LOST THOUGHTS OF WAR RETURN: A DIARY OF THE MIND ‑ Tanka 1

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PREAMBLE

This war series is based on the memories of the time when a young soldier experienced combat for thirty months in the Second World War. These memories are reflected on by a philosopher who as a boy lived through that same war. The response is in the context of history, literature and philosophy. The purpose is not to glorify war but to show the horrors of war, yet not denying the heroism in war and the suffering that war causes to both sides.

The politically correct want to hide the past; the rationally correct know that knowledge is the key to understanding. The emphasis in this series is upon the thoughts of the soldier at each moment in the struggle of Life with Death. As in all wars, the adversaries often begin to admire each other, even though mortal enemies at the time of conflict. We are now in a New Century, yet reconciliation is a life time process for each combatant. To be meaningful, we must place each memory in its context. With hindsight we can see things differently, whatever we may have thought at the time.

The memories are recalled from A Diary of the Mind. It is possible that some memories may be recalled with errors in dates and places. Of course we have researched, and checked against objective documents, as far as possible to avoid errors or misjudgements. In this sense, our work is an analyzed memory. For those of all nations who read these web pages we would appreciate any comments or corrections. Where possible we will incorporate these views. Our long term intention is for an interactive website. We have used the word "diarium" to indicate how our work differs from an ordinary diary in that later influences and

scholarship may present a different aspect of the original experiences.

Time is running out for all of us old adversaries. In the US alone 1200 veterans die each day. All over the world former enemies are meeting. We offer our willingness to visit anyone who once saw us as enemies in that great conflict.

Sir Sidney Weinstein and Hugh Bygott

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LOST THOUGHTS OF WAR RETURN: A DIARY OF THE MIND

Tanka 1

Memory:

New York 7 December 1941

shocking news was heard

Pearl Harbor suddenly bombed

"what could this augur?"

mother stared with fear at us ‑

"who would go to the army?"

The evening after we got the news of Pearl Harbor I recall the strange, almost eerie feeling I could sense in the city. It was evident that we would be engaged in a major world war, and as I walked with my girlfriend along Delancey Street, I became aware that there were large crowds everywhere, shopping or strolling, who were not showing any overt signs of the impending major war we were soon to be engaged in. But, I thought, perhaps the uneasy feeling I sensed was mine alone. I looked around at everyone, thinking, "Hey, you people, don't you all know we're at war? Why aren't you discussing it, instead of strolling along the streets?"

Sir Sidney Weinstein

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The philosopher's response:

Six carriers, Akagi, Hiryu, Kaga, Shokaku, Soryu, Zuikaku, left Tankan Bay, Kuriles ... bound for Pearl Harbour: date November 26 1941. Unknown to Admiral Yamamoto and Vice Admiral Nagumo, the fact that 3 US carriers were at sea and one in dock in California. Admiral Yamamoto often visited London, staying at The Grosvenor Hotel opposite Victoria Station. Perhaps he and Vice Admiral Nagumo knew Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War, perhaps not. This first great history ever written, and the first naval history, would have revealed the extraordinary effect of chance in war, as exemplified by those ancient naval battles in the Ancient Greek World. And so it would prove to be in modern times.

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"Cleaving the past from the present was the War. Certainly Yuzo's dazed astonishment also stemmed from that War. What had been buried in war now emerged as regenerated astonishment, for the turbulent waters of all that massacre and destruction had not been able to extinguish those trifles that exist between a man and a woman. Yuzo's rediscovery of Fujiko alive was like discovering himself again." Re:encounter: Kawabata Yasunari. [Orient West Vol.8, No.4, 1963]

Conflict of nations ‑

Swift death makes no distinctions

Nor cares about the unborn

Hugh Bygott

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