In reflection of Armistice day, November 11th 1918, we want to share with you a snippet of family history and what Armistice day means to us.
Cobalt Carbon Free is, of course, a family-run company. Mike (Managing Director) and Karen (Accounts Manager) have been together for 40 years, growing up together as neighbours and children, before their love story even began. But without their ancestors survival, the family's history - and the family's future - may never have existed.
Mike's grandfather, Samuel Stripling (or Sid as he was known to everyone), was in his early 20s when he became a Private and fought in WW1, in the West Riding regiment. Sid was also part of the Battle of Mons, which was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in WW1.
After the war, he lived in Halifax, Yorkshire, where he met Mary - Mike's Grandmother. They then moved together to Belgrave, Leicester, where they had children, including Mike's father, Kenneth.
Karen's great-grandfather, Thomas Bailey, was 30 years old when he went to fight in WW1. Thomas was married to Emily (pictured right).
Thomas and Emily had children, including a daughter interestingly named Mercy - perhaps a nod to the war? Mercy was Karen's Grandmother.
It is of course difficult to find anyone who did not have at least one relative involved in the World Wars. It is colossally pivotal in the history of Earth. Whilst Sid and Mary, and Thomas and Emily all survived WW1, millions of men never came home. Across all nations, more than 16 million people died as a result of WW1.
In the mainstream media, Armistice day is now often wrongly portrayed as a celebration of 'victory' over German troops. But when we go to war, there is no real 'victory', in it's traditional sense. One country may gain or attain ownership of itself or land, but there are no real winners in war. Human beings still die. Many men, from all nations, were forced to fight and kill and die and witness horrific things.
The preciousness of human life should prevail over the mercilessness of war.
And when we go to war with other nations, we also go to war with the planet. We destroy land, cause massive amounts of harmful gasses with guns or missiles or tear gas; even the research and preparation for war uses excessive amounts of non-renewable fuel. The carbon footprint for a deployed army is immense. We have to look for solutions.
It is sometimes easy to forget that WW1 was a fight for freedom. It is our responsibility to use that freedom to make the right choices and right decisions in everything we do. For a secure future, for the good of mankind, and for the good of our planet.
This planet is our home. The human life on it is our family. We must work together to repair the damage we have caused as divided nations. We have to unite.
To us, Armistice day is a remembrance of every life lost, no matter the nationality. It is a reminder to advocate for peace. To find non-violent, non-harmful methods to achieve peace, where possible.
Armistice day is a story of survival, of life, love, hope - and most importantly - peace.
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