Page 1 of 1
Forgotten Soldiers of the Empire
Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 2:12 pm
by ovenpaa
Did anyone catch this last night, written and presented by David Olusoga I found it compulsive viewing even though I missed the first few minutes.
It is on iPlayer for another 6 days:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... gn-legions
Re: Forgotten Soldiers of the Empire
Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2014 9:30 pm
by dave_303
I watched the first episode, so need to catch up.
Personally I felt the first episode went too much for the OMG LOOK HOW NASTY WHITE IMPERIALISTS WERE.
Well yes, we and the French had our down sides, but I felt he missed out on the brilliant performances that some of these units did, their acts in the middle east and s*** treatment by the Ottomans as PoWs and also ignored the fact that in (I think) 1915 we commissioned our first black officer who went on to become rather decorated for his heroism.
Will watch the next episode with anticipation as the subject and programme has the potential of being really bloody interesting.
Re: Forgotten Soldiers of the Empire
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 7:46 am
by jcampbellsmith
David. I watched it by accident and it was very good. Having read a lot on the WWI over the years, I'm amazed at how much new material is emerging just now.
Regards
JCS
Re: Forgotten Soldiers of the Empire
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 7:51 am
by Christel
A lot of new material or maybe just previously unnoticed material.
I am convinced that, during the coverage this year of the events 100 years ago, in the current political climate that the white man will take a beating.
Re: Forgotten Soldiers of the Empire
Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:55 am
by Les
christel wrote:A lot of new material or maybe just previously unnoticed material.
I am convinced that, during the coverage this year of the events 100 years ago, in the current political climate that the white man will take a beating.
Indeed.
The role of black and brown (etc) soldiers who fought and died alongside the (white) allied troops has been down-played for too many years. It is a testament to them that they were willing to go to war to help people who frequently treated them as second rate subjects - only to be ignored again afterwards.
And we are supposed to be civilised. :roll:
