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I see that the last combat veteran of the 1st World War has died in
Australia (the last one in Britain dying in 2009). Just left is one woman
who served in a non-combat role in the forces.
70 million military personnel fought in the Great War.....millions died...
to be last is some kind of ironic honour.....but to all of them my respect.
Many lived through a Hell we can barely imagine and their endurance
will never be forgotten.

I second your thoughts, Frank.

It's even more important now than ever before to teach children well about wars like the Great War where all we are left with is the audio and video memories and personal mementos of those times.

Cheers
D

Indeed!

Following quite a bit of research I recently visited the site of a trench where a cousin died on the first day of the Somme.

Anyone who has not been to the Thiepval Memorial, there is now a superb visitors centre complete with a photographic wall of those with no known grave, well worth the trip.

God Bless all our boys and girls past and present who have served our great country !bow!!drink!

RIP.

I heard an interesting interview with his son on local radio (I live near where he died) and it was interesting to hear that he remembers hating the Germans so much because he was told so many bad things about them before he went into battle. As the years went by, he realised that most of them were really just like him and doing what they were ordered to do (or else!).

He never marched in any ANZAC Day marches (ANZAC Day is our day to commemorate the war dead) as he found the whole thing tended to glorify war back in the 60's and 70's. He said that the people who planned wars should have to fight in them - that would greatly reduce the number of wars!

A lot who survided the trenches lived a hellish life, as a kid i remember an old boy who lived near me who could barely walk a few yards without gasping for breath as his lungs had been ruined by the mustard gas, and there were loads like this. I can also remember an old schoolteacher who was in the trenches on the occassion when a Christmas day truce was called and they shook hands with the enemy and the next day they were blowing each other to pieces again, these old warriors may now all be dead but should never be forgotten...