Wear a poppy

[Cowperson]

Remembering my grandfather today, a veteran of The Great War, 1914-1918.

He was an immigrant farmer in the Pine Lake area who returned to England for WWI, enlisted as a private and lived to be a Captain, serving on the front lines from 1915 to 1918.

He was shot on two occasions and gassed in another.

Within four days in late September, 1918, very late in the war, he was nominated for a Victoria Cross and received a DSO for one action and, a few days later, a Military Cross for the other. He also received the French Croix de Guerre.

Referencing the pictures earlier, his citation reads: "On 29th September, 1918, during the storming of the St. Quentin Canal, north of Bellenglise, this officer most gallantly led his company by compass bearing towards the bridge called Riqueval Bridge. During the advance, the Company was held up by machine gun fire from a trench guarding the approach. This officer took forward a party of nine men, captured the gun, killing all the crew by bayonet and then carried on to the bridge, where the sentries who were guarding it were killed before they could fire the explosive charge. This officer then cut the leads and threw the charge into the canal, posted men on guard over the bridge and mopped up the vicinity, killing a large number of the enemy. His prompt action in cutting the leads and disconnecting the charges saved the bridge, upon which depended the whole success of the operations, not only of the whole Division but also of the Division which was leap-frogging us to a distance objective."

His Military Cross citation from four days later reads: "During the attack on 3rd October, 1918, near Sequehart, this offer showed conspicuous gallantry and initiative in bringing his Company Lewis guns into a position so that he was able to enfilade the two enemy field guns that were holding up the line. These guns he captured and also a nest of machine guns. During the whole operations, this officer has showed great devotion to duty."

Post-action, he had guided the King Of England on a tour of the battlefield near Bellinglise and was presented his medals at Buckingham Palace.

Below is Riqueval Bridge on the St. Quentin Canal, near Bellinglise, France, likely taken the morning my grandfather led a charge across, cutting the leads to charges and bayonetting the defenders (as described in his medal recommendation) on Sept. 29, 1918. Saving the bridge allowed the advance to continue. You can still see the wires hanging from the bridge if you look close enough. For all I know, he might even be in the picture.



Ninety plus years after that day, the bridge is still standing today.



One time when I was a boy, 50 years after the days above, we were at his home in the country, near Red Deer, and I asked him in a way only the innocence of youth could, "Grandpa, how many German's did you kill."

He began to cry. . . . . . and my father led me away.

Considering all that happened to him, that he was basically on the front lines of World War 1 for much of the conflict, aside from convalescing from injuries, it seems rather fortunate I'm even around.

He died in the early 1980's.

Remember a veteran today.

Cowperson

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Not sure if this has been posted yet but...



http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...rticle5034985/

If they don't want to to participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies because of religious reasons or other reasons, then they can GTFO of Canada.

[Magnum PEI]

Captain Obvious and Cowperson's posts are two perfect examples of why Remembrance Day isn't just about 'lest we forget'.

Send the souvenir back to Germany, it doesn't belong to you.

[Canuck-Hater]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

If they don't want to to participate in Remembrance Day ceremonies because of religious reasons or other reasons, then they can GTFO of Canada.

That seems a little extreme. You can still pay homage and respect to fallen war veterans without participating in a ceremony.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

Captain Obvious and Cowperson's posts are two perfect examples of why Remembrance Day isn't just about 'lest we forget'.

Send the souvenir back to Germany, it doesn't belong to you.

[OffsideSpecialist]

I'd argue that was a wise edit.

[Magnum PEI]

I really want to post it, bit I also don't want to get banned.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Remembering my grandfather today, a veteran of The Great War, 1914-1918.

He was an immigrant farmer in the Pine Lake area who returned to England for WWI, enlisted as a private and lived to be a Captain, serving on the front lines from 1915 to 1918.

He was shot on two occasions and gassed in another.

Within four days in late September, 1918, very late in the war, he was nominated for a Victoria Cross and received a DSO for one action and, a few days later, a Military Cross for the other. He also received the French Croix de Guerre.

Referencing the pictures earlier, his citation reads: "On 29th September, 1918, during the storming of the St. Quentin Canal, north of Bellenglise, this officer most gallantly led his company by compass bearing towards the bridge called Riqueval Bridge. During the advance, the Company was held up by machine gun fire from a trench guarding the approach. This officer took forward a party of nine men, captured the gun, killing all the crew by bayonet and then carried on to the bridge, where the sentries who were guarding it were killed before they could fire the explosive charge. This officer then cut the leads and threw the charge into the canal, posted men on guard over the bridge and mopped up the vicinity, killing a large number of the enemy. His prompt action in cutting the leads and disconnecting the charges saved the bridge, upon which depended the whole success of the operations, not only of the whole Division but also of the Division which was leap-frogging us to a distance objective."

His Military Cross citation from four days later reads: "During the attack on 3rd October, 1918, near Sequehart, this offer showed conspicuous gallantry and initiative in bringing his Company Lewis guns into a position so that he was able to enfilade the two enemy field guns that were holding up the line. These guns he captured and also a nest of machine guns. During the whole operations, this officer has showed great devotion to duty."

Post-action, he had guided the King Of England on a tour of the battlefield near Bellinglise and was presented his medals at Buckingham Palace.

Below is Riqueval Bridge on the St. Quentin Canal, near Bellinglise, France, likely taken the morning my grandfather led a charge across, cutting the leads to charges and bayonetting the defenders (as described in his medal recommendation) on Sept. 29, 1918. Saving the bridge allowed the advance to continue. You can still see the wires hanging from the bridge if you look close enough. For all I know, he might even be in the picture.



Ninety plus years after that day, the bridge is still standing today.



One time when I was a boy, 50 years after the days above, we were at his home in the country, near Red Deer, and I asked him in a way only the innocence of youth could, "Grandpa, how many German's did you kill."

He began to cry. . . . . . and my father led me away.

Considering all that happened to him, that he was basically on the front lines of World War 1 for much of the conflict, aside from convalescing from injuries, it seems rather fortunate I'm even around.

He died in the early 1980's.

Remember a veteran today.

Cowperson

Great story Cow and I'm grateful that you posted it.

I remember doing a paper on the attitudes at the start of WW1. Everyone was excited to fight in it, it was a young mans chance to become a hero, win some medals, it was going to be a great adventure and everyone was going to be home for Christmas. WW1 was the end of the concept of romanticizing war.

Most people had this idea in their head that war was about chivalry and gallantry, and especially for the British the civilized rules of warfare.

WW1 changed it, it was the worst type of war and a lot of ways far more brutal then any war since because of not only the style of war, but also the invention or use of brutal terror weapons like the high speed machine gun, poison gas and bomber aviation.

It really popularized the idea of man's inhumanity to man.

Your Granpa sounds like he was an incredible and brave person.

Best wishes

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

I really want to post it, bit I also don't want to get banned.

You're garbage.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

I really want to post it, bit I also don't want to get banned.

Please post it, and get yourself banned. Please.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

Captain Obvious and Cowperson's posts are two perfect examples of why Remembrance Day isn't just about 'lest we forget'.

Send the souvenir back to Germany, it doesn't belong to you.

1. Did you miss the part where the man in the story was likely forever scarred by the horrors of war and has way more insight into the situation than you do based on his experiences - I mean the medals are neat and all, but I can't imagine carrying the burden of knowing I killed many men around with me for decades - let alone the knowledge that it was celebrated.

2. Send it back to who? Find someone in the German Navy and say - hey remember when that horrible regime came into power, conscripted you and forever left a black mark on your nations history... oh you do... while here's a button from them. Sorry but what a stupid comment. It isn't as though he stole artwork or jewellery... he took a f'n button.

[peter12]

Haha, Magnum PEI is a Nazi apologist. What a sucker.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Bunnies

Actually, Im right. Read up on Japanese naval capabilities in the 1940s (by the way they did invade several Aleutian Islands. Thats Alaska, for the uninformed). While you are at it, try looking up German heavy water research (re: atomic bomb). There was very much a threat. Also, our ships are basically Canadian soil; its a direct attack on our sovereignty.

Happy reading! I am now done educating in this thread.

Here you go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by peter12

Haha, Magnum PEI is a Nazi apologist. What a sucker.

Um, OK.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

1. Did you miss the part where the man in the story was likely forever scarred by the horrors of war and has way more insight into the situation than you do based on his experiences - I mean the medals are neat and all, but I can't imagine carrying the burden of knowing I killed many men around with me for decades - let alone the knowledge that it was celebrated.

The post was mostly about how awesomely they took the bridge.

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

2. Send it back to who? Find someone in the German Navy and say - hey remember when that horrible regime came into power, conscripted you and forever left a black mark on your nations history... oh you do... while here's a button from them. Sorry but what a stupid comment. It isn't as though he stole artwork or jewellery... he took a f'n button.

A museum, or anywhere. I bet you could find a German sailor who would be proud to take it. They were fighting for their country's survival, unlike Canadians who were fighting for the British Empire.
Either way it was stolen no matter how trivial you think it is its not something to brag about.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

A museum, or anywhere.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

A museum, or anywhere. I bet you could find a German sailor who would be proud to take it. They were fighting for their country's survival, unlike Canadians who were fighting for the British Empire.
Either way it was stolen no matter how trivial you think it is its not something to brag about.

Wow. Just wow. Sorry words elude me at that.

Really I disagree with pretty much everything in your post... It is from a Nazi uniform... history pretty much agrees they were bad. Very very bad. Also no museum is going to care about a button, it isn't the Cross of Coronado

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

A museum, or anywhere. I bet you could find a German sailor who would be proud to take it. They were fighting for their country's survival, unlike Canadians who were fighting for the British Empire.
Either way it was stolen no matter how trivial you think it is its not something to brag about.

Normally I would enjoy ripping apart the faulty logic of someone as confused, angry and outright mistaken as you are here...

But this thread isn't about ignorant people and arguing about what they (incorrectly) think. (and how you can be so wrong about so many things in three sentences is beyond me)

This is a thread and day about remembering those who sacrificed for our way of life.

No one should be taking your bait and replying to you. Including me, so I'll leave it at that.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Wow. Just wow. Sorry words elude me at that.

I tend to agree with the point that German soldiers in WW2 were like any other soldier, I wouldn't lump the rank-and-file in with the SS or anything.

Then... then he went off the deep end with the unlike Canadians bit.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I tend to agree with the point that German soldiers in WW2 were like any other soldier, I wouldn't lump the rank-and-file in with the SS or anything.

Then... then he went off the deep end with the unlike Canadians bit.

I wouldn't say that the Nazis were fighting to defend their country - I am sure that the vast majority were just like good old Canadian boys, making war all the more tragic, but I would never equate that for saying that they were fighting for their countries survival. The aggressor doesn't get to make that argument.

I actually agree and in many ways I feel awful for the common German soldiers if the time for going through what they went through... but the same is true about most soldiers.