The "Shot heard 'round the world"

Today, as we all know, is the anniversary of the assassination Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo by the young Bosnian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.

This became the justification for events that led to the Great War of 1914-1918.

This was the single most catastrophic event to befall Europe, since the Bubonic Plague of the 14th century.

Strangely enough, there were huge ramifications, an end to empires, the greater emancipation of women, and of course the rise of the Labour Party.

It also puts me in mind of Henry Allingham who celebrated his 113th birthday a few weeks back. Mr Allingham is the oldest ever surviving member of any of the British Armed Forces and the oldest surviving veteran of the Great War.

And on the occasion of the first ever Armed Forces Day, our thoughts go to him and all those who served the nation.