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Post by tillystar on Aug 6, 2009 12:27:36 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 6, 2009 14:17:34 GMT
Oh my goodness, that was so moving. Of course I never knew Mr. Patch, but it seems that the grandfathers of my age group all served in WWI, so we were the recipients of first-person stories of that war. I do wonder how much the memories of those years at war and people he lost stayed with him (and all the others) 80 years on? My paternal grandfather died when I was very young, although I was lucky enough to find a whole book about his regiment reproduced online. My maternal grandfather frequently spoke about his military service in France and I have wondered how much it altered his nature forever. My great fondness for the book Birdsong is in large part because of the way it makes me think about that grandfather |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2009 20:25:02 GMT
I had read a year or two ago that the very oldest veteran of WW1 was Turkish, but I don't know it that was true or if he is still alive. The last French veteran died about 2 years ago, and I think that the last U.S. veteran went shortly afterwards.
It looks like we can finally turn the page on this war at last. But there are so many other wars that will always produce more veterans.
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Post by lagatta on Aug 6, 2009 23:51:10 GMT
There is a Canadian veteran left. Think he was a farm boy who signed up at 15 or so.
These stories are very moving. Mr Patch is right.
Dire Straights - Brothers in Arms:
Brothers in Arms
These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Someday you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn to be
Brothers in arms
Through these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
As the battle raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms
There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones
Now the sun's gone to hell and
The moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line in your palm
We are fools to make war
On our brothers in arms
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 4:29:33 GMT
Thanks for this tilly and thank you lagatta for posting Brothers in Arms,such a beautiful tribute. Have always loved that song and never tire of it.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 7, 2009 4:47:16 GMT
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Post by tillystar on Aug 7, 2009 15:11:57 GMT
That is really interesting reading, I clicked on the second article about Harry Allingham:
"With a clear mind until his own death, Allingham could recall the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901, the Wright brothers’ first flight, and seeing WG Grace bat at the Oval in July 1903 – when he scored 15 and 19 in each innings. "
I wonder what he would have added to the "I never thought I'd live to see the day!" thread
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Post by traveler63 on Aug 9, 2009 1:51:07 GMT
We had a long article on Harry Patch in our paper this morning and I am so glad there are people who have stood up and been there when the world needed them.I know a little something about WWI. Kirk's step dad was in the trenches and we have a lot of his military papers and his ID, commendations and his in the field promotions.
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Post by hwinpp on Aug 12, 2009 10:53:32 GMT
The last German died last year, I think.
The last soldier who fought for the British is actually still alive but he's got an Australian passport and lives there.
One of my favourite authors, Ernst Juenger, died just 10 years ago at 103. He was the last wearer of the 'Blue Max' military decoration.
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