Remembrance

This year we have all watched or been a part of the First World War 100 year Remembrances. Many of us, if not all will have been touched in some way or another with our families recounting stories. My first encounter was at school. I must have only have been about 12 when in English Literature, Miss Diddy handed us "A Choice of Poets" and instructed us to turn to Wilfred Owen, the poet we were about to study. There were 2 poems she had in mind for us. Dulce et Decorum Est and Anthem for Doomed Youth, none of us then understood the pure devastation and misery this war would reap.

Grandfather Hill entered the army at 13 as a boy soldier in 1900/1901 and spent his young years in Gibraltar defending the back of the rock, Spanish side! There he met and married Grandma at the English Cathedral on Gibraltar.

When the war broke out he spent the whole of the campaign with his regiment and fighting in the trenches on the front line. Upon returning to England he trained young gunners before moving to Wellingborough with his family.

Also I have found that a Great uncle of mine

fought and died on the front line.

27th May 1918 Killed in Action, France & Flanders

I have no known photo or other information.

R.I.P. my Great uncle Smart

Only just recently I have pondered on the fact that we are only here today by the sheer bravery (and luck) of those who risked everything for the future, our future.

They went to war with "faces grimly gay"

"Dulce et decorum est,Pro patria mori"

( It is sweet and honorable to die for ones country )srt

Wilfred Owen: The Send Off & Dulce et Decorum Est