We Will Remember Them

My Grandpa's older brother, William, lied about his age to join up, he was only 15yrs. William died only a year later in France on 27th Sept. 1915 ~ he fought with the Durham Light Infantry.

There were eyewitnesses to his death, blown to bits by a mortar shell, his mother got the news. She cried on her husband's shoulder, " Oh William, how will we go on?" My g.grandfather replied, "by the grace of God we will go on." There is no grave but a memorial exists at Loos-en-Gohelle on the Pas de Calais. Proportionately more Scots volunteered for the 1914 British Expeditionary Force (BEF) than any other home nation. It was a minor force of just six divisions and massively outgunned by the German forces. In the early days of 1914 it suffered massive losses leading up to the defensive action at Ypres ( the first one). The flags were waving at home but the carnage had already begun.

During this same year my grandpa lost his wee sister, Mary(11mths) and his father (age 38).

My grandpa immediately became the breadwinner of the family and at the age of 14 left school to work in a bakery, then the steel works, and then he went down the pits (coal mining). There was still 12 of a family to feed! His younger brother, Arthur worked as a ‘Roller’ in the steelworks too.

My grandpa was always very sad about his brother, they were so close in age. My grandpa died in 1989. I think of all the years that he had compared to William.

So many many young men, on both sides, from so many nations died during these wars. G. and l both lost family.

We will remember them.

In Flander's Fields by Lt.Col. John McCrae 1915

..read by my G. on video below.

My grandpa (James) is pictured on a post below walking with granny (Jessie).