My Grandfather was a volunteer soldier and joined the Army in 1915. Before leaving for the Western Front he got engaged to my Grandmother. He was sent to France on 9/8/1915. He was a member of the Royal Field Artillery and was assigned to a gun team using the 18 pounder field gun. He served on the Somme which was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought by the British Army. His unit was attached to the Third Infantry Division, nick-named the "Iron Division". One of his memories was that his horse drowned in the mud.
My Grandad died 30 years ago when I was 16, so I have no real stories to tell. My Dad says he never spoke of the Great War to him either other than to say he saw many horrific things and he did not want to remember them.
I know that he served in Koln in the Army of Occupation in 1919 and I have a few written notes and German phrases. I also have a range table of his gun and times shells were fired. Why he kept this I do not know? Maybe they were the last rounds they fired and that is why it was kept?
He did bring home a P08 Luger which he told my Dad he took off a dead German Officer. Sadly, this was handed in to the authorities in 1968 during a firearms amnesty. My Dad recalls he had taken out the firing pin but it was complete in the holster. We do have his medals. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal.
My Grandad died 30 years ago when I was 16, so I have no real stories to tell. My Dad says he never spoke of the Great War to him either other than to say he saw many horrific things and he did not want to remember them.
I know that he served in Koln in the Army of Occupation in 1919 and I have a few written notes and German phrases. I also have a range table of his gun and times shells were fired. Why he kept this I do not know? Maybe they were the last rounds they fired and that is why it was kept?
He did bring home a P08 Luger which he told my Dad he took off a dead German Officer. Sadly, this was handed in to the authorities in 1968 during a firearms amnesty. My Dad recalls he had taken out the firing pin but it was complete in the holster. We do have his medals. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal.
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