Happy birthday card

"A good soldier, ever willing and obedient"

Recent events commemorating the start of The Great War have prompted many to think of family members who were greatly affected. My Grandmother kept her "one and only letter" from her young brother together with this birthday card. A few days later her family got news that he, together with several others from his street, were killed at the Battle of Cambrai in which 45000 British soldiers and 50000 Germans were killed. And all for what?