The Forgotten Army

[Kitty]

As Eddie Izzard said, I'm from Britain, where the history comes from.

[jeffbubble]

i dont have a problem re Burma being forgotten - I just ask the Father -in -Law Tom Duram ee RAF Regiment, still going strong at 82 and still uses his back pack for his shopping!

[Mark Hone]

As part of the supposed sinister left wing conspiracy to undermine the teaching of British History, I feel compelled to reply. Virtually all British schoolchildren now study aspects of the First and Second World Wars, even if they do not go on to study History at GCSE and beyond. (Incidentally making the subject non-compulsory after Year 9 was not a decision made by History teachers). Many children study Britain in the Second World War and also the First World War at Primary School. 20th Century conflicts, including the two World Wars are usually taught in Year 9 (old-fashioned Third Year)

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Mark Hone

As part of the supposed sinister left wing conspiracy to undermine the teaching of British History, I feel compelled to reply. Virtually all British schoolchildren now study aspects of the First and Second World Wars, even if they do not go on to study History at GCSE and beyond. (Incidentally making the subject non-compulsory after Year 9 was not a decision made by History teachers). Many children study Britain in the Second World War and also the First World War at Primary School. 20th Century conflicts, including the two World Wars are usually taught in Year 9 (old-fashioned Third Year)

Speaking from the Aussie perspective, we don't want it "shoved" down their throats however they should be aware of the events that led up to the wars, the fighting, the homefronts and the culture changes that followed post war.

Anzac day in Australia has had a marked resurgance over the past 10 years or so as we honour the last of our WW1 Anzacs and the dwindling of representation of WW2 veterans. Korean & Vietnam veterans are becoming better known and the Vietnam involvement accepted now that the protests of the 60's have faded and people are able to realise it was the governments of the day that sent the soldiers and they should still be honoured for doing their duty.

[Kitty]

Here here Spidge!
I am aware that history has made a fightback in British schools, but in my psychology class three weeks ago we were discussing views and racism, and the lecturer happened to mention that a WW2 film was being remade, and the Americans were very nervous over including a certain black dog in it because of it's name. i instantly named the film, and the restof my class (all under21) hadn't a clue who or what the Dambusters were. And we're in Buxton, less than 30 minutes from the Derwent! I ask you, it's a crying shame.

[spidge]

There is no disrespect meant to your peers however you would be the rose amongst the thorns when it comes to knowledge of 20th century history.

No, not knowledge of war, knowledge of history. When you study 20th century history you can't just leave out the parts that don't interest you or go against what your friends think is kosher and what is not.

[Gotthard Heinrici]

Well in Ireland the attitude towards history is a strange one. Our History is dominated by our relationship to Great Britain and this comes across in the Teaching of History. Having said that, there is great interest in the 20th Century and indeed all aspects of it.

[Kitty]

I wish i had learnt some irish history. It really annoyed me the lack of history i was taught. 6 months was wasted on Women in China, and another 6 on the history of medecine at GCSE level. We then had 6 weeks on the industrial revoloution cotton mills. Where was the balance? At least the history teachers are beginning to fight back.

Spidge, i thank you for the compliment, i have never been called a rose before. As to disrespecting my peers, go for it. Most of them are a load of twonks anyway.

[von Poop]

And so the forgotten army gets forgotten again.

[Brownag]

[/quote]
Most of the Aussies that were transferred from Singapore to Burma were treated miserably.

Australian POW's of the Japanese died at the rate of 36% (8051 of 22,376 died in captivity)[/quote]

Spidge

The original post was about Burma Corps / Eastern Army / 14th Army fighting in Northern Burma not the P-o-Ws building the railway between Burma and Thailand. That's why I didn't mention Australians.

Cheers

Adam