Ils ne passeront pas

Was not uttered by Marshal Petain, as popular legend has it; instead it was stated by the less important (and less infamous) General Nivelle. Nevertheless the Germans did not break through at Verdun in 1916 and Petain went down in history as the hero of France; 160,000 of his men, and 140,000 of the Kaiser's army, died for his reputation, and that of France.

Truly astonishing sums, and ones that would be (ETTL hopes) unacceptable in today's cosy European order. Yet it is just 90 years since the First World War came to a bloody end; and today saw Nicholas Sarkozy and Prince Charles pay homage at what was the bloodiest battlefield on the Western Front.

There are less and less veterans of WW1 alive each time Armistice Day comes around; their stories are beginning to draw to a close. But they are ones worth listening to. The men of 1914-1918 deserve our eternal gratitude; the least we can do is buy a poppy and listen to their tales.

Coming home in 1919, British troops were promised "homes fit for heroes". Unfortunately these homes did not materialise.

But they were heroes all the same.