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Author Topic: Battle of the Somme  (Read 6273 times)

breeze

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Battle of the Somme
« on: June 27, 2016, 05:12:51 PM »
I read a piece today that says that 11 million Brits are descendants of someone who fought at the Battle of the Somme.

I myself had a great uncle, in the Canadian army, who died on the Somme.

Just out of curiosity has anyone else got a ancestor who fought there, and what do they know of their history.
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Ju Ju

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2016, 07:09:21 PM »
My grandfather was in the Canadian Calvary in the 1st world war. I shall have to do some research! He survived, but most definitely suffered from ptsd. Grandma always explained he was gassed in the war. Not that that meant much to a little girl. Never talked about it, other than he looked after the horses and gave me some coins which I still have.
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RedFraggle

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2016, 09:35:00 PM »
My great uncle was killed at Arras. I have letters and cards sent from the front. I treasure them.
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Maryjane

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2016, 04:41:49 AM »
My great grandfather was killed there.
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Scampi

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2016, 07:01:46 AM »
My husband's great uncle survived the Somme, eventually being fatally wounded by shrapnel on 9th November 1918 - the telegram to his mother informing her of his death is dated 11th November 1918  :'(  We have the telegram and his wallet and contents - which has a shrapnel hole right through. 
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breeze

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2016, 08:22:29 AM »
Wow, this is so interesting.

My Great Uncle George emigrated to Canada before the war and joined up to fight in 1915.  He was only in France for about 10 days before he was killed on the 26th September, 1916.  There is no known grave, but my Great Grandmother made inquiries in 1923, to try and find it. No luck!.

His name is on the memorial at Vimy Ridge (Canadian), which myself and husband visited a few years back.  We also visited the village were he was killed, and the war graves there.  He may be one of the unnamed buried there. 

It's amazing the connections we still have to this dreadful period in our history.   
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breeze

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2016, 07:06:45 PM »
Did anyone see the 'Ghost Soldiers' for real.  Have seen the media reports today and think it was such a fitting and moving thing to do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-36683549

https://becausewearehere.co.uk/
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CLKD

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2016, 09:31:45 PM »
The very thought freaked me out ……….. imagine in these days of terror alerts to find WW1 uniforms everywhere  :-\
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breeze

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2016, 08:31:06 AM »
No guns CLKD. ::)

I found it really moving.

Gosh you are easily freaked aren't you?
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CLKD

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Re: Battle of the Somme
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2016, 12:59:54 PM »
 ;D - yep

Did you C the cyclists laying flowers at Utah Beach after the presentations last night?
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