Remembrance Sunday.
9 Nov 2008 10:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
curiouswombatI went out to lunch with my Mum yesterday and we were discussing something on television. On a programme about Remembrance Day it was said that by the end of WW1 everyone knew of someone who had died - and even now there were few families who could not trace at least one family member who had died in the conflict.
We were considering that, at least on the maternal side of my family, we had had no-one lost in that war or, indeed, WW2. In times of war the Island is considered, or considers itself, British and our men have always served in the British armed forces.
My maternal grandfather was called up, as a man of over 30, but was ill when the papers arrived. He was given a one or two week reprieve, but then had to go to sign up. He was still ill, but travelled anyway - only to end up dangerously ill with dysentry and pneumonia in a camp somewhere near Dover and was discharged as medically unfit to serve.
But I wondered about his brothers. Mum said as far as she knew the only two who were both fit enough and old enough to serve had actually not done so, as they were farmers, and farming was a reserved occupation. Her mother's only brother had been too young, although her mother's two sisters actually both joined up, but came home safely.
Then, in passing, Mum said "Of course Uncle Charlie Christian was the first Manxman injured in WW1..."
"What?"
"Oh, yes - the bullet went straight through his leg into his horse, and killed the horse."
Uncle Charlie Christian was my grandmother's cousin, brought up with her family as if a brother - he is on the big family portrait - a tall, distinguished looking gentleman in cavalry uniform (I think!).
And he was the first Manxman injured in WW1? Why did I not know this before?
I wonder if it is really true, or just one of those odd 'facts' passed through families which turn out to be somewhere short of accurate? Some day I must try to find out!
Talking about it to S2C when I got home, we were considering that from D-d's standpoint she did not lose any direct line relative - but she did lose a bit of one...
S2C's maternal grandfather served with the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and so, despite being a sailor, fought in Belgium, Gallipoli and finally at the Somme - where he lost a leg. 'Lost' - isn't that an odd description? 'Where he had a leg blown off him' would probably be more accurate.
So we are thankful that my maternal grandfather was too ill to fight; my paternal grandfather, a Boer War veteran, was in a sheltered occupation on Liverpool docks, and as far as I know stayed there; most of S2C'smaternal grandfather got home; and his paternal grandfather - well he survived as well - although we aren't sure whether he fought. (I've actually e-mailed my FiL to ask.) Because if more of any of these men had been left on a battle field, S2C, D-d and I would not be here.
We were considering that, at least on the maternal side of my family, we had had no-one lost in that war or, indeed, WW2. In times of war the Island is considered, or considers itself, British and our men have always served in the British armed forces.
My maternal grandfather was called up, as a man of over 30, but was ill when the papers arrived. He was given a one or two week reprieve, but then had to go to sign up. He was still ill, but travelled anyway - only to end up dangerously ill with dysentry and pneumonia in a camp somewhere near Dover and was discharged as medically unfit to serve.
But I wondered about his brothers. Mum said as far as she knew the only two who were both fit enough and old enough to serve had actually not done so, as they were farmers, and farming was a reserved occupation. Her mother's only brother had been too young, although her mother's two sisters actually both joined up, but came home safely.
Then, in passing, Mum said "Of course Uncle Charlie Christian was the first Manxman injured in WW1..."
"What?"
"Oh, yes - the bullet went straight through his leg into his horse, and killed the horse."
Uncle Charlie Christian was my grandmother's cousin, brought up with her family as if a brother - he is on the big family portrait - a tall, distinguished looking gentleman in cavalry uniform (I think!).
And he was the first Manxman injured in WW1? Why did I not know this before?
I wonder if it is really true, or just one of those odd 'facts' passed through families which turn out to be somewhere short of accurate? Some day I must try to find out!
Talking about it to S2C when I got home, we were considering that from D-d's standpoint she did not lose any direct line relative - but she did lose a bit of one...
S2C's maternal grandfather served with the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and so, despite being a sailor, fought in Belgium, Gallipoli and finally at the Somme - where he lost a leg. 'Lost' - isn't that an odd description? 'Where he had a leg blown off him' would probably be more accurate.
So we are thankful that my maternal grandfather was too ill to fight; my paternal grandfather, a Boer War veteran, was in a sheltered occupation on Liverpool docks, and as far as I know stayed there; most of S2C'smaternal grandfather got home; and his paternal grandfather - well he survived as well - although we aren't sure whether he fought. (I've actually e-mailed my FiL to ask.) Because if more of any of these men had been left on a battle field, S2C, D-d and I would not be here.
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Date: 09/11/2008 11:13 pm (UTC)My grandfather who was the Boer War survivor was there under the same circumstance, I was told - his mother also went and demanded that they give him back because he was only 14 or 15.
But your uncle who was at sicily - wow, that was obviously horrifically mismanaged, but what an amazing swim. The things our older relatives went through can be very humbling.