Mud, Blood and Poppycock

Published on 27 April 2021
Submitted by Gordon Corrigan

This talk by Gordon Corrigan was delivered 'live' to an online audience.

The popular view of the First World War remains that of 'Blackadder': incompetent generals sending brave soldiers to their deaths. Alan Clark quoted a German general's remark that the British soldiers were 'lions led by donkeys'. But he made it up. 

Indeed, many established 'facts' about 1914-18 turn out to be myths woven in the 1960s by young historians on the make. Gordon Corrigan's brilliant, witty presentation will reveal how out of touch the public have become with the soldiers of 1914-18. They simply would not recognize the way their generation is depicted on TV or in Pat Barker's novels.

Mud, Blood and Poppycock
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