Watched on Netflix ..I thought it was way way better and more to the reality of WW1 than the clean cut 1917 WW1 film . A German film , two other earlier films made ..first one in the 1930's and maybe around 1990's the second . I think they struck it right on . Very impressed . Can't imagine what it must of felt like being stuck in Hell for a long time ....if you were lucky enough to survive it . Both my grandfathers were in it . On my fathers side he joined up straight away as he was out of work in Blaydon on Tyne and survived ...He was in a Durham division . On my Mothers side Mr James Cormack from Anstruther Fife ,joined the 7th black Watch at St Andrews . He also survived ..he was taken prisoner at the second battle of Cambrai in feb 1918 . Both never talked a word of it only the once and said, When in hand to hand combat ..you are overtaken by survival panic and turn into a fighting like a crazed animal , then after the war you feel like a murderer . Thats why they never talk, and the rest of the filth that goes with it .
Yes I've seen it, most vivid and very poignant. Both my grandfather's served. Never really heard anything from them about the war except that my mother's father always shaved in cold water for the rest of his life.
My Grandad, Leslie Alfred Chelu served in WWII, in Florence, Italy. We think he joined up in 1938 then went off to war, we know he was in Florence, spoke fluent italian and knew the backroads like we tore round the roads in Crich. What he did, no idea, I suppose I ought get his military records. He came home briefly in 1945 then back home for good around 1952 / 1953.
Watched it last week and thought it was excellent, the battle scenes in particular are incredible and not exactly an easy watch. Thankfully I never had any relations sent off to either WW1 or WW2. Not sure how Mum's Dad avoided action in WW2 (probably best not to ask....) but my Dad's father, though being born in 1895 and prime fighting age in WW1, was a train driver by then and thus exempt from call up.
