A war to end all wars

Acentury ago, a 21-yearold Scot ran across a field in France to carry out an act of extraordinary bravery.

James Huffam charged at an enemy machine gun post, putting it out of action, then carried a wounded comrade back to safety despite being under heavy fire. He led another attack that day, capturing several prisoners, and helping to continue the British advance in the Second Battle of Arras. For taking such a risk with his life, Huffam was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Just over two months later, the First World War was over. Of his three brothers, one had died fighting alongside Huffam in 1916, another was badly wounded and the third was gassed but survived.

Today, Scots and Germans work together, become friends, get married to one another, and generally get along. Old myths demonising one nation or the other are easily debunked by simple human interaction. But we must always remember the grief caused by the last century’s two world wars and the lesson that humans beings are individuals who should never be defined by nationality, religion or any other such grouping.