I’ve written on the theme of World War One often; it keeps calling me back to the trenches, and pondering the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Perhaps it’s because I’m a “November baby,” feeling affinity with the first armistice day. Perhaps because as a woman’s, social, colonial/commonwealth and Canadian historian, this time period is a demarcation zone. Perhaps because my father was career military.
Or perhaps, because my great-uncle Earle, on October 26, 1915, aged 18 enlisted and served in B Company of the Royal Canadian Battalion, Canadian Infantry. On October 31st, 1917, during the 2nd battle of Passchendaele, he went missing; his body was never found. His is one of 55,000 names listed on the Menin Memorial Gate in Ypres, France. Those 54,999 others whose bodies were never found in “no man’s land.”
And then there is the tale of his brother, Grover, who entered the war in 1914, and returned home in 1919 – for many the war was over on that 11th day, but it would be months before they would reach home. As I wrote before: On a foggy night, eight years later, he and my great-grandfather died when their wooden schooner was sliced in two by a metal-hulled steamer. A family grave marker commemorates both events. Wooden sailing ships and metal steamers meeting in the fog: an adept analogy for World War One?
When I revisited the family grave a few years ago, I took pictures of the four sides of the plinth. Somehow, photos showing the side commemorating Earle were deleted. Taking a chance by binging his name and World War 1, I came across the Great War Project, and several other sites which contain information on his service record, the date of his death, and where his name is inscribed on a monument and in a national book of remembrance.
When I hold my minute of silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, I will be thinking of Great Uncle Earle. Thinking of the other 55 to 65,000 Canadians, including nurses, who lost their lives on WW1 battlefields, in field hospitals, and away from the front.
And mark the passing of Canadians, Americans, and people world wide who lost their lives to our most recent war: the war on COVID-19.
From Historica Canada (Heritage Minutes) three “think like a historian” pieces:
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November 11, 2020 at 8:55 am
I felt a strange and very physical sensation the other day – a heart pang – quite literally – when out shopping for groceries and I came across the Poppies table – complete with the sea of red, a collection box BUT NO Veterans ….. and it literally took my breath away ….
because of the Pandemic – naturally –
but it also drove home a very poignant reminder —- there are few left from the Great Wars – and although there are many others who have served in other conflicts and peace-keeping missions etc., it has become like a “normal tradition” to see an elderly face sitting, watching the world and “keeping watch” over the poppies ……
this year, it literally just broke my heart …..
I don’t know when/if “post-pandemic” will come, but I do hope that perhaps, somehow, Veteran Affairs Canada and the legions and military will somehow figure out how to honour and remember and move forwards with younger people who take up this “sacred tradition” of the selling of poppies etc.
All these losses …. so many nations Then — and still, now ….. if ever there was a moment of honoured silence to be respected, it seems to me, it’s now, more than ever. And to remember that when nations go to war, it’s not just those who serve who suffer horrible losses – WE all do.
And I would be remiss in not saying thank you for sharing more of your family history etc. I always find it very fascinating – just how much you’ve been able to recover and retrieve and piece together …. and of course, thank you – not only for your sharing, but also to those in your line who served.
Peace be with you today Lorraine – and all days.
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November 11, 2020 at 6:44 pm
How strange that must have been. Poppies are very much a Commonwealth thing and I never found to be such aren’t big here, though sometimes Korean War Vets sold blue poppies! And how heartbreaking. I would be in tears.
When I was out today, I saw a WW2 veteran and his son having coffee. Respectfully, with my mask on, I said, “Excuse me, I just want to thank you for your service.” However we might feel about war, the military, etc., it is important to recognize a generation who were willing to sacrifice all for a cause for the common good. What we need so much now; the willingness to look beyond our selves.
One ray of hope and light; yesterday, like every other year, the Sally Ann (okay, here, it’s Salvation Army) bell ringer and donation “kettle” was set up outside a local grocery store. I’m not sure who was more thankful; the bell ringer for my donation, or me for finding him there.
As to family history; I really didn’t expect to find my great-uncle when I did the google search. I now have a strange urge to go to Ypres and trace his name as Americans go to the Vietnam memorial to do the same.
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November 11, 2020 at 4:41 am
We owe them so much.💜
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November 11, 2020 at 6:55 am
We do. Two generations total sacrifices so we can live as we do now.
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November 11, 2020 at 1:59 pm
Yes indeed 💜
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