Henry Allingham

[Viktoria]

How stupid to fight in that way when in Belgium at least the people had flooded the land so the German`s could not   properly occupy it so our barmy( and that`s putting it mildly!) -brass hats decided to fight from trenches. For TRENCHES read DRAINAGE CHANNELS.
I agree it is fitting that the last WW1 survivor fought in the trenches. They were the epitome of horror . It is a wonder the troops did not mutiny, but people were much more in awe of authority
and of course "shot at dawn " would have been the sentence.
 I asked my dad once "however did you get the courage to go over the top?" He explained that often there was a Military policeman behind them and men who did not go over on the whistle could be shot---there was more chance of surviving if you went over. I don`t know if that is exactly true but when troops were very demoralised I can imagine they needed  an" incentive "to  go and get shot!!! Such bravery.I get very angry, the cream of youth destroyed by old men. Viktoria.

[Redroger]

Lions led by donkeys indeed Viktoria! Though it is important to distinguish the Officers who led the troops in the field from the incompetent hooray henrys who were the senior commanders. Officers in the field had a very short life expectancy; from memory I believe it was about 14 days.

[Viktoria]

Yes Redroger, the 2nd.Lieutenants,often young men from public schools---Eton,Harrow Winchester etc.They were armed only with a hand pistol .Remember the last scene in the last Blackadder when Rohan Atkinson went "over the top"? It`s unbelievable nowadays even though there are casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was blind obedience inWW1. I reccommend a book to you about The        Sheffield Pals"Covenant with Death " by John Harris. It`s difficult to come by but so accurate and I think it ought to be compulsory reading for older school children.It may be available on Amazon,
HUTCHINSON LIBRARY SERVICES. My copy bought when our library was having a clear out is from1973 and a little different from the original from 1961 when it describes the strange noise coming from the battlefield ,then it is realised it is the sound of thousands and thousands of wounded men,moaning . It is of course about the first day of The Battle of The Somme. Takes place at Beaumont Hammel on the little river Ancre,a tributary of the Somme. Get some tissues!Viktoria.

[Gaille]

So sad for his family, he was a remarkable man, may he rest in peace & his scarifice & those of all his Collegues never be forgotten.

[Viktoria]

Which C.W.G.Cemetery is that? It looks a bit like Peronne, but it is quite some time since I was there.
Wonderful museum, much larger than the one in the cloth hall in Ypres.
That`s  very nice collage. Viktoria.

[Gaille]

Which C.W.G.Cemetery is that? It looks a bit like Peronne, but it is quite some time since I was there.
Wonderful museum, much larger than the one in the cloth hall in Ypres.
That`s  very nice collage. Viktoria.

Thanks Viktoria

It seemed an appropriate picture to put on a thread about Henry Allingham, as the memorial spans from WW1 to the present day.

All the photos were taken at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire by me, and each individual photo has a significance to my family.

I would reccomend a visit there to anyone - put good walking shoes on though !

Gaille

[Suffolk Mawther]

Gaille, we are hoping to visit The National Arboretum later this year, have been looking to book a cottage in the Peak District.


Regarding Henry Allingham, my grandfather was born the same year, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Flying Corps at 16 (he lied about his age on his papers).  His medals from WWI read Royal Air Force.  He too was a mechanic on the airfields of northern France.  Pop rarely spoke of what happened, only shortly before he passed away at the age of 94 he mentioned going up in a plane, 'just the once'.  He also talked of The Red Baron often flying over the airfields and said he was a very daring young man.

He loved to recall a visit to the RAF Museum at Hendon and telling one of the guides that he had worked on air planes the same as the one displayed.  'Oh no, I think you are mistaken', came the reply, 'these are from the First World War'.
'I know' said Pop, 'I've taken enough of their engines apart and rebuilt them and sent them up again to know which one'.

Whilst stories of Henry Allingham were being told, I still felt that strong link to my grandad who may well have served alongside him on the airfields of northern France.

Pat ...

[daval57]

I know anyone's passing is sad, but it some ways I think it's fitting and symbolic that the very last survivor of the war is Harry Patch - a Lewis gunner who was there fighting in the trenches.

Carole

Am I not correct in mentioning Claude Choules?

I agree with your sentiments though.

At the end of the day, none of these men should be forgotten.

Dave

[Jean McGurn]

Claude is also British and had been posted to Australia in 1920. When he left the service he decided to stay there. Would think he is now an Australian citizen by now.


Jean