Sadly, as Doug later predicted, “titties and carnage” bring more visitors than the beautiful mountainous regions around Chamonix. I justified making a blog by figuring I’d investigate some alpinism views that I’m still fascinated by. This blog exists because Doug thought I ought to put some of my stereoviews and (he thought) hilarious commentary online. The futility of “the war to end all wars”, as well as its inevitability, is a sentiment I shared with Doug Jordan, the previous steward of our collection. My personal views on the Great War are largely unchanged since I was 10 and discovered Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. Which brings me to… The Jordan/Ference/Ference Collection We do, every year, on this blog inspired by my friend Doug. Whatever side they fought for, we ought remember their names. Rather, it is a cause for remembrance – a lot of men took up the call. This should not be a cause of celebration. The fuses were set to a long line of metaphorical dynamites the end results were the deaths of upwards of 40 million young men. Albert I of Belgium, my personal hero amongst the leadership class of the Great War, refused the German demands to march through his neutral country on moral grounds. Britain wasn’t looking for war, but had promised to defend neutral Belgium.

Wilhelm II, having strengthened Germany’s military a great deal and built up a reputable navy for the first time, was just looking for an excuse to use it. While the Parisians were busy with la Belle Époque, Clemenceau and the generals thirsted for the return of Alsace-Lorraine, lost during the Franco-Prussian War. Other European leaders were ready for war as well. Both died at the wrong end of that ideological teenager’s gun. He was so obsessed with hunting that his wife quipped that he loved lions more than she. He was too liberal for Austro-Hungary, to which he was heir presumptive. Gavrilo Princip, a teenager with a gun and some ideology, gave the Emperor his wish by assassinating Archduke Frantz Ferdinand – ironically beloved by nobody. To what end? Frantz Joseph wanted to win some military victory for the Dual Monarchy during his reign – and particularly wanted full control of Serbia. Tens of millions of young men had lost their lives. One-hundred and two years ago at this very minute, the guns fell silent across Europe.

Trenches II