Scotlands Last WW1 Soldier Dies

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 22 Nov 2005, 12:45

The last survivor of the 1914 Xmas Truce, Scotlands Oldest Man and Scotlands last WW1 war veteran passed away recently.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4456234.stm#

But the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men still answer the call
But year after year
Their numbers get fewer
One day no one will march there at all.

Hopefully something can be done on a national scale to honour this man ( and his long-gone brothers).

The real death of a vital generation.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 22 Nov 2005, 12:47

I saw that on last night's news - it was very sad to watch.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 22 Nov 2005, 13:20

Sad and also amazing, respect to the old guy.

In a lighthearted moment. Lisa (15) commented that he didn't look 109 years of age. When pushed, she plumped for 104.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » 22 Nov 2005, 13:48

Porty wrote:Sad and also amazing, respect to the old guy.

In a lighthearted moment. Lisa (15) commented that he didn't look 109 years of age. When pushed, she plumped for 104.

Lisa was right, the old guy didnt look his age.

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 22 Nov 2005, 14:34

Did anyone see Ian Hislop's prgramme on Sunday evening about WW1?
Very moving, I thought.

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 22 Nov 2005, 22:43

Mimpty wrote:Did anyone see Ian Hislop's prgramme on Sunday evening about WW1?
Very moving, I thought.

Yes, I saw that too, Mimpty. It was very interesting.
I liked the story attached to the smashed memorial that had been pieced together after being found in a skip! Some very tragic tales, not just about the men who died but also concerning the families they left behind.

Mimpty · Post by **Mimpty** » 23 Nov 2005, 14:48

Yes, the archived letter Ian read out was heartbreaking. He had real trouble reading it and it was difficult to listen to.

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Nov 2005, 14:52

My great uncle (on my mum's side) was a deserter!

He lived the rest of his life under an assumed name, and the family kept his secret.

woops!

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 23 Nov 2005, 15:05

When I went to Uni (aged 18) we shared a kitchen. There were 18 of us and one was a guy who had done time for being a consientious objector in WW2. We were in thrall and awe with him, although can't recall his name now.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 23 Nov 2005, 21:43

Our family WWI story is that my Nana had a baby which they named Annie and we have a photo of my Nana, her first husband and the three girls at this baby's christening. The day after the photo was taken he was sent to France and was killed in the Battle of Verdun. In his honour my Nana changed the baby's name to Verdun - so Aunty Verdun it was. My Nana later married his friend who came to visit her after the War (and he was my Grandad).

Dadaist · Post by **Dadaist** » 23 Nov 2005, 22:32

She sounds like a lovely and practical lady, like so many of her generation undoubtedly were.

My other great Uncle, Dode, whose picture I have posted on here before, was a survivor of a Japanese death camp. By the time he came back, he was long thought dead - much to the surprise of his former partner as you can imagine - she had since had a child to someone else (who was long gone).

Dode changed his name to hers so that people wouldn't think the child was illegitimate, and went off to work down the pit to support them. I'm kinda proud of the guy.