Thursday, November 10, 2011

Memories of the War Years

William Williams was my Grandpa John Williams' brother.
I recently discovered this photo last evening while interviewing my Dad. He had it stored in a box along with the newspaper clipping below. He died in WWI.

This is the medal given to Williams' family. My Dad now owns it.
At last, I've found a picture with more information about William who was nicknamed Willie.
What a sad and awful thing war is.

3 comments:

Celestial Charms said...

How very sad I felt after reading the newspaper article. The travesty of war, and knowing that if his injuries were suffered today, he probably would have survived.
Maureen

Desire Empire said...

So I clicked on the shot of Uncle William and was led here. It crossed my mind that he was the right age for WW1 but never assumed he had died there.

I am very interested in WW1 and have been to the Somme in France and intend to do more military travel when I can.

I hate war because a mother drags her children up with great energy and love expended. Sitting with them through the night whan they are ill. Teaching them how to play and interact and all the other things that would fill this page if I went on and then with one bullet, probably shot by someone equally as nice in civilian life as your uncle, their life is snuffed out on a political whim. All the hope and dreams of them and their family gone. The hurt that is still felt generation later is unbearable and that's why I hate war!!!!

Hope you don't mind my ramble but you can see I feel very strongly about it.
Carolyn xx

PS I'm off to find out what country you are blogging from but I looks like a Commonwealth one if you got he memeorty medal.

Desire Empire said...

Ok It's Canada. The Canadians fought in the next sector to the Australians on the the Somme.

Did you know that is the reason the the Canadians and Australians both claim to have shot down the Red Barron there in 1918.

From what I've read Canadians were terrific soliders. I went to a fabulous monument at Beaumont Hammeau in France. It was actually Newfoundlanders who fought there, but is now run by the Canadian Governement. Apparently after the war the priest who was stationed there from Canada went back and negotiated with 250 different French landholders to purchase the land and set up a memorial. The land is still cut up with trenches and it is the best memorial ever. It is a very sad story of how young Canadians were sent to the slaughter that all Canadians should know about. You can check out the full story on my blog here http://www.desireempire.com/2011/04/battle-fields-of-france-and-anzac-day.html



Carolyn xx