Joy and I were watching the International news this morning, and there was a moving tribute to mark the outbreak of World War I, 100 years ago.

Britain declared war on Germany after it invaded neutral Belgium on August 4, 1914, and the declaration escalated a conflict - sparked by the assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary - into a global war, where around 16 million people were killed before the war ended four years later. 

Thousands of innocent young men marched off proudly to fight for their country, thinking it was all a big adventure. It really is so hard to contemplate today. I'm sure many of us have family or friends needlessly affected by war, just as many of you reading this will have had family who were killed in that war. My own great grandmother lost her son after just a few months of him enlisting. 

Old Time Radio as we know it, wasn't to hit the airwaves for at least ten years after the end of World War I, so any radio shows from this era are few and far between - there certainly wasn't any of the old time radio entertainment we all love so dearly. 

However, I have found some memorial shows, such as Armistice Day. This was a tribute to the men who served in World War I. It is a story of a reunion of friends who served together at Dunkirk, and brings a picture of what actually happened along the many miles of front line trenches when word was received that the World War was over. It was written by an American army officer who was there. 

Another show that I stumbled across, 1917 World War I (SA) was from a South African series called Scoop. It's a dramatization centred around a soldier named Forbes, who was severely injured in the trenches and sent home. After hearing from his 'charwoman' that munitions are being produced at a local chemical factory, he is concerned for the welfare of the workers in the event of an attack. It's only a matter of time before the German intelligence learns of it, and precautions and protection need to be in place to save lives...

I hope you enjoy the shows and that whilst you listen you spare a thought not only for the men and woman who have served in the conflicts of the past century, but also to the men and woman who are in our armed forces today. Remember them with pride and gratitude.

Happy listening my friends,