World War I → Discussion•
Battle of the SOMME


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bridewellJan 28, 2:58am
In 1914,my Grandfather and his brother marched off to serve KING & COUNTRY.Little did they know the HELL that they were about endure.
At one of the many ENGAGEMENTS,(that we now refer to as the battle of the Somme),Grandad,and his brother,scrambled OVER THE TOP and made their GALLANT CHARGE towards certain DEATH!
Only Grandad came back alive.Having witnessed the INHUMANE SLAUGHTER of his brother,he returned to England and NEVER spoke of the GREAT WAR again!

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PixelPigJan 28, 10:03am
I can't even understand the concept of losing a brother in battle.
Do you know the regiment?

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bridewellJan 28, 1:35pm
These Guys were merely BOYS;Grandad couldn't have been much older than 17,and yet,they went!
What I just can't comprehend is WHAT DRIVES A MAN(BOY in this case),to leap out of a TRENCH and CHARGE,with BAYONETS FIXED no doubt,towards an "ENEMY"with just one thought in your head....."KILL OR BE KILLED",knowing full well that this just might be your LAST CHARGE!!!

As to his Regt.,I'm not really certain.As I've said,the subject of the GREAT WAR was never broached very often! One of his MEDALS was AWARDED to the TERRITORIAL ARMY'but I think his actual Regt. was the LIVERPOOL SCOTTISH....not sure!

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PixelPigJan 28, 1:55pm
Here's a little perspective on the Somme...
In Vietnam the United States lost about 58,000 men in ten years of conflict.
During the US Civil War, there was a combined total of about 54,000 men (from both sides, all American) that died in the three day battle at Gettysburg. A staggering number to try and even understand. The British forces lost 60,000 men in one day at the Somme, including your Grandpa's brother. The largest one day loss of life in Britan's vast military history. Unreal. Glad your Grandpa made it.

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bridewellJan 29, 10:12am
Yes....Grandad DID survive the CARNAGE of the SOMME,only to receive a dose of MUSTARD GAS in the trenches!
His LUNGS were literally BURNT AWAY from the inside out. He suffered the remainder of his life,in virtual silence,unable to breath with any ease.
So,for all intents and purposes,his own LIFE ended,along with his brothers',on the FIELDS of FLANDERS,in 1916.

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PixelPigJan 29, 10:23am
wow. Gas was going to be one of the technology threads. Your Grandad deserves all honor we can bestow. How old was he when he passed?

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bridewellFeb 12, 8:25pm
Sorry Pixel...been AWOL from the UNIT for a while!
Grandad was about 66 years young,when HIS war finally ended in 1969.
Funny you know....the British Government of the time,PROMISED returning SURVIVORS.....AN ACRE OF LAND AND A MULE!
It's some 92 years since the Battle of the Somme....WE'RE STILL WAITING!!!!


Battle of the SOMME

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