Lest We Forget XX

WONKA IS THAT A REFERENCE TO THE WAR TO END ALL WARS??? Folks, it is.  And just for this week in honour of it being 100 years since those guns fell silent on the Western Front and beyond, Owner is taking over AND I am not saying a word.  neither is Big Ruggles and neither is that Pip Squeak - they are both well and resemble Grumpy and Happy of the seven dwarves.  ME?  I am Doc for now.XX

(Over to Owner.....XX)

Here follows an excerpt from my Grandad's own words, which form part of his autobiography written in October 1990, when he was 89 - Edward Abraham Perry was born in Haverhill Suffolk in 1901 - the piece of his own writing I want to share is his account of his brother Percy:
"April 1915. Then came the War years, England declared war on Germany in August 1914, then named the first World War, which lasted until November 1918, and many homes were saddened by the death of loved ones. My second eldest brother Percy joined the 5th Suffolk REGT., in November 1914 and was sent to France in March 1915 and soon after I left School, we had the sad news that Percy was posted Missing, presumed Killed in Action. This was a great blow to Mother and Dad, as being missing, there was always the hope he might still be alive, but as the war dragged on this wasn't to be and his name is on one of the great memorials in Belgium (reader, it is on the Menin Gate in Ypres) - "
Grandad had another brother William who also joined up and who did as he puts it " went through to the end of the war" - Grandad says this is because he was not part of the "Front Line" (Western Front).
Wanted to share this as it is living history and in the words of someone who experienced two World Wars - in the second, Grandad was part of the Home Guard brought to life for us by 'Dad's Army.' thanks for reading this, and as you do, remembering all those like Percy, who was 23 years old when he died, at the battle of St Julien, Ypres, 24.4.1915.
There is Percy proudly standing in uniform, and next to this is my Grandad, who played in the local band (where he would meet my Grandma at one of the town hall dances!!) . Grandad is second on the left. Percy was my Great Uncle and I will be silent for him and my other Great Uncle, George Arthur Smith, on mum's side tomorrow at the 11th hour 11.11.2018 XX

 

 There we are folks up top is Owner's Grandad, and below his beloved bruv Percy.  I am going to share (Yes me Wonka), the photo of George Arthur Smith who died in April 1918 we think on the Western Front and is buried at the great War Grave Cemetery Etaples in France.

 

There he is!! His sister Madeleine is Owner's Grandma and who she is named after too - George's father also served in the Great War as did his older brother Bernie - they both survived.X

 

And so folks, tomorrow alongside millions of other folk all around the good globe We Will Remember Them!

 

Big love and back soon, Wonka XXX