Here in England we have a Remembrance day (same as your Veterans day) and at
work we observed the 2 minutes silence at the 11th hour of the 11day of the
11th month.
I am not a pacifist but sometimes the whole concept of war seems to be one of
decent people killing decent people for no apparent reason. I know this is
simplistic but I have served in the Royal Air Force so do understand military
life - though my service fell between the Falklands Conflict and the Gulf war.
Anyway, here is true account of the First World War dated 25 September 1918
........has been in the field since the end of 1914 has related to me while
he was on leave with us that on 7th May 1917 in the neighbourhood of Monchy
he lay in a shell hole to observe the movements of the enemy. About 30 yards
removed from him worked similarly in shell holes another party and from
between the two of us an English soldier crawled on hands and feet towards
him. Hofrichter saw that the English solider was very badly wounded and
brought him, under great danger to himself, into the German lines where
someone gave him a drink from a brandy flask and, under the circumstances,
did the best they could to bind up his wounds. He died soon afterwards but
before he died he handed over to Hofrichter (who is today still living [this
would be in 1918]), with words of gratitude for the help that the Germans and
especially Hofrichter had given, a card - on the one side a photograph
showing a mother with two children and on the opposite side the following
message was written:- "If found please return to my wife ............For
owners sake"
This card has been passed on by Hofrichter and is at the moment in my hands.
The soldier was buried at a place in the neighbourhood of Monchy. Hofrichter
placed a wooden board on the grave on which he wrote the inscription "Here
lies an Englishman".
>>>>
And the identity of the English soldier? My Great Grandfather.
Daniel1312
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