During an extended commex a year and a half ago we stumbled onto the Veterans Day Special Event Station WW1FB, run out of West Virginia in Cpl Buckles' honor. They could not hear us, alas.
wv: worsen. what the world will do without these heroes.
I think there are only 4 left. Last year the last of the Tommies passed away. Cpl. Buckles is the last doughtboy. I think there is still oneKraut and one frog left. The last of the Anzacs died in the 80's (I think). The Russian survivors didn't survive the Stalin years. Damn few of these heroes left. I have an awe of any man who can walk slowly at an enemy armed with maxims. Look up the morning of July 1, 1916 when between the hours of 0730 and 0830 the allied army suffered 60000 british and commonwealth casualties, 40000 of them lethal. Never have any since done so much for so little.
I've visited the monument in question. It's in a lonely little spot off to the side of the Mall, near the Washington Monument. It certainly deserves better treatment.
Had a German friend who died a few years ago who was a veteran of WWI. He still had his old uniform, and a lot of interesting stuff from the war, including an Iron Cross and a photograph of Kaiser Wilhelm awarding it to him. He had some interesting stories to tell when we would get to together to have a few beers.
Damn it Tam; now I need a tissue.
ReplyDelete+1
ReplyDeleteThere are now, what, 6 of them left?
We can still touch that war and the actual persons who were there. That simply amazes me.
I'm sure I'd end up killing any one of those poor fellows with my questions, if given the chance.
During an extended commex a year and a half ago we stumbled onto the Veterans Day Special Event Station WW1FB, run out of West Virginia in Cpl Buckles' honor. They could not hear us, alas.
ReplyDeletewv: worsen. what the world will do without these heroes.
I think there are only 4 left. Last year the last of the Tommies passed away. Cpl. Buckles is the last doughtboy. I think there is still oneKraut and one frog left. The last of the Anzacs died in the 80's (I think). The Russian survivors didn't survive the Stalin years.
ReplyDeleteDamn few of these heroes left. I have an awe of any man who can walk slowly at an enemy armed with maxims.
Look up the morning of July 1, 1916 when between the hours of 0730 and 0830 the allied army suffered 60000 british and commonwealth casualties, 40000 of them lethal. Never have any since done so much for so little.
The first day of the Somme was one of the most horrific incidents in history.
ReplyDelete"C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre."
I've visited the monument in question. It's in a lonely little spot off to the side of the Mall, near the Washington Monument. It certainly deserves better treatment.
ReplyDeletehttp://dc.about.com/od/monuments/a/DCWarMemorial.htm
Had a German friend who died a few years ago who was a veteran of WWI. He still had his old uniform, and a lot of interesting stuff from the war, including an Iron Cross and a photograph of Kaiser Wilhelm awarding it to him. He had some interesting stories to tell when we would get to together to have a few beers.
ReplyDeleteThere's one Pole (served at the very end, IIRC), the Brits and Mr. Buckles...and maybe one Canadian?
ReplyDeleteLast I knew, anyway, it was six.
Wikipedia says 4: Corporal Buckles, a Canuck, and two Brits.
ReplyDeleteList of last surviving World War I veterans by country