Hyson Green get together


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I have been notified of this get together which will take place at The Vine on Friday 2nd March, 10.30am for another showing of the PLU Project film and other news/events/chat opportunities.

The PLU project referred to relates to Present Location Uncertain and relates to the letters my Grandfather wrote home to my Grandmother in WW1. 

Its a nice social gathering and worth looking in if you can. The vine is at the back of St Stephens church on Bobbers Mill Road. It is NOT a religious meeting in any way but just uses the space there.

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20 hours ago, mercurydancer said:

That sounds interesting. I lived in Bobbers Mill Road so I know exactly where the Vine is. 

 

Would it detract or add to the meeting if I brought along my grandfather's documents from 3 Ypres where he was shot? Obviously he lived otherwise I would not be here!

Not at all md. Bring them along by all means. My grandfather was killed in 1918 and I'm here. My father was born in 1914 and didn't marry until later in life as he felt responsible for and looked after his mum who was completely and utterly shattered at the loss of her husband and never got over it. 

The meeting isn't exclusively about the war but a general 'can you remember' this and that etc.

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11 hours ago, AfferGorritt said:

Just reading about 3 Ypres. Words fail you ...

I do battlefield tours, and Ypres is one of my localities. I specialise in locating graves and taking the relatives to specific graves. In Ypres, often all I can do is take the relatives to the Menin Gate and show them the name on the arch. It means that a body has not been recovered. I have often seen relatives find some kind of peace with a grave, but not so often with just a name on a wall. 

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10 hours ago, mercurydancer said:

I do battlefield tours, and Ypres is one of my localities. I specialise in locating graves and taking the relatives to specific graves. In Ypres, often all I can do is take the relatives to the Menin Gate and show them the name on the arch. It means that a body has not been recovered. I have often seen relatives find some kind of peace with a grave, but not so often with just a name on a wall. 

 

I know it is not possible with such a large structure, but if the relative could trace their finger through the incised name of the soldier, I always feel that for a short while they would be together.

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My Grandfather was killed at Bullencourt on the 21st March 1918. There is no grave although his name is on a mass memorial in Arras. When I visitted it the area was surrounded by druggies and prostitutes. A contrast to many of the war grave and memorial sites which are immaculate.

That date is infamous in the history of WW1 as it was the launch of the last big German offensive designed to end the war. He was either blown to pieces or left where he fell and likely trampled into the mud. Researching and in particular transcribing the letters has been amazing and for me. Really heartbreaking and literally moving me to tears at times but I really got to know him. Words cannot do justice to the horror he and many others went through. I am totally atheist and have no pretentions that he's 'in a better place', he's not. He died cold hungry and terrified in a conflict that it's hard to imagine humans can inflict on one another. You may detect a hint of bitterness, there is but I realise given the circumstances at that time there was little alternative. 

I've been to Ypres and surrounding areas a few times but have only recently traced the exact location where he fell. I was planning to visit on 21st March this year, exactly 100 years since he was killed but may have to leave it for practical reasons which is a shame as I had intended doing so for quite a long time. I will visit one day though. 

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My grandad was an Old Contemptible, leaving his posting in India and arriving in France on 5th November 1914. He made it through the whole 4 years, but my wife’s grandad was killed by shellfire whilst assembling in Hornby trench a mile or so NE of Ypres on 24th July 1917. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate memorial. 

 

Would love to visit the memorial in the evening when they play the Last Post, but I’m sure me and the missus would be in bits.

 

Perhaps you could let me have the name of your company, mercurydancer.

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