The Road to War.

As the last hours of the old century were coming to a close, millions of people gathered around the globe to usher in the “New Era” of the wonderful and exciting Twentieth century. 

All eyes were focused on the clocks, waiting in anticipation as the minute hand crept closer, the last few ticks of the old century were nearly over, the hopes, dreams and ideals of the millions watching and waiting for this miraculous new age was nearly upon them. As the hands of the clock met and touched at midnight, the bells struck the hour.

A frenzy of excitement, happiness, and exultation erupted around the world, their jubilation at this momentous event, was that this new century would without doubt bring them, each and every one…new hopes, new dreams, new ideals.

The long hot summer days in the early 1900’s were peaceful as tranquility filled the air, thousands flocked to the beaches around the coasts of England to swim in the cool waters and enjoy the calmness that this new era had brought. In towns and cities people filled the parks and gardens, found pleasure at the fun fairs, riding high on the big dipper as screams of delight rent the air.

In the country on hot summer days many took to the roads on bicycles, or walked for miles across the countryside of green pastures, meadows and fields of grass, in the peacefulness that was England.

Occasionally a car would be seen and a friendly wave would be shared between the driver and those he passed.

Families walked to the local rivers, father’s took out their fishing rods cast the lines in and lay on the banks in the tranquility of the day, mothers unpacked the picnic basket, full of sandwiches, cakes, and drink, while children amused themselves playing on the banks with an old jam jar on a piece of string hoping to catch some tiny fish. While others plunged into the water swimming, frolicking in fun and laughter in of the days of such peace.

Picnics were laid out on lawns, gardens, parks, playing fields, woods and forests across the land, as families sat down to enjoy the company of friends and loved ones, children played to their hearts content in the summer sun.

Church bells rang their own song echoing in the distance, a dog barking could be heard far away across fields of lush green meadows, and birds would sing with sweet song to hear.

The long warm evenings in the countryside brought its own pleasures as one could listen to the sounds of birds chirping in the trees above, as they began to settle down for the night.

Families and children walked hand in hand, through the changing countryside of England, this was their…Green and Pleasant Land.

On Sunday afternoons many watched their local cricket team batting it out in the sunshine on the finest of days, clapping in pleasure as their team hit a six…this was the peace of England, in the days of such happiness.

The world seemed at peace with one another during the early years, although there were two minor conflicts in the Balkans in 1911-1912, these were of little consequence, others raged here and there around the globe but none were that threatening to involve the great powers of the time.

In general people enjoyed the tranquil heady days where peace flourished and prevailed, and life to an extent was filled with pleasure and was enjoyable.

But as the years of the new century passed the peaceful days of summer were soon to be lost forever, no one could ever imagine the changes that were to descend upon this peaceful world of theirs.