My maternal great-grandfather left for WW1 the day after my grandmother was born, August 13th 1914. He came back a few years later, having travelled all over the place, finally making it round to the 3rd battle of Ieper. My gran said he was very distant, very strict towards the kids, and often woke up screaming & in cold sweats. He was one of the very few Manchester Pals to make it back. On my dad's side, there was my great-uncle Peter, who got a medal (I forget which) despite not actually even carrying a weapon - he was a stretcher-bearer. My dad did some digging and found the dispatch letter that tells of his story. Basically there was a group of men caught out in No Man's Land when there was heavy shelling from the enemy. He was ordered to remain in the trench - the shelling was too heavy, nothing could survive out there. He went over the top alone, and found two officers wounded in a shell-hole. He brought the one back on his back, schrapnel and mud flying all around him, and then went out again, alone, and brought the other chap back. In those days, men used to shave with cut-throat razors. He needed a couple of bottles of porter before he could hold the razor steady enough to shave, his hands shook so much ever after.
Thanks for sharing that - it makes interesting (though sad) reading. I think what many people forget is how young these soliders were.
My family a couple of years ago *found* the welsh regiment of a great-uncle in one of the French graveyards and my uncle and one cousin had their fares paid to attend a service.
Thank you boglin for the timely and poignant photos.
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My family a couple of years ago *found* the welsh regiment of a great-uncle in one of the French graveyards and my uncle and one cousin had their fares paid to attend a service.
Thank you boglin for the timely and poignant photos.