Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

VK, Mumbai — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:55:57 GMT

I have been to India Gate and the War Cemetery, Kirkee (both of which are memorials to those who died in the Great War) and it is impossible not to feel a rush of emotion by just standing there. I am not a veteran but the sheer multitude of names on those walls and memorials are a constant reminder of the innumerable lives which were extinguished. For that reason as well as to honour the memories of those who died the smaller war cemeteries scattered across India should be maintained.

It is very sad that the Govt. of India did not mark this day with the respect it deserves. Indians fought and died in this war and their legacy and memories deserve to be honoured.

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

Bill Lazenby — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:50:49 GMT

Lest We Forget

Thank you for your article.

My father, and I, were named for his mother's two brothers that had died with the English infantry on Western Front.

Sergeant Charles Elliott, a London policeman, had served in the Territorials, and enlisted in the Footballers' Battalion in 1914. He was killed two years later at the Somme.

Lieutenant William Elliott, MC, enlisted in early 1915 and survived until July of 1918. He rose through the ranks from private to Lieutenant and was awarded the Military Cross. His widow never remarried, outliving him by 69 years.

Neither of their bodies were ever identified.

My grandmother's sister married a motorcycle dispatch rider in the Automobile Association Battalion. He had already survived 3 years at the front, but six weeks later Private Ted Crees lost control of his motorcycle in the midst of an ambulance convoy. He was run over, lost his legs and died within days.

My own grandfather meantime was serving in the Canadian Engineers at places like Vimy and Paschandaele. After the war, though only a railroad switch tender, Sapper James Lazenby fought for veterans rights and served as president of a Canadian veterans organization.

Even though I met none of them, the memory of these men, and all other veterans, are constantly in my mind and honored by my family.

You can see their pictures here http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lazenbylinks/PS02/PS02_366.HTM and here http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lazenbylinks/PS02/PS02_365.HTM and here http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lazenbylinks/PS03/PS03_023.HTM and here http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lazenbylinks/PS01/PS01_256.HTM .

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

W Constant, Edmonton, Alberta Canada — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:50:59 GMT

Thanks so much for the stories... I have GreatGrandparents that were in the WW1, and have no info on them.
I do though, Salute all our Soldiers... especially the past ones, it had to be so hard for them.
I hope more people share !

Thanks,

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

Lewis C Taishoff — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:20:25 GMT

Father-in-law US Navy, WWI, uncle US Navy WWII, self US Army Vietnam. Do not forget, lest you repeat.

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

VP, Odenton, MD — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:10:01 GMT

I admire the Brits for the way in which they treat their veterans. We Americans can learn a lot from them. It's a sad comment on how we regard our veterans when the day set aside for them, to honor them, is not considered worthy of being a Federal holiday. Yet, we will set a day as a Federal holiday for one person who helped one group of people; forgetting that if it weren't for our veterans-past and present, alive and deceased-this same gentleman wouldn't have had the freedom to stand up for his, and his people's, rights & freedoms. We should, at the very least, set a day aside for everyone to stop and reflect on the sacrifices that have been made in order for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have. Our kids have not learned the most important law regarding freedom: Freedom is NOT FREE!! It comes with a hefty price tag---just ask any VETERAN! I make sure that my 3 kids know what Veteran's Day stands for...and we honor it as a family. No school, no work, and talking about what freedoms we have and need to take care of.
Thank you, all of you Veterans...for all of your sacrifices.

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

John B., Dallas, TX — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:45:35 GMT

My grandfather Ross Bales was a member of the American Rainbow division that went to France in 1918. I remember my father stating that my grandfather's hearing loss had resulted from the sound of the cannons. I look back and wish I'd been older so I could have asked my grandfather about the war and where he was located in France, what battles he saw. Unfortunately, he along wiht my father and uncle had all passed on by the time I wanted to know these things. Over my life I've known several WW I soldiers as my parents were active in the American Legion. All those I knew are long gone; it's nice to think there are still a few around, though the time is growing short. I am thankful for all of those that served!

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

Ann S, Oklahoma City — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:48:59 GMT

My grandfather Harry McGee from Liverpool, England fought in WWI with the British Army. I don't know what unit he was with, but I'm proud of him. All of my mom's brother were in WWII. My dad's brothers were also for the US.
My dad was in the Air Force for Korea and Viet Nam. My youngest son is a Navy Corpsman who's been to Iraq twice with the 3/7 Marines.
I'm so proud of my family of warriors.

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

Lorin K, Lafayette, LA — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:39:18 GMT

Both of my grandfathers served in the ARD, my father's father saved his company from hidden machine guns and was wounded and would suffer the rest of his life, also winning the purple heart and silver star. Both served proudly as did their sons after them in following wars. Our family has a proud tradition of service and I respect anyone who has served. The British are owed a great deal of respect for what they did in the war.

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

Jim — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:37:40 GMT

I also come from a family who have served and loved this country (US), for those out there whether from the US or not, thank you for your service. My thank you is no where near limited to the US but to all our allies who have stood by us and believed in us for better or worse. I also pray we learn from this without getting too caught up in the glamour, having a father and grandfather that served taught me so much its hard to talk to people about it without uneducated people trying to put their useless two sence in. Even wars we would like to forget we HAVE to learn from, like Korea, Veitnam, Middle East, the fact is these young men never die for no reason, only when we forget what happened that caused it do i feel we let them down, lets make sure we dont do that, lets make sure we dont become blind in our patriotism to the point where we dont know what we are fighting for. This is what men like my father went through and im sad to sit here today and see it happen all over again. God bless, thank you for all you have sacraficed.

Recalling Grandad Leigh – a ‘Great War’ vet

wathon wilbanks — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:27:35 GMT

I had a man that was like a grandfather to me, he went ashore in the 2nd wave on normandy beach, was captured in St. LO?? France and spent 318 days a a German POW he lost over half of his body weight duing this time. I had two uncles that served in korea and one in vietnam. I had a brother that walked the Egypt/Syrian border in the early 80's for peacekeeping duties, another brother that served a short stent in the Army, and another brother that has served in the Marines through 4 presidents and has was in Desert Srorm and is now in Iraq getting ready to retire with 25 years of service. My only regret is that I didn't serve aleast 4 years for my country. Thanks to all of our veterans and may God bless you for the sacrifices you made. I stand up and salute you