Ypres

[Liam]

Well, off to Ypres to see how my grandaddy and his buddies helped you lot beat the Boche back in 1914-1918. Going out on 27 October and back on 3 November. He wasn't very Republican minded as he joined in November 1916, after the 1916 rising, or maybe he just wanted a job as they were scarce where he was living. Joined the the Royal Field Horse Artillery, which was the largest part of the British Army back then. Three years in the colours and nine years in the reserve. Got a facial wound in September 1918 and returned to unit after a couple of weeks. From what we can gather he spent quite a bit of time at the front, being moved from one battallion to another as needed. Should be an interesting trip as my three brothers are also coming. :thumb2

 

[lacroupade]

Well, off to Ypres to see how my grandaddy and his buddies helped you lot beat the Boche back in 1914-1918. Going out on 27 October and back on 3 November. He wasn't very Republican minded as he joined in November 1916, after the 1916 rising, or maybe he just wanted a job as they were scarce where he was living. Joined the the Royal Field Horse Artillery, which was the largest part of the British Army back then. Three years in the colours and nine years in the reserve. Got a facial wound in September 1918 and returned to unit after a couple of weeks. From what we can gather he spent quite a bit of time at the front, being moved from one battallion to another as needed. Should be an interesting trip as my three brothers are also coming. :thumb2

Have a good time Liam, well insofar as you can in such circumstances. I drive through the general area often en route to SW France but never stopped. Take plenty of pics won't you as I'd love to see 'em.

 

[paulp]

ypres

i go to this beautiful area a few times a year, especially in November and i can say that it is always an emotional time.

The menin gate is a fantastic monument and the last post is still played at 20.00 hrs every night.

enjoy your trip

paulp

 

[lacroupade]

i go to this beautiful area a few times a year, especially in November and i can say that it is always an emotional time.

The menin gate is a fantastic monument and the last post is still played at 20.00 hrs every night.

enjoy your trip

paulp

Good job you posted, I was scratching my head trying to remember who the regular visitor was. :thumb2

 

[paulp]

ypres

Tis me

Just got back from a week in Normandy, touring the beaches and associated museums

paulp

 

[Deleted account DD]

Liam, im with Paul on this pics pls :thumb2 like him its an area ive been through many times but never to.

Club outing looking good

 

[Liam]

Thanks for the good wishes, I'll be taking plenty of pics, all going well. Can't even begin to imagine what it was like for my grandfather, a country boy from the west of Ireland, to be in a place where there was such a huge loss of life on all sides. Think we'll be staying about ten minutes walk from Menin Gate. The older I get the more I am sure there is not a blade of grass or sod of earth worth dying for anywhere on this planet. I spoke with a guy from Northern Ireland a few years back, a firearms dealer, and he had gotten hold of some Lee Enfields which were issued to the 36th Ulster Division ( he had the full provenance) who suffered huge losses on the first day of the Somme, it was interesting to hold a piece of history from that era.

Captain Wilfred Spender of the Ulster Division's HQ staff after the Battle of the Somme was quoted in the press as saying, "I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st. July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world."<sup id="cite_ref-BBC_3-0" class="reference">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36th_(Ulster)_Division#cite_note-BBC-3</sup> The final sentences of Captain Wilfred Spender's account furthered his viewpoint:<sup id="cite_ref-Spender_4-0" class="reference">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/36th_(Ulster)_Division#cite_note-Spender-4</sup>
<table style="margin:auto; border-collapse:collapse; border-style:none; background-color:transparent; width:auto;" class="cquote"> <tbody><tr> <td style="color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:left;padding:10px 10px;" valign="top" width="20">“</td> <td style="padding:4px 10px;" valign="top">The Ulster Division has lost more than half the men who attacked and, in doing so, has sacrificed itself for the Empire which has treated them none too well. The much derided Ulster Volunteer Force has won a name which equals any in history. Their devotion, which no doubt has helped the advance elsewhere, deserved the gratitude of the British Empire. It is due to the memory of these brave fellows that their beloved Province shall be fairly treated.</td> <td style="color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family:'Times New Roman',serif;font-weight:bold;text-align:right;padding:10px 10px;" valign="bottom" width="20">”</td> </tr> </tbody></table> After the war had ended, King George V paid tribute to the 36th Division saying, "Throughout the long years of struggle ... the men of Ulster have proved how nobly they fight and die ...".

 

[Liam]

Any requests for pictures of anything in particular or will I just photograph everything? If there is anything of particular interest, I will do my best to oblige, just let me know what's required. I can do a list then and force my brothers to bring me to those places, at bayonet point if necessary.

 

[supergnome]

See if you can get a copy of the Wipers Times when you are there.

 

[Liam]

See if you can get a copy of the Wipers Times when you are there.

Request noted:thumb2

 

[Deleted account DD]

Liam,history records the UVF aquitting themselves superbly , i always think its such a shame the name was hijacked .the 60's

 

[Liam]

Liam,history records the UVF aquitting themselves superbly , i always think its such a shame the name was hijacked .the 60's

Have to agree, like our tricolour flag was hijacked too. Are you aware it is only in the last few years that Irish men and women who fought alongside and with the British Army received official recognition over here, there was a memorial garden but it was neglected for years because they were almost seen as traitors. Disgraceful but true, at least now they are getting the recognition they deserve and that shameful part of our history can be put to rest. Even your Queen laid a wreath there on her recent visit. Changing times, thank God.

Even as recent as about 12 years ago I worked with a woman whose son was in the Irish Guards and she was terrified that her neighbours would find out in case he would be beaten up or shot when he came home to visit. She was absolutely terrified but extremely proud of him. Going back a bit, a lot of members of the Royal Irish Constabularly here actually changed their surname to avoid their families being persecuted or burnt out of their homes by fellow Irishmen. Reid was changed to Reade and numerous other names werealso changed. Even my own surname, Good, was changed, my grandfather spelt it Goode. I think Goode was the Protestant spelling and Good was the Catholic spelling, can't be sure about that other than his sign up papers say Goode. He was Catholic.

 

[millie2]

Enjoy liam and if you forget the pics im always there because of my job driving kids on their "school trips"( hols for teachers)

 

[Liam]

Enjoy liam and if you forget the pics im always there because of my job driving kids on their "school trips"( hols for teachers)

Nice one. Will you be there in October?

 

[lacroupade]

I've posted this link before Liam but its probably one of the best WW1 sites on the net......an absolute mine of info on everything you can imagine and more.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?

 

[Liam]

I've posted this link before Liam but its probably one of the best WW1 sites on the net......an absolute mine of info on everything you can imagine and more.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?

Great site Paul, thanks.

 

[wildbri]

My grand father Thomas Nugent (must be some Irish connection there) was in the first world war, on his deathbed over forty years later he was still in the trenches, the last words he said to me was " we have been in these trench for five days without food, but I am worried about those I have left at home"

In the second world war he had four sons serving, only one came home. Two lost at sea the other buried in Normandy age 18 years.

During the blitz on Salford by the Nazis his house was destroyed, he, his wife, my aunt, uncle and cousin along with my mum, dad and ME escaped from the ruins.

When I went off on active service during my national service who carried my kitbag to the station but my grand dad Thomas Nugent.

regards bri

 

[Liam]

My grand father Thomas Nugent (must be some Irish connection there) was in the first world war, on his deathbed over forty years later he was still in the trenches, the last words he said to me was " we have been in these trench for five days without food, but I am worried about those I have left at home"

In the second world war he had four sons serving, only one came home. Two lost at sea the other buried in Normandy age 18 years.

During the blitz on Salford by the Nazis his house was destroyed, he, his wife, my aunt, uncle and cousin along with my mum, dad and ME escaped from the ruins.

When I went off on active service during my national service who carried my kitbag to the station but my grand dad Thomas Nugent.

regards bri

There's a lot of history there, and that's just one family. Can you imagine the hundreds of thousands of similar stories, and not just in England and Ireland? It really makes you think, doesn't it? Glad he survived it but what a great loss to your family, to lose three sons in such way. And still we don't learn from the lessons of the past. May they rest in peace.

 

[Liam]

Well, off to Eindhoven first to meet up with my brother, Irish breakfast followed by a ramble around Eindhoven, I suppose, then we are off to Ypres on Friday afternoon for a couple of days, at least based in Ypres but will be travelling to Arras as we believe this is the area where my Grandad was wounded. Intend taking plenty of pics so hopefully they will be of interest to some of you on here. Back home on Wednesday evening, all going well. No fighting when I'm gone. Lol

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

good for you all, something i'd like to do too, think every one should go.

such a chronic waste of life, unbelievable so many shot by their own
side too as cowards rather than understanding mental illness.

dont think i would have survived it, not much a thank you for offering
to serve your country.

arh the folly of war.