Lest We Forget-

[Graham Bell]

4th. August 2014, When you go home tell them of us, and say ,for your tomorrow we gave our today.
Regards-
G.B.

[Anmer]

Thanks Graham.

Having just returned from visiting La Somme and a number of cemeteries, I found it difficult to stand and look at the mass of headstones and crosses without a deep sadness at the sheer waste of life, especially those poor soldiers, mostly younger than my three sons.  And let's not forget those who survived with terrible physical and emotional injuries as well as those who were shot for "cowardice".

In the museum at Peronne there are some film clips of patients suffering from "shell shock".  What a hellish experience they went through and no wonder some couldn't take any more.

Perhaps, their sacrifice and that of those 20 years later, has spared us the same fate but at an appalling price?  Unfortunately. others elsewhere have not.

Sadly we never learn.

[G4UMW]

I lost a great uncle in the Great War.

436227 Private Alan George Smith was born in Buckinghamshire but fought with the 49th Battalion (Edmonton Regiment), Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was wounded in action on 8th October 1916 during an attack on "Regina Trench" between Le Sars and Thiepval during the Somme campaign. He later died of his wounds and lies in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

From the Regimental War Diary:

"After an 8 minutes barrage, in conjunction with RCRs (Royal Canadian Regiment) on the right, the Battalion attacked the Regina Trench, but was met with fierce Machine Gun and Rifle fire from front and flanks, and was very severely handled by the enemy. Elements of the Battalion reached Regina Trench and were seen no more. Those remaining of the Battalion held Kenora Trench, parts of Zollern Graben and shell holes in front of the enemy's wire until evening, when they were relieved by 42nd Battalion RHC (Royal Highlanders of Canada). Casualties 8 Officers and 213 other ranks."

R.I.P.