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Another good read is "The Broken Years" By Gammage about Australians in WWI compiled from letters written home and official records a scarce title but if you get a copy it certainly paints a grim picture for them not only on Galipolli but France as well.
It certainly was a terrible time, so many killed or missing and pretty well all families were related in some way to those that were lost.
I might just scan and put up some of those pictures depicted in the book I mentioned, when I get the opportunity.
Ian.
Indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by IanS
I was lucky enough to have a direct contact in a way with him, as my grandmother (his younger sister) lived until she was in her mid 90-'s and used to tell me first hand stories about her big brother going off to war, her standing as a child holding onto to her mothers skirt as they stood outside their Falkirk tenement block, as he marched off down the cobbled street in full kit with his SMLE, turned around at the end of the road, waved at them both and was gone around the corner, never to be seen by any of the family again.
My great-grandmother lived until her early 90's as well, passing away in 1970, so I do have fleeting childhood memories of visiting her as a small child, at the same tenement and always being fasinated by the photo of her son, in full KOSB dress unifom, hanging above her bed. Sadly, that photo was just dumped without thought by other members of the family when they cleared out her flat after she passed away, much to my grandmothers horror.
I do have his 'penny' brass death plaque though, and I have twice visited Dud Corner Cemetery at Loos, where his name is engraved on the wall. The first time was when my grandmother was still alive, so was able to take a wreath over from her, at the time she was the last member of the family still alive that actually knew him. I also went back in 2015, 100 years to the day he went missing going over the top. Using Google earth, and original trench maps I was able to get right to the location of the trench (you can still see the trench line on Google earth) the KOSB went over the top from to lay a wreath.
That's a very touching story GeeRam, a trip that you must be proud of having made and what a loss that photograph must be.
You reminded me of my trip to Flushing, when I represented my dad and laid a wreath for him in remembrance of those KOSB that were lost. It was the 75th anniversary of the battle of the Scheldt. He did several trips over the years, to visit the friends he made there. In 2014, he was 93 and didn't feel he was up to making the long flight from Canada. It was a beautiful warm November day and I was proud to have done that for him. The Dutch people were wonderful and they say they will never forget the soldiers who took part in their liberation.