My wife’s grandfather (seated second from left, middle row, sergeants stripes) pictured here with members of his platoon in November 1916 after the Battle of the Somme. He survived, his brother did not. I have just finished reading a long book on the history of the First World War which goes into great detail describing the horrors of trench warfare. As I look at the faces of these young men in the photograph I wonder how many of them survived the rest of the war. I can’t even begin to imagine what those fellows had to endure and what nightmares those who survived the war carried with them the rest of their lives. For them, and all who served and are serving their countries, let us give thanks. LEST WE FORGET
Those were horrific times for so many. I, too, have read many books and seen documentaries about the atrocities and wars. Hard to believe what happened to these young men and what they went through. Hubby's father died aged 23 on the front in the last war.
My father and his four brothers fought against the Germans in Egypt in 1942, only three of them returned. We were a British Colony until 1961 when the country became a republic.
They are all trying to smile but their eyes are sad from the horrors they will have experienced.
David's grandad was at the Somme. He went there as a Catholic and came home as an atheist. He said he couldn't believe any God would let horrors like that happen.
That's a fantastic photo ! My father's World War 1 photos are not the best. He was a padre then and helped a lot of NZ'ers who were wounded horrifically in that war!
How wonderful that you still have such a personal piece of history in this photograph.
@onewing Interesting to read your comment. I know people where the opposite happened. They went there atheist and came back believing in a God Who could redeem despite the horrors they had seen because they had met kindness in such a desperate place from believers.
A brilliant photo and narrative. Whenever WWI is discussed, I remember that of all the Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadians from the Boer War to today, over half were awarded in the final 100 days of WWI. Over 45,000 Canadians lost in just 100 days. Horrors indeed.
My father and his four brothers fought against the Germans in Egypt in 1942, only three of them returned. We were a British Colony until 1961 when the country became a republic.
David's grandad was at the Somme. He went there as a Catholic and came home as an atheist. He said he couldn't believe any God would let horrors like that happen.
@onewing Interesting to read your comment. I know people where the opposite happened. They went there atheist and came back believing in a God Who could redeem despite the horrors they had seen because they had met kindness in such a desperate place from believers.