11-09-2021, 08:51 PM
(11-09-2021, 04:50 PM)Tony'schin Wrote: Mine changes in November, it's normally something to do with my grandfather's regiment from WW1.
The DLI.
He went over the top a few times, fought on the Somme and the Ypres salient including Passchendaele and Hill 60.
A Military Medal winner Gazetted in 1916 for action during the Battle of Morval.
A true hero of mine who made it back. His service medical record show he was evacuated on the hospital ship Asturius in Sept 1916 - Gun shot wound to the head. He was 41 years old.
His medal card shows he was also a pioneer in the Labour corp. We think he went back over with the pioneers once healed.
Sadly he died just before I was born.
That's an amazing military life your Grandfather experienced. I can't imagine the brutality that he witnessed. I'm betting there are some pretty good non-military stories as well. Shame you did not get to meet him, but his genes live on in you. I was fixing to ask you about your avatar before starting this thread. It looked military heraldry, so I was wondering if you had served. My interest piqued further when you had a military looking whistle as your SotD photo. Is that his trench whistle?
My Grandfather served in WWII as a First Sergeant. I didn't hear any stories from him, but he was proud I was serving. After he passed, my Grandmother became secretary of the social group of still living Soldiers from his division. She used to share with me some of the stories from letters she received from those that served with him. I'll never forget one, where the gentlemen was saying they had gone a long time without resupply and when a box of razors showed up, "The good First Sergeant made sure every man got a razor and used it!" Kind of an appropriate story for this forum!
Bryan, FNG-SE