Invade and Conquer

General Monck

It occurred to me while examining the map of Dublin how distastefully large the Irish National War Memorial Park is. According to Wikipedia, the Park is a memorial to the 300,000 Irish men, almost 50,000 of whom died, in the Great War serving in the armies of Commonwelath countries. This park has been the focal point of British Commemorations in Ireland since the dearly beloved departure of the old regime.
What I find remarkably interesting about this park is that 140,000 Irish men joined the British armed Forces not considering the brutal methods which the British Government traditionally governed Ireland by. And it occurred to me how little people who aspire to be soldiers are motivated to do so by feelings of patriotism. And the only conclusion I could come to is that if one can invade and subjue a country, no matter the size or population, then one will always have potential recruits for the occupying military.

Taking the number of Irish men who joined the British military over the last 2-3 centuries, would you agree with this?

Mick ah

Do you want a job or don't you?

Tell me what alternatives were being provided at home for the unskilled over the last 2 - 3 centuries.

Black Swan

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