Lest we forget...
Discussion
john2443 said:
My to do list includes a visit next year, Grandad was gassed in Aug 1917 near Arras, his CO wrote a book on the regiment so I have a reasonable knowledge of where they were so will try to retrace their steps, and also go to the Menin gate.
He survived, not in full health but being gassed probably saved his life as the regiment went on to Passchendaele.
What regiment was heHe survived, not in full health but being gassed probably saved his life as the regiment went on to Passchendaele.
I thought that I had already thanked you for saying that you are reading these posts.
The previous post got no replies and it left me wondering if anybody was reading.
So, to everyone who replied, thanks. Each post is taking about 6 hours to research, and about two hours to type.
The battlefield tour took us to many, many locations. There was so much to see that it was very confusing. Researching these posts is helping to put all these places and battles into context. I hope that these posts will do the same for others.
The previous post got no replies and it left me wondering if anybody was reading.
So, to everyone who replied, thanks. Each post is taking about 6 hours to research, and about two hours to type.
The battlefield tour took us to many, many locations. There was so much to see that it was very confusing. Researching these posts is helping to put all these places and battles into context. I hope that these posts will do the same for others.
baldy1926 said:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatWar191418/?hc_ref...
I dont think its a closed group
That is a good page. Thanks for sharing.I dont think its a closed group
I'm reading.
Grandad fought their, infantryman. Never spoke of it of course but once mentioned a little ditty that just before a dawn raid there was a milder than seasonal night and the snow melted. So the snipers had to roll around in the mud to cover their whites! It's about 17th hand that story so may have changed slightly from the original...
Also, my Dad tried to research Grandads war records but the records office was hit during the Blitz and a lot was lost to the subsequent fire.
Grandad fought their, infantryman. Never spoke of it of course but once mentioned a little ditty that just before a dawn raid there was a milder than seasonal night and the snow melted. So the snipers had to roll around in the mud to cover their whites! It's about 17th hand that story so may have changed slightly from the original...
Also, my Dad tried to research Grandads war records but the records office was hit during the Blitz and a lot was lost to the subsequent fire.
My son Jack recently visited Thiepval with his school, they laid a wreath and I said to Jack 'tell your teacher that you would like to lay the wreath' he asked and they said yes and he along with his friend who is also in the Scouts escorted him to lay it, he done a scout salute to! As a Scoutmaster I instill into the youngsters that they must attend the Remembrance day parade we have in Raunds every year, they never let me down, last year the two girls and boy who laid the wreath completed it with military precision with perfect timed salutes, it makes you proud. We must recognize the sacrifice that has been and still is being made as we speak for queen and country.
Oilchange said:
I'm reading.
Grandad fought their, infantryman. Never spoke of it of course but once mentioned a little ditty that just before a dawn raid there was a milder than seasonal night and the snow melted. So the snipers had to roll around in the mud to cover their whites! It's about 17th hand that story so may have changed slightly from the original...
Also, my Dad tried to research Grandads war records but the records office was hit during the Blitz and a lot was lost to the subsequent fire.
Many, many people never spoke of it afterwards.Grandad fought their, infantryman. Never spoke of it of course but once mentioned a little ditty that just before a dawn raid there was a milder than seasonal night and the snow melted. So the snipers had to roll around in the mud to cover their whites! It's about 17th hand that story so may have changed slightly from the original...
Also, my Dad tried to research Grandads war records but the records office was hit during the Blitz and a lot was lost to the subsequent fire.
I hope that I am helping people to understand why they were unable to speak about it.
don4l said:
http://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/poems/mametz-wood/
As an aside...
At some point in the morning of the first full day of the tour, I got struck by an "earworm". An Earworm is a piece of music that gets stuck in your head and won't go away.
This is an anti-war song by an Irishman. It stuck in my head for the rest of the Battlefield tour, and for at least a week afterwards. I found it to be very poignant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg_3t-CHBZs
Thank you <welling up here> As an aside...
At some point in the morning of the first full day of the tour, I got struck by an "earworm". An Earworm is a piece of music that gets stuck in your head and won't go away.
This is an anti-war song by an Irishman. It stuck in my head for the rest of the Battlefield tour, and for at least a week afterwards. I found it to be very poignant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg_3t-CHBZs
It is the wrong phrase, but I am enjoying this.
Our school visited Ypres, the Trenches and the graves including Menin Gate. VERY sobering.
I would also say that there was a "documentary" on Ch4 I think which was made based upon diaries of those who fought (on both sides) in the Somme. Very hard to watch without being in a dusty room.
I also am aware, and am still disgusted to this day, that some Generals sent their troops in on the morning of 11 Nov knowing the ceasefire was coming. Many thousands of lives wasted for absolutely no reason (I read somewhere that one general wanted a bath and a town occupied by the Germans had a bath - he lost some 4000 men to take that town on 11 Nov).
Our school visited Ypres, the Trenches and the graves including Menin Gate. VERY sobering.
I would also say that there was a "documentary" on Ch4 I think which was made based upon diaries of those who fought (on both sides) in the Somme. Very hard to watch without being in a dusty room.
I also am aware, and am still disgusted to this day, that some Generals sent their troops in on the morning of 11 Nov knowing the ceasefire was coming. Many thousands of lives wasted for absolutely no reason (I read somewhere that one general wanted a bath and a town occupied by the Germans had a bath - he lost some 4000 men to take that town on 11 Nov).
I am reading having found last night.
I have always been interested by early 20th century history, particularly 1914 to 1945 for obvious reasons. One thing I recall was for GCSE History and was to do a timeline from June 1914 to August 1918 in less than 150 words. That was hard, you could easily write 150,000 words on one month within that timeframe and still omit pivotal moments.
Thank you for taking the time to research and post on this. IMO you are hitting the right balance on all levels from detail to emotion and post length. I do hope that this thread is also the precursor to some others which can explore some areas in greater detail than appropriate this one.
I have visited many of the small cemeteries I have passed by over the years and they all bare witness to the stories of men who gave their lives for others. I have visited the Manheim/Menin Gate twice and we will be going with another couple in late November with the intention of visiting a number of those i have seen but not been able to stop at before.
I believe that we should never live in the past but must learn from it.
I have always been interested by early 20th century history, particularly 1914 to 1945 for obvious reasons. One thing I recall was for GCSE History and was to do a timeline from June 1914 to August 1918 in less than 150 words. That was hard, you could easily write 150,000 words on one month within that timeframe and still omit pivotal moments.
Thank you for taking the time to research and post on this. IMO you are hitting the right balance on all levels from detail to emotion and post length. I do hope that this thread is also the precursor to some others which can explore some areas in greater detail than appropriate this one.
I have visited many of the small cemeteries I have passed by over the years and they all bare witness to the stories of men who gave their lives for others. I have visited the Manheim/Menin Gate twice and we will be going with another couple in late November with the intention of visiting a number of those i have seen but not been able to stop at before.
I believe that we should never live in the past but must learn from it.
I'm reading.
I had a minor shoulder operation on July 22nd. Just needles & some poking, prodding & trying to sort out a frozen shoulder.
The surgeon asked if I was feeling much pain as more relief was available if I wanted it.
I remarked that the date was the 100th anniversary of the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme & that he & I & everyone in the room had a relative who was involved whether we knew or not.
A small amount of discomfort in the shoulder is f
k all to take compared to being shot at with high velocity rounds.
Pistonheads can be a facsimile of Facebook sometimes.
This however is the other end of the scale - great work OP
I had a minor shoulder operation on July 22nd. Just needles & some poking, prodding & trying to sort out a frozen shoulder.
The surgeon asked if I was feeling much pain as more relief was available if I wanted it.
I remarked that the date was the 100th anniversary of the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme & that he & I & everyone in the room had a relative who was involved whether we knew or not.
A small amount of discomfort in the shoulder is f
k all to take compared to being shot at with high velocity rounds.Pistonheads can be a facsimile of Facebook sometimes.
This however is the other end of the scale - great work OP
Rude-boy said:
Thank you for taking the time to research and post on this. IMO you are hitting the right balance on all levels from detail to emotion and post length. I do hope that this thread is also the precursor to some others which can explore some areas in greater detail than appropriate this one.
+1, there is a good balance between looking at the total numbers which can be quickly forgotten and the individuals suffering in the trenches. The macro and micro are explored very well. Thanks.Tycho said:
Rude-boy said:
Thank you for taking the time to research and post on this. IMO you are hitting the right balance on all levels from detail to emotion and post length. I do hope that this thread is also the precursor to some others which can explore some areas in greater detail than appropriate this one.
+1, there is a good balance between looking at the total numbers which can be quickly forgotten and the individuals suffering in the trenches. The macro and micro are explored very well. Thanks.baldy1926 said:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatWar191418/?hc_ref...
I dont think its a closed group
ThanksI dont think its a closed group
Edited to add
and thanks to the OP too, really interesting and thought provoking.
Edited by GOG440 on Tuesday 18th October 21:50
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