My grandfather was just 16 when he ran away to enlist
Centenary marking the end of World War I - Armistice Day
My grandfather was 16 and in the trenches
Today marks 100 years since the end of The Great War, World War I and we'd like to express our thanks to everyone and their families who has served their country.
This handsome man is my grandfather on his wedding day in 1925 - and in 1915 when he was barely 16 years old he ran away from home to enlist in the army. He was put into the ambulance corps, and his assigned duty was to scour the battle fields looking for survivors, and carry - or drag - them back to the ambulance and get them to the field hospitals for emergency care.
My grandfather must have saved lives, but he rarely spoke of his experience during that time, and he mentioned it only once to me. I cannot image what he went through: I look at my son who is 16 and it breaks my heart to think of him on a battlefield. I can't even begin to comprehend what my grandfather - and so many others like him - sacrificed for their countries.
Keeping their memory alive and honouring their sacrifice
I am sure that many of you have stories like this, of family members who have sacrificed for their countries. Keeping their memory alive and remembering their sacrifice is the perfect way to honour them. On Sunday we are going to pull out some old photos of my grandfather and I'm going to tell my son all about his great-grandfather and his role in The Great War.
Comments
0 Comments