George V Quotes
I ask you, men of all classes, to come forward voluntarily, and take your share in the fight.
The King was asking for volunteers for the British Army. What is particularly interesting about this quote is the overt appeal to “men of all classes.” This illustrates that there was an extensive class system then operational in Britain. Almost all people knew to which class they belonged. A very popular King could then make a statement like this and no one was critical of his referring to citizens by class distinctions. Even in modern times, Britain is a more class conscious society than America. The response to this appeal was very good, but the First World War developed in such a way that huge manpower resources were needed and the King had to reluctantly assent to a military draft 7 months later.
George V, 1865-1936, King of England & Ireland, Emperor of India, Statement, October 11, 1915
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Just 7 months earlier the King had made a direct appeal to the people for enlistment in the military—See {587166}. The response was very good, but the First World War developed in such a way that huge manpower resources were needed and the King had to reluctantly assent to a military draft.
Ataturk was a young major at the time commanding troops of a weak and corrupt Ottoman regime. However a combined English and French (the strongest military powers in Europe) invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula threatened to capture the Turkish capital, Constantinople. Ataturk alone rallied the Turkish defenders and fought the invaders to a standoff in long drawn out battle with huge casualties on both sides. Ataturk became a national hero. Although Ataturk thereafter was very reluctant to use military force or endanger troops, the thing he always thought worth the supreme sacrifice (including his own) was the independence and sovereignty of the nation. See {584502} for his continuing belief in this type of sacrifice.
In contrast to the American army, there was no conscription in Canada. Note the quaint Canadian euphemism, "invited."
He was killed while attempting to deliver a message between battalions. President Ronald Reagan used this quotation in his First Inaugural Address on January 20, 1981. The Rainbow Division was the famous nickname of the 42nd Infantry Division.
His first gun invention was a machine pistol which he invented in a railroad depot.
The Chinese were massacred when the Japanese invaded with atrocities against civilians that were inconceivable until Hitler began his in Europe. However, there were many Chinese we worked against the Japanese including the Communists who made a truce with Chiang (see {636322}) so that they could oust the Japanese invaders.
What is particularly interesting about this quotation is that it shows the role that vengeance played in the support of the war effort. Revenge is a “baser” motive than making the world safe for democracy or preserving freedom or stopping dictators. Yet the political and military leadership did not shy away from revenge as a war aim. Contrast this with later wars. Arguably the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor created a different dimension than existed in the Korean or Vietnam wars. Yet in the War on Terror, the attack of 9-11, created a situation like Pearl Harbor did. Yet President Bush and other political and military leaders had a definite policy of never acknowledging that revenge was a factor, despite the fact that many Americans openly saw this as a major war aim.
Many of the workers never returned.
- Born: June 3, 1865
- Died: January 20, 1936
- Nationality: English
- Profession: Monarchy
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
