Your Day (apart from gardening) - what took place?

It is indeed quite a graphic and very thought provoking film. One of Mr Hanks best roles. I just love Tom Hanks, he's such a versatile actor

 

I understand that-so awful. I've recently been studying my family tree and followed it back to make great great uncle who was killed in action in ww1. It was so upsetting just reading war diaries up to the point he was killed. The letter sent to family informing of his death said unknown as to the whereabouts of his death but I've had help from war historians to trace his final steps. I'm going to menin gate in ypres to see his memorial and retrace his last steps on the centenary of his death in August-I think it is going to be very emotional.

 

@Snorky85 I'm sure you will find it a very moving experience and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have ensured he is not forgotten.

I returned yesterday from a two day trip to northern France, doing exactly the same thing.

I've been researching the fascinating story of my grandfather and his three brothers, who all served in the army during the First World War. Two of the brothers were killed during the conflict and I visited the cemeteries where they are buried and the locations where they died.

I planned the trip to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the date on which the first of the brothers died. My two daughters joined me on the trip and it was indeed a memorable journey of discovery.

This is Brown's Copse cemetery in Roeux, near Arras. The first of my two Great Uncles to die in the conflict is buried here. He was killed in action on 28th April 1917, at the age of 21.



The youngest of the four brothers died of sickness in May 1918, just two days after his 19th birthday. He is buried in Longuenesse military cemetery, near St Omer.



My grandfather and his other brother survived the conflict; although my grandfather died before I was born, I did know his surviving brother, my Great Uncle, who was awarded a medal for bravery during the conflict. I managed to track down the date and place of the action, in 1917, for which he received the award, and further research led me to a description of his actions in the archives of a local newspaper of the time:
To use his Commanding Officer's words: "... was a stretcher-bearer during the raid on the enemy's trenches on September 25th: he performed his duties throughout with the greatest gallantry, and by his energy succeeded in saving the lives of several men."

This is the scene there today, looking across those same fields from the top of a hill near the village of Gonnelieu, near Cambrai.
As we walked around, with only the sound of Skylarks singing as they soared above the fields, it was hard to imagine what it must have been like on that early morning nearly 100 years ago, as the British troops fought their way to the crest of the hill where the German lines were positioned.



They will not be forgotten.

 

getting ready for our travels. ironing clothes, packing , organizing etc.

 

That is one of the main reasons for my visit. My great grandma loved her youngest brother Sam, who died in ww1. She said he was her favourite and so kind. I feel like I've gotten to know him through seeing photos and reading about what he did.

Heart breaking to think of how he died out there so young. I'll find it very hard. @Trunky glad to hear you got to visit northern France and pay your respects and remember them. I'm looking forward to paying my respects too and letting him know he hasn't been forgotten.

Must have been very sad @shiney to hear the stories. My own grandad who served in the navy in ww2 never spoke about the details of his time at war. I know he was on 3 ships that sank (minesweepers) so must have seen some awful sights.

 

4 migraines today. Worst one in a while. Sunny day but had to go to bed all day

 

Sorry to hear you are unwell @Snorky85 and hope that you feel better soon

Drove over to Wansford near Peterborough yesterday and had a ride on this little beauty.(The green one) ..

Also had a ride on Helga the diesel train as the first one broke down on the way back and were stuck on board for 2 1/4hours while the driver walked back to the last station to get a lift back to Wansford to get a rescue train to come and pick us all up.The guard was most concerned about me having to climb down the ladder and walk along the ballast to get to the rescue train.I wasn't very happy either as the idea of this train trip was so that I didn't have to walk very far with my bad foot (Sorry got them in the wrong order again.We started off on the green one and was rescued by Helga the orange one)

 

Morning all, yesterday i had plaster cast off my right leg, fractured my knee. It has healed, but got to strengthen the muscles so still got crutches, but only for now. I was told that it would hurt for a long time and it does. Got some exercises to strengthen the knee.

 

Bet it was nice getting the plaster off in this heat!

 

@Snorky85 yes thanks, i can move around a lot more. Might plant some bedding plants in a few days.

 

Up in lincoln at mum's and about to go to market rasen races for ladies day/olly murs concert for friends 40th bday.

Already done 2 hours in the garden and completely weeded the border. It looks so much better now. All the hard work on the last visit is paying off