I don't think Hedgetrimmer meant cannon fodder in a disrespectful way listening to the veterans experiences was not easy.
Cannon fodder...I don't like that phrase, especially when applied to our troops in that war. They were fighting for a real, just cause. Even Montgomery, say what you will about him, was very conscious of the dwindling British manpower reserves throughout the ETO, and did all he could to keep British casualties to a minimum, such that the Germans complained about our massive use of material resources, especially when it came to artillery, and our American allies complained about his reluctance to commit.The Russians otoh did often treat their soldiers as cannon fodder with frontal assaults on well defended positions, where pure numbers were used to overwhelm their enemy.
Been watching the D Day commemorations and listening to the experiences of the veterans most of who a lot were little more than kids then. VERY MOVING
There's a series gonna be starting soon on Ch4, i think Thursday 20th, called Catch-22, produced by George Clooney.Make a point of recording it, it is VERY good.Not only is the whole thing very polished, it has humour, tragedy, some really dark moments, and when you see the regular bombing missions it's just downright scary. Plus the background music gives it an atmospheric boost as well.Highly recommended. https://youtu.be/JARn16yojbQ
No disrespect intended Hedgetrimmer, I have and always had the utmost respect for those guys. However I did correct the wording as I had left out a wordThe term was used by veterans themselves from WW1, WW2 and Vietnam when telling me of the horrors of the wars. They did not consider it disrespectful because they felt they were on occasions used like that in desperate virtually unwinnable situation. Strength of numbers got those guys up the beaches of Normandy, if you have not been there, go there you will see exactly why. We have a monument to those who were lost in both wars in my home parish, most of them under 21. Ireland was fighting its own independence battle during the 14 to 18 war yet many of our youngsters when to fight.When WW2 was on Ireland choose to remain neutral, something I have never agreed with as were many of those Irish who who fought and died in Normandy.I have taken a lot of time out of holidays to ensure I got to visit these places to pay respects for what these men and women did. I still have many to go to and one in particular is Salonica where my wifes Grandfather is buried having lost his life and leaving a wife and 6 children behind 3 months before WW1 ended.The term was not used disrespectfully and if offended you it was not intended.What I do find disrespectful is derogatory comments made by many British on their holidays about the French when quarter of its country was overrun at the start of the WW2.France had fortified its borders with Germany where they expected the German invasion, they did not expect a Belgium side invasion.The French Resistance were one of the toughest most active resistance movements (most untrained in military methods) and without them much of the war effort would never have succeeded. The French on there own tried in vain to ward off the German invasion with an equal number of Men and tanks, but were outgunned by over double the air power of Germany Luftwaffe.It is much easier to invade a Land Border than a Sea Border which is what kept England safer.It is important that everybody pays their respects to those who lost their lives and survived the horrors of both wars and value the freedom they fought for.Rant Over