In September 1917, the Central Powers reply to Pope Benedict’s peace initiative, saying they welcome it as a basis for negotiation but not agreeing to any specific concessions. In a supplemental message delivered to the Papal Nuncio at Munich, the German government says it would consider evacuating Belgium and contributing to reparations for war damages in return for certain guarantees from Belgium, an offer the Allies consider unacceptable.
Month: September 2017 (Page 1 of 3)
Topeka – Museum After Hours
Join us for a special Museum After Hours program series, 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 13. The programs complement the Kansas Museum of History’s special exhibit, Captured: The Extraordinary Adventures of Colonel Hughes, and are held in recognition of the 100th anniversary of World War I. The Museum will be open until 6:30 p.m., admission is half price after 5 p.m. The Museum Store will also be open until 6:30 p.m.
We’ve been made aware of this presentation by Topeka actor David Tangeman, who has written a one-man show, The Ghost Soldier. The debut of his play will be at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library on Monday, November 6.
Ghost Soldier of World War I
Monday, November 6, 2017 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Marvin Auditorium 101C
100 years ago in Kansas, 1917:
October 5, 1917
Turner Classic Movies has a couple of films the first week of October that are either WWI-themed or has some aspect of the era included.
First up on Wedsnesday, October 4th, is Doughboys from 1930. This stars the Kansas-born Buster Keaton; we’ve even mentioned this before: https://www.kansasww1.org/kansans-of-the-great-war-era-buster-keaton/
Americans in the CEF
Bear with me here. I know that I’ve used an acronym in the title with no prior explanation. ‘CEF’ stands for ‘Canadian Expeditionary Force’, and I probably need to explain what that means, too.
When Canada went to war in 1914 the nation had only a few thousand regular soldiers, many of whom only performed ceremonial duty. Until the late 1800’s there had been British regulars stationed at key places in Canada to defend the country. There had been a long tradition of local militia units, akin to the 19th century American model, and some of these had even served in the South African War (1899-1902).
Last week the US WW1 Centennial Commission published this article about the proposed sale of the Viquesney ‘Spirit of the Doughboy’ statue on the grounds of the former Wentworth Military Academy in Lexington, MO. The creditors of the academy have maintained that the statue was collateral on the academy’s debts, but the Alumni Association of the academy has counterclaimed that they own the statue because it was entirely paid for by alumni. A judge has ruled in the favor of the Alumni Association and the statue may end up at the National WW1 Museum in Kansas City, MO.
The National World War I Museum and Memorial’s annual symposium will be held November 3-4 with the theme, “1917: America Joins the Fight.” While the war on the Western Front would change with the American addition, other forces were at work elsewhere–particularly in Russia.
“Remembering Muted Voices,” a symposium on resistance and conscientious objection in WWI, will be held at the National World War I Museum and Memorial October 19 – 22. Co-sponsored by several organizations, this symposium promises a look at the differing opinions in opposition to the war.
Memorials to the Missing – Polygon Wood
There is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Memorial to the Missing located in the northeastern corner of a small forest called Polygon Wood, near Zonnebeke, Belgium.
The memorial is on the site of the CWGC Buttes New Cemetery, which is a post-war concentration of over 2,000 burials of remains recovered from the surrounding area, mostly 1917 casualties. It’s considered an extension of the older Polygon Wood CWGC cemetery nearby – there is a connecting walk – and so the Cross of Sacrifice is in Polygon Wood Cemetery and the Stone of Remembrance is in Buttes New Cemetery.
