Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
My grandfather from my late fathers side of the family fought in WW1 and spent time in a German POW camp.
As a wee lad we would go to Grandpas farm in Manitoba. Down in the root cellar was his gun and the helment he got from a German officer when the war was over. The helment and gun are long since gone but my late fathers brother has the medals he recieved after the war was over.
Thank you grandpa and all the other soldiers who fought for freedom and democracy.
None of my family has ever fought in any major Canadian campaign that I know of. Certainly not on my mother's side because they only immigrated 35 years ago.
Cowperson, that photo is in John Keegan's First World War epic book. That book made me cry on so many occasions. It's also one reason why I really dislike the French.
My grandfather fought in the Soviet army, somehow ended up in a Polish refugee camp then came to Canada after the war. That's about all I know of his experiences. He never talked about them at any point. Loved war movies though. I can't figure that one out.
My grandfather fought in the Soviet army, somehow ended up in a Polish refugee camp then came to Canada after the war. That's about all I know of his experiences. He never talked about them at any point. Loved war movies though. I can't figure that one out.
Yea, my family's war history is a bit muddy as well. My one grandfather fought for Italy and was taken captive by Germany when Italy switched sides. Spent two years in a POW camp and came out weighing 91 lbs. That is the full extent of what is known about his military career. He would never talk about it.
My other grandfather was Swiss. 'Nuff said.
I came across these articles written by Russell Storring. He is a sergeant with the Canadian Army, and has been a signals operator for the 17 years he has been in the military. He completed his third tour of duty in Afghanistan in November 2008, having served there previously in 2005 and 2003. He also served with the UN in Rwanda in 1994. His columns give a first-person account from the field of the life of a soldier.
I can't imagine all he has been through and all he has seen in his various deployments overseas.
My Great-Grandfather on my mother's side fought in both World Wars and was wounded at the battle of Vimy Ridge. I wish I knew more about his military service, (like rank, unit, accomplishments, etc) but he died when I was quite young and from what my mother says he didn't like talking about it anyway.
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I love reading everyone's stories. I've posted the following stories of my family members before but in case anyone wants to read them again... (a day late)
Quote:
Originally Posted by icarus
My grandfather flew Lancasters during the war, as well as Halifaxes and Lysanders, and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Like most vets, he didn't talk much about it. The mortality rate for bomber crews was very high. He lost a lot of friends. He spoke to me about it once. His squadron (not sure if that is the correct term) flew a lot of secret missions, so in addition to bombing, they would also drop supplies behind enemy lines to spies and might even land behind enemy lines to drop off/pick up spies. He flew missions everywhere from Norway to North Africa. The most amazing story he told me was how he once flew his Lanc 100ft off the ground over a German flak battery to avoid their fire. It is hard to imagine a bomber flying 100ft off the ground, it must have been incredible.
However, my grandfather did meet and marry my grandmother during the war, who was an English radio operator.
Quote:
Originally Posted by icarus
My grandfather's [above] uncle was nominated for the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) at Passchendaele, and it was here that he earned his Belgian Croix de Guerre, although the records are silent on for what and when he earned it. He also earned the Canadian Military Medal (upon his third nomination.
Here is one mention of him at Passchendaele in October 1917 from New Brunswick's Fighting 26th (MacGowan et al.). Sgt. Palmer is mentioned on Pg 223 of the History of the 26th Battalion.:
Here also is mention of him from November 1917 at Passchendaele. Looks like a shell landed in his platoon's trench at 5:45am. (Change the last digit on the URL of the image to '3' to see the following page where his name appears.)
Sgt. Palmer was killed in action at Arras in 1918 after surviving the Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele, and Amiens. He was 24.
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My grandfather was stationed in England from 41-45. He was a navigator and a bomb aimer in the Lancaster bombers. He's 92 now and still won't talk about the war. I know his best friend died in Moose Jaw during training. They signed up together and he witnessed the crash that killed his buddy.
