100 years ago today...

[43rdRecceReg]

On the 9th April, 1917, my Grandfather's baby brother, Charles (from the Irish side of my family) was killed on the first day of the Battle of Arras. He'd survived two years in the trenches, which was actually quite remarkable, but his number was finally up on a surprisingly cold day for April, amid flurries of snow. He was in the Queen's Regiment (Royal West Surrey Reg). Odd, that, as we have no connection with the area, and very little with England too....
C'est la Vie, c'est la Guerre..
When the dread telegram arrived, his Irish mother had to take it to a neighbour to find out what it was all about, as she was unable to read. You can imagine the outcome. In fact, her husband (my g-Grandfather) had been
killed by a train, whilst working as a navvy on the LNER railway. Ironically, his name was Charlie too; so, not a good name to have in my family. My uncle (Dad's brother) Charlie,was a RAF veteran from WW2, but died young of stomach cancer. I'm so glad I didn't get that name
I went to Arras many years ago, and found Charlie's name on the war memorial there, alongside that of Albert Ball, VC., the British fighter ace. Unlike Albert, and along with 35,000 other British soldiers who died in the Arras area, Charlie has no known grave. His grave was lost, as the area became another killing ground....
This is all that remains of Charlie:

Gone, but not entirely forgotten..

[PainlessWolf]

43rdR&R,
Charlies story is one too oft repeated both from that War and all the ones before and to follow. It is enough at times that someone who care, remembers. Like yourself
regards,
Painless Black Wolf

[HERMAN BIX]

I too have trod the fields that are well known for loss.................and seen the rows of mothers sons from places that have no connection to where they lie, from nations that could have remained aloof but didnt...............

Tragic times that should never be forgotten

[43rdRecceReg]

Yes, and it's a staggering thing to realise that there's scarcely a single family with direct British heritage (Here and abroad) who didn't lose someone in that indescribable bloodbath...and that's not to overlook all the other lost souls in that near exterminated generation. This includes, of course, our European cousins, the Germans and their allies...
They grow not old.....
Astonishingly, people still die every year inadvertently ploughing fields full of bones and WW1 ordinance. Tons of live shells are found every year, even after 100 years. Amazing.

[HERMAN BIX]

There are warning signs around the Verdun area not to venture off the marked paths, especially in & around the villages that are only marker pegs.
The occasional cow blows up apparently.....................

To know there are 3 million dead in & around the Somme area is beyond comprehension............

[43rdRecceReg]

Yes, I've been to Verdun too, Herman, camped there with my son in fact. Fort Douaumont is a real eye-opener. Mind you, we went thirty years ago, and these monuments to carnage are much more 'tourist' orientated than they used to be. But even then, they had holographic recreations of the ritual slaughter inside the fort. Fascinating in a slightly macabre, history rubber-necking, way.
I think it should be a rite of passage for all kids to be taken to see the trenches (some of which are still preserved), as well as to gaze on the endless lines of gravestones.
I have lots of photos of the Somme, Arras, Ypres, Passchaendaele, and Verdun; though the shots I took of my kids in the endless shell holes of Beaumont Hamel (Somme) are the most staggering. The holes join up, so that it's not possible to walk a straight and level line through them, between them, or around them..

[HERMAN BIX]

The memorial at Douamont is particularly saddening with the clear panels in the foundation allowing clear view of remains interred within.
Over 120,000 poor souls actually.
Another was exposed & interred there 2 weeks before we visited,'Known only unto God'

Growing up in New Zealand, so far from any of this direct conflict was very confronting to understand & see the sheer magnitude of European conflicts.

Such young nations, no history to compare to the eons of human settlement & clashes over the European theater......

Well done to you for keeping your Great granddads memory alive

[43rdRecceReg]

Thanks, Herman. Charlie (WW1) was my Great-Uncle (or 'Grand-uncle'; but that is rarely used); my Grandfather's younger brother. Another brother, Grand-uncle Ben, died of his wounds (chlorine gas) in 1920; and so he doesn't count as an official casualty. For official purposes, the Great War didn't end until 1919. This was agreed, as it was recognised that many severely wounded soldiers might live just beyond the end of hostilities in November 1918 (11/11/11/1918....), and would therefore not be included in the 'Roll of Honour', when they died. The only act of 'consideration' from the ruling elite. I may have mentioned this before somewhere, but I was shocked to find that Charlie's mother, Bridget (my gt-grannie), had 5 shillings docked from the Army pay she received as 'compo' for her son's demise. The Army charged 5 shillings for the blanket they buried him in. Can you believe that? Five 'bob' (shillings) was a lot of money then; but not worth as much as, say....... a life
Too many 'Charlies' in the family. Understandable confusion. One thing they all had in common was misfortune. Three generations of untimely deaths: Killed by a steam train; killed in action; killed by cancer after surviving WW2..in that order. I have to count myself lucky, along with the other 'baby boomers'. Except, of course, for the fact that the 'grim reaper' moves inexorably closer
My neighbour here on the Croft I live on had an uncle (yes, he's an oldie too..) who emigrated from the Scottish Highlands to New Zealand.That was just a few years before war broke out, in 1914. He came back to Europe as an 'Anzac', and
was also killed in April 1917 (I forget the precise date). Quite a coincidence, but not unusual.

[jarndice]

However you come to this subject there is inevitably some pain But sometimes there can be a little sunlight,
The War Graves Commission do a great job of looking after these places worldwide but they do a lot more,
I searched for my Grandfather Christopher's grave for years and with their help I found him in a tiny graveyard in Northern France with a few of his comrades, It is part of a village graveyard but set to one side,,
Because I am the last male member of the family line, I prefer to visit Christopher by myself every year,
I park the Suzie in the village centre and walk up to the Church, on the way I buy sandwiches and a bottle of water
and sit with him and it doesn't take long before the villagers visiting their relatives and friends come over and shake hands and chat,
It made me realise that even after all these years there is still a strong sense of loss by the villagers for the families of the Generation of young men from so many countries who gave their all.
I shall make a note about naming ones grandchildren Charles.
Shaun.

[Aussie]

43''rd RR , it is very moving to see you care so much about your past relatives.
Also you Jarndice,
My Grandfather spent 3 years in Singapore's Changi jail.
He came home though and fathered my Mother.
I hear you about the army taxing your GG mother for a blanket.
We just had a hoo ha in Australia about a Digger who died in Vietnam , his family couldn't afford to pay for his trip home , yes , the Army expected the family to pay for there dead son to be sent home , they couldn't afford it , he was buried in a graveyard in Singapore.
Just last year , there were enough funds raised for him to be repatriated back into Australia.
I found it really hard to believe the Australian Army couldn't pay for a soldier who died for there country to get him home under there own steam.