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Post by pedro42 on Nov 11, 2013 18:25:24 GMT
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1946pat
Junior Member
well i am still going !!
Posts: 70
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Post by 1946pat on Nov 11, 2013 18:40:48 GMT
with reference to the flanders fields my wife and myself have just returned from a week in Ypres where near by in Flanders fields my grandfather is buried, this was our third visit and it never fails to move us to tears it seems such a pity that some of the old values and respect are dwindling in this country of ours whilst our friends in places like Belgium seem to do this so much better than we do here
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Post by pedro42 on Nov 12, 2013 18:02:30 GMT
with reference to the flanders fields my wife and myself have just returned from a week in Ypres where near by in Flanders fields my grandfather is buried, this was our third visit and it never fails to move us to tears it seems such a pity that some of the old values and respect are dwindling in this country of ours whilst our friends in places like Belgium seem to do this so much better than we do here My grandfather was an ostler in the 1/5 Battalion of the royal Warwickshire regiment during WW1. They were based in Thorpe street, Balsall Heath. The Battalion went to Chelmsford before leaving for Le Havre. They were involved at the Somme, Ypres, and Passchendaele before ending the war in Italy/Austria.
I've visited Ypres and Tyne Cot, both of which were awe inspiring and brought home the sacrifices that these people made (The ultimate sacrifice in so many cases!).
I've just been given a copy of "Harry's War" which has recently been released. It's the diaries of Harry Drinkwater, who served in the Royal Warwicks in WW1. The book is surprisingly easy to read for a diary. I'm still only about a quarter of the way through it, and remain fascinated by the hardships that the soldiers endured, without complaint.
Would we tolerate the hardships of the trenches or the mines today? I somehow doubt it! H&S would have a field day, and just think of all the court cases against soldiers who had to carry out humane killings
Pete
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1946pat
Junior Member
well i am still going !!
Posts: 70
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Post by 1946pat on Nov 12, 2013 19:01:36 GMT
Many thanks Pete for your potted history of your grandfather,mine too was in the Royal Warwick' s in fact the Birmingham Pals Regiment he saw action in and around Ypres near where he was killed in action Oct 26th 1914 aged 24 my own father was born on Nov 11th 1914 so he never Knew his father
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