92 years ago today.......

Private Harold Langton of the 2nd/7th Duke of Wellington Regiment took part in an attack to capture the small village of Bullecourt, south of Arras in northern France.

The plan was that the attack was to be led by tanks. The tanks never arrived. The commanding general, not wanting to 'lose momentum' ordered the attack to take place anyway. As they reached the outskirts of the village they found that the British bombardment of German positions had fallen short and that the German machine guns and barbed wire were still intact.

Some troops managed to break through the wire and make it through to the first line of German defences. What happened to these men is unknown, they were never seen again. The regiment suffered heavy losses, and sometime during that day my Great Uncle Harold was killed. Whether he was among the soldiers that broke through to the German defences will never be known. His body, along with many others, was never recovered, and he has 'no known grave'. His name is on the Arras memorial.

Just a thought as we are enjoying this sunny bank holiday, free to do as we wish.

This is just the story of one of many young men who never lived to do the things that we take for granted.

That's all.

A sobering thought.

It's not just one day a year we should remember those who gave their lives so we could have ours...

Enjoy your bank holiday.

Wow, what a story. I regularly remind myself that the country I live in, despite its restrictions, is actually free. We are very lucky, and I know that I owe the life I have to the men and women who gave their life, and still offer their lives, protecting our country.

Thanks everyone in the armed forces

My recent trip to France has brought my Great Uncle to mind again. I suppose it's riding through northern France and passing all those military cemetaries. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to visit the Arras memorial. I will one day, and the village for which he was fighting for when he died.

I'm sure that I can't be the only one on the org. who has a tale like this to tell. I for one would like to hear any that people have.

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by madness

I'm sure that I can't be the only one on the org. who has a tale like this to tell. I for one would like to hear any that people have.

My Great Grand father on my mothers side was in 8DLI. They suffered heavy casualities like many others but he was in the firing line when the German's started their final offensive pushing the allied forces back. He saw his younger brother shot to bits; his body is now in one of the cemetries in Northern France (I have the details in my family history stuff.) Whilst my G grandfather also received injuries he was fortunat enough to get a 'blighty' and returned to the 'Rowntrees' factory in York that was being used as a hospital at the time. The remnants of 8DLI were then attached to the DOWR. Fortunately he survived the war and I have a couple of his artefacts (an old German wallet and some postcards etc). He sadly died at the end of the second world war whilst working at the munitions factory in Aycliffe when there was a large explosion (i don't know the circumstances of this) - his body is in the church yard at West Rainton near other family members. His name and that of his brother are on the local memorial.

A young man and his brother was getting ready for school one day his first in 2nd form. Just as they were about to leave his father came back into the house and told them to go sit in the lounge and wait for their mum. 2 minutes later mum comes in and takes them out the front door telling them to start knocking on the neighbours doors and to hand them a note. Within 10 minutes all the neighbours where congragated at the end of the road in mixed attire. Thats when the big bobcat shaped vehicle appeared and when to the house, 30 minutes after that there was a loud bang and smoke rose from the driveway. A under car improvised explosive device was safely desposed off and then the funny looking truck drove away. 10 years later that same young lad was leaving a house in a street very similar when after a controlled explosion he got back into a funny shaped truck and drove passed a small group of people and children huddled together in mixed dress at the end of the road, he looked out nodded at the people and went back home. Had a cup of tea and waited for the next call, quitely thanking 7 strangers from 10 years previous.

Originally Posted by madness

My recent trip to France has brought my Great Uncle to mind again. I suppose it's riding through northern France and passing all those military cemetaries. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to visit the Arras memorial. I will one day, and the village for which he was fighting for when he died.

I'm sure that I can't be the only one on the org. who has a tale like this to tell. I for one would like to hear any that people have.

I'm hoping to take a long weekend trip with my dad to normandy on our bikes. He promises excellent roads, but I just want to pay my respects

[embee]

A visit to either of the WW "areas", Normandy or Somme and surroundings is something everyone ought to do at some time, but I think it should be when you feel it's time rather than being dragged along by someone else.

I visited the area round the Somme, Thiepval, Paschendale etc in '99 when the total eclipse passed over the region (very strange experience, see one if you get the chance). It was indeed very moving to see the cemeteries and the sections of front line preserved (although there are now trees, which had all been blown away in WW1).

I think the most memorable thing was walking along the rows of headstones and seeing the ages, so many 18, 19, 20 year olds, just kids. The local people tend the cemeteries with such care, 90 years on. They're not forgotten.

A visit to the Somme is a sobering and moving experience. I saw the Canadian monument, it's of a caribou on a small hill, facing the German lines. The Canadian soldiers there were very proud of this and explained, as they had no doubt many times before, that a caribou never turns its back on the enemy.

Mick, your great-uncle was a very brave man. Thank you for sharing his bravery. It's because of him, and people like him, that I despair when people refuse to vote.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by davepreston

A young man and his brother was getting ready for school one day his first in 2nd form. Just as they were about to leave his father came back into the house and told them to go sit in the lounge and wait for their mum. 2 minutes later mum comes in and takes them out the front door telling them to start knocking on the neighbours doors and to hand them a note. Within 10 minutes all the neighbours where congragated at the end of the road in mixed attire. Thats when the big bobcat shaped vehicle appeared and when to the house, 30 minutes after that there was a loud bang and smoke rose from the driveway. A under car improvised explosive device was safely desposed off and then the funny looking truck drove away. 10 years later that same young lad was leaving a house in a street very similar when after a controlled explosion he got back into a funny shaped truck and drove passed a small group of people and children huddled together in mixed dress at the end of the road, he looked out nodded at the people and went back home. Had a cup of tea and waited for the next call, quitely thanking 7 strangers from 10 years previous.

Wow, interesting stuff.