Discovering WW1 tunnel of death hidden in France for a century
- Thread starter cigar_man
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That is a common sentiment in modern Armies the world over. What is the point of serving your country when the sheep leading them couldn't give 2 f*cks short of cheap political points with voters.
It's the way it has always been - 5 years after the end of a war, the majority of people couldn't tell you what happened, and worse, couldn't care less. No change in that department, forgetting about this stuff is still better than what happens 25 years after - that's when academics crawl out of the woodwork to make the side you were on look like the bad guys. Kipling is instructive on this:
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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As an old warrior I now think of the enemy I once faced, it seems so long ago. I wonder that under better circumstances perhaps we could have been very good friends. I hold no grudge or malice towards them, they as I, were doing their duty. These men friend of foe deserve to be recovered, identified, and above all honored for their sacrifice. Although kin who wondered till the end what had happened to a brother, father, uncle, or grandfather are now gone too, their still lives blood relatives out there who heard their parents or grandparents talk about someone who disappeared during the wars, they too deserve to know, and have a place they can go and honor them.
Volksbund.de - I was a member years ago, they are trying their best to find fallen German soldiers from WW1 and 2 but there is 0 (zero) help from the German government - often they are not even allowed to go and look and honour the fallen - rather depressing. Young men who died for their "Vaterland" - forgotten, left to die and rot. Thank you Angela Merkel and the ones before you.
I have been on over 20 trips in my life so far, attending, working with numerous dedications and memorials for burials of found battlefield soldiers in France and Belgium.
Those 270 soldiers near Reims, France need a proper burial.
Funding for these projects is hard to obtain and they are very expensive.
If anyone is interested, you can join Volksbund.de and the Commonwealth War graves Commission.
They both do excellent work.
https://www.cwgc.org/join-the-foundation
https://www.volksbund.de
Could someone who speaks German go to the website and leave a link where you can join their foundation.
Below are pictures from St Symphorien Military Cemetery
Mons, Belgium
November 11, 2018
100th Anniversary of Armistice Day
This picture shows the German Delegation that was part of the ceremony.
At the ceremony, military representatives in attendance where from the UK, Canada, Germany and the USA.
Oddly enough, no one approached and spoke to any of these men from the German delegation before or after the ceremony, with one exception, myself.
I formally saluted the German monument and the officer in charge.
We both broke down crying.
As we parted, I left gifts in recognition of their attendance for each and everyone of them on behalf of Canada Post Corporation.
I was one of the five people to lay a wreath at the 100th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge in 2017, but I will admit, this was the proudest moment of my life to be able to lay a wreath on behalf of Canada 100 years later where the war ended for Canada, Mons, Belgium.
Private George Lawrence Price is believed to be the last Canadian soldier to die in battle during the First World War.
He died at Mons, Belgium, about 2 minutes before the signing of the Armistice.
Oskar Niemeyer
He is recognized as the first recipient (posthumous) of the Iron Cross during the First World War
Those 270 soldiers near Reims, France need a proper burial.
Funding for these projects is hard to obtain and they are very expensive.
If anyone is interested, you can join Volksbund.de and the Commonwealth War graves Commission.
They both do excellent work.
https://www.cwgc.org/join-the-foundation
https://www.volksbund.de
Could someone who speaks German go to the website and leave a link where you can join their foundation.
Below are pictures from St Symphorien Military Cemetery
Mons, Belgium
November 11, 2018
100th Anniversary of Armistice Day
This picture shows the German Delegation that was part of the ceremony.
At the ceremony, military representatives in attendance where from the UK, Canada, Germany and the USA.
Oddly enough, no one approached and spoke to any of these men from the German delegation before or after the ceremony, with one exception, myself.
I formally saluted the German monument and the officer in charge.
We both broke down crying.
As we parted, I left gifts in recognition of their attendance for each and everyone of them on behalf of Canada Post Corporation.
I was one of the five people to lay a wreath at the 100th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge in 2017, but I will admit, this was the proudest moment of my life to be able to lay a wreath on behalf of Canada 100 years later where the war ended for Canada, Mons, Belgium.
Private George Lawrence Price is believed to be the last Canadian soldier to die in battle during the First World War.
He died at Mons, Belgium, about 2 minutes before the signing of the Armistice.
Oskar Niemeyer
He is recognized as the first recipient (posthumous) of the Iron Cross during the First World War
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https://www.volksbund.de
Could someone who speaks German go to the website and post a link where you can join their foundation.
Could someone who speaks German go to the website and post a link where you can join their foundation.
Different ways of donating money are listed under the "Helfen" link.
Volunteer opportunities: https://www.volksbund.de/freiwillig-aktiv
They list activities for people 12-27 or voluntary work for 30+. Makes me wonder about what is up with German 28-29 year olds?
My Grandfather fought for Canada in WW1. He was in the 24th, Battalion Victoria Rifles Of Canada. He joined the 24th Bn in France December 17th, 1916 in time for Vimy April 9th, 1917. The 24th achieved their objective the Black Line, early on the first day of the battle. His personnel records show that he became a casualty on the second day due to an exploding artillery shell. He spent over five months in hospital recovering from his injuries and as it turns out Trench Fever as well. November 24th, 1917 he rejoined his unit and ultimately December 13th, 1918 the 24th, Bn Crossed The Rhine Bridge at Bonn, Germany to do their part in the occupation of The Rhineland before finally arriving back home in Montreal May 18th 1919 when the 24th, Battalion VRC on parade, marched through the Champ de Mar Park area.
My Grandfather spent the rest of his years living with permanent severe hearing damage, shrapnel in his body and he suffered from the lingering effects of mustard gas. I had the good fortune to be able to spend a lot of my childhood with him and visiting him up until he passed away in 1973 when I was 13. He told me a story about a walk he took shortly after returning home after the war. He said he found himself suddenly looking at the largest four leaf clover he'd ever seen. It had grown out over the edge of the sidewalk thus allowing him to see it. He picked it and framed it and he considered it to be a sign of the good luck that allowed him and his brothers to make it through the war. It was the only item I specifically asked for after he died.
I am certain that if he could have heard about you and your dedication and the passionate work that you do, you would have made him proud and he would've wanted to thank you.
So thank you cigar_man,
Don
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Beautiful story.
Thank you for the kind words and sharing.
My passion has been to the soldiers that never made it home, which are still lying in the fields to this very day and to all the graves in the cemeteries across France and Belgium.
The ones that hit you the hardest are the ones with the words, Known Unto God.
I bring thousands of Royal Canadian Legion Poppies with me and distribute them on the graves of all nations.
I have actually taken a bunch of pictures of graves of CEF soldiers from cemeteries all over France and Belgium.
My idea was to hand out a single picture of a grave for someone to adopt, look up their personal file and forever remember this person as part of their family and especially on Remembrance Day.
Most of these graves have no direct family left and it would have been a rare moment if anyone has ever visited the grave.
My journey doing this has not begun for me, but I do have many pictures for adoption.
Here is one for a starter if anyone cares to adopt him!
If you are interested, just ask and I will provide a picture for you.
Here is the link to look up his record, which has not been done by myself.
There is a treasure of information that could be waiting for anyone that wants to participate.
Regards,
Garth Wetherall aka cigar_man
https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/disco...world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx
This is only a screen shot, I have the better picture in my file.
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