" The Lament of the Demobilised

“Four Years,” some say consolingly. “Oh well,
What’s that? You’re young. And then it must have been
A very fine experience for you!”
And they forget
How others stayed behind and just got on –
Got on the better since we were away.
And we came home and found
They had achieved, and men revered their names
But never mentioned ours;
And no one talked heroics now, and we
Must just go back and start again once more.
“You threw four years into the melting-pot –
Did you indeed!” these others cry. “Oh well,
The more fool you!”
And we’re beginning to agree with them. "

― Vera Brittain , Testament of Youth