The Futility of War
Today is the 90th anniversary the end of the First World War.
As someone who studies history, this day means a lot to me. For hours on end, I have studied the First World War. We often here about numbers, one million people died, two million people died. The conditions were horrible, blah blah blah. It is not until you put a name to these people and these lives lost that it really starts to grow in your mind. Yes these people lived through this, they lived through seeing their friends die millions of miles from home, the lived through the horrible conditions, they lived through the constant gun-fire, the mustard and chlorine gas, the bombs and the tanks.
Sadly, many people did not live through this at all.
I have two relatives who went to the First World War. My Grandfather's father, and my Grandmother's uncle. The first returned to get married, but my grandmother's uncle never came back.
Anyway, at this moment to try and understand more, I am reading there war records over the internet. I won't mention there full last names, just their initials (they were both called George)
My Grandfathers father. George G. signed up to the war in 1915. It's strange really, his writing is almost exactly the same as my Grandfathers. He states on his appliacation that he is "20 years and 9/12" but we know he could have only been 17 or 18 at the time.
He ended up serving in France, were he was admitted to hospital a few times for "Trench Foot" which I learnt is a foot disease that is caused by standing around in fithy water all day.
He returned home. He refused to speak of the war. He got married and had only one son (Also named George G.) When world War Two rolled around, he told my Grandfather (his son) that he was under no circumstances not to sign up. He didn't want his son to have to experience anything like that.
My Grandmothers uncle, George A. was a different story. He signed up in 1916, travelling to the sign up area with his brother (my G-Grandfather). Together they owned and ran a farm and were very close. Upon arriving Thomas A. (My G-Grandfather) was turned away, being informed he had an "enlarged heart." He lived until he was 81 and fathered 4 children. George did not live very long.
According to his records, George signed up on the 29th of June, but by the time he left, trained and travelled to France, it was January. In February 1917, he reached the fighting.
By the 26th of March he was dead.
According to the record, he died of "Gunshot Wounds to Both Legs" or in other words, he most likely died of shock bled to death. He been in combat for barely two months.
According to my Grandmother, her father Thomas, "never got over" his brother's death. His first son and only son is named 'George.' (Lots of Georges)
Reading the War records is quite sad, but none the less moving. Especially the list of possesions George A, had with him when he died. It makes everything seem so much more real. I have also been to the farm that George and Thomas planned to build, which Thomas raised his family on. It is strange to walk around the place and think, "What would Thomas have been feeling when he received the letter? How did he feel that he had been left behind?" It is a rather sad thought.
That's probably enough for now. If any Australians are interested in looking up their ancestors click here for a search.
Feeling moved in the corner
As someone who studies history, this day means a lot to me. For hours on end, I have studied the First World War. We often here about numbers, one million people died, two million people died. The conditions were horrible, blah blah blah. It is not until you put a name to these people and these lives lost that it really starts to grow in your mind. Yes these people lived through this, they lived through seeing their friends die millions of miles from home, the lived through the horrible conditions, they lived through the constant gun-fire, the mustard and chlorine gas, the bombs and the tanks.
Sadly, many people did not live through this at all.
I have two relatives who went to the First World War. My Grandfather's father, and my Grandmother's uncle. The first returned to get married, but my grandmother's uncle never came back.
Anyway, at this moment to try and understand more, I am reading there war records over the internet. I won't mention there full last names, just their initials (they were both called George)
My Grandfathers father. George G. signed up to the war in 1915. It's strange really, his writing is almost exactly the same as my Grandfathers. He states on his appliacation that he is "20 years and 9/12" but we know he could have only been 17 or 18 at the time.
He ended up serving in France, were he was admitted to hospital a few times for "Trench Foot" which I learnt is a foot disease that is caused by standing around in fithy water all day.
He returned home. He refused to speak of the war. He got married and had only one son (Also named George G.) When world War Two rolled around, he told my Grandfather (his son) that he was under no circumstances not to sign up. He didn't want his son to have to experience anything like that.
My Grandmothers uncle, George A. was a different story. He signed up in 1916, travelling to the sign up area with his brother (my G-Grandfather). Together they owned and ran a farm and were very close. Upon arriving Thomas A. (My G-Grandfather) was turned away, being informed he had an "enlarged heart." He lived until he was 81 and fathered 4 children. George did not live very long.
According to his records, George signed up on the 29th of June, but by the time he left, trained and travelled to France, it was January. In February 1917, he reached the fighting.
By the 26th of March he was dead.
According to the record, he died of "Gunshot Wounds to Both Legs" or in other words, he most likely died of shock bled to death. He been in combat for barely two months.
According to my Grandmother, her father Thomas, "never got over" his brother's death. His first son and only son is named 'George.' (Lots of Georges)
Reading the War records is quite sad, but none the less moving. Especially the list of possesions George A, had with him when he died. It makes everything seem so much more real. I have also been to the farm that George and Thomas planned to build, which Thomas raised his family on. It is strange to walk around the place and think, "What would Thomas have been feeling when he received the letter? How did he feel that he had been left behind?" It is a rather sad thought.
That's probably enough for now. If any Australians are interested in looking up their ancestors click here for a search.
Feeling moved in the corner