Disturbing WW1 footage of 'shellshock' victims (graphic)

[Locutus]

• Filmed during World War One, these remarkable films show traumatised soldiers displaying symptoms from strange tics to uncontrollable shaking
• Usually victims had solitary confinement or electric shock therapy treatment
  
• But at Newton Abbott's Seale Hayne in Devon, the approach was very different due to the revolutionary approach of a doctor called Arthur Hurst

Shell Shock Victim (WW1) - YouTube

more on this:


Disturbing Pathe footage from World War One reveals devastating effects of shell shock on soldiers as they were treated in pioneering Devon hospital | Mail Online


Some footage below is graphic and disturbing:

Verdun- Shell Shock - YouTube

Shell Shock - YouTube

 

[The Old Medic]

Are you aware that Great Britain, as late as World War II, was discharging soldiers with "Shell Shock" for being Cowards? During World War I, it was VERY common to do this. They were also denied any disability, etc.

 

[gerryh]

Hmmm.... I was timed out a few years ago for posting graphic war pictures. I guess policy has changed and it's ok to do that now. Or is only "ok" for those that support war?

 

[karrie]

I have a PTS issue. I'm lucky enough that it's such a rare occurence that will trigger it, that I really don't have to seek help, and anyone who's ever seen me flip my ****, understands completely even without needing to know why I'm reacting so badly. I've seen the effects in other people too... mainly victims of violent rape... how a simple trigger can make someone melt down completely. As such, I really don't think I could handle watching these videos. I'm too empathetic. But I am trying to work up the nerve to seek therapy for my disorder, and would encourage anyone who suffers PTSD to look into EMDR therapy. I've undergone this therapy for other issues, but just haven't been able to work up the nerve to face the big bad issue yet.

 

[Locutus]

Are you aware that Great Britain, as late as World War II, was discharging soldiers with "Shell Shock" for being Cowards? During World War I, it was VERY common to do this. They were also denied any disability, etc.

Yep.

Are you aware that the third video (beginning at :55 seconds) talks about the 306 British soldiers executed for that particular 'cowardice' during the first war? Or did you just not bother to watch them at all?

Hmmm.... I was timed out a few years ago for posting graphic war pictures. I guess policy has changed and it's ok to do that now. Or is only "ok" for those that support war?

I didn't post actual images Gerry but rather a link that one must click to continue at their own discretion. I'm also not privy to the goings-on of years gone by. But times and people can (and do) change somewhat over time. Ya likely wouldn't have seen a white poppy in my avatar back in '08. Hell, maybe a higher-up will ban me too. But what do I know. ;-)

 

[Mowich]

Hmmm.... I was timed out a few years ago for posting graphic war pictures. I guess policy has changed and it's ok to do that now. Or is only "ok" for those that support war?

Just my opinion, but posting still photos of disturbing images of war is different than posting a vid. Someone would have click on the vid to watch it whereas a still photo is in your face the moment it hits the page.

I watched a Knowledge network doc about shell shock victims and their treatment by the military and medical establishments. As I am not currently on high-speed, I can't access these vids or comment on them. The program I watched was a deeply disturbing. I remembered that George Carlin had something to say on the subject, went searching and found this.

George Carlin – Euphemisms

I don't like words that hide the truth. I don't like words that conceal reality. I don't like euphemisms, or euphemistic language. And American English is loaded with euphemisms. Cause Americans have a lot of trouble dealing with reality. Americans have trouble facing the truth, so they invent the kind of a soft language to protect themselves from it, and it gets worse with every generation. For some reason, it just keeps getting worse. I'll give you an example of that.

There's a condition in combat. Most people know about it. It's when a fighting person's nervous system has been stressed to it's absolute peak and maximum. Can't take anymore input. The nervous system has either (click) snapped or is about to snap.

In the first world war, that condition was called shell shock. Simple, honest, direct language. Two syllables, shell shock. Almost sounds like the guns themselves.

That was seventy years ago. Then a whole generation went by and the second world war came along and very same combat condition was called battle fatigue. Four syllables now. Takes a little longer to say. Doesn't seem to hurt as much. Fatigue is a nicer word than shock. Shell shock! Battle fatigue.

Then we had the war in Korea, 1950. Madison avenue was riding high by that time, and the very same combat condition was called operational exhaustion. Hey, we're up to eight syllables now! And the humanity has been squeezed completely out of the phrase. It's totally sterile now. Operational exhaustion. Sounds like something that might happen to your car.

Then of course, came the war in Viet Nam, which has only been over for about sixteen or seventeen years, and thanks to the lies and deceits surrounding that war, I guess it's no surprise that the very same condition was called post-traumatic stress disorder. Still eight syllables, but we've added a hyphen! And the pain is completely buried under jargon. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

I'll bet you if we'd of still been calling it shell shock, some of those Viet Nam veterans might have gotten the attention they needed at the time. I'll betcha. I'll betcha.


A George Carlin Classic on Combat PTSD | PTSD Combat: Winning the War Within