Topic: 11-11-1918 at 11am Paris time

[Don R]

 I read that that's the time the guns fell silent in WW1, it's 4am central. The war to end all wars, if only.

 Thank you, Veterans from all branches and those who supported you.

[dusterdude]

It seems man never learns

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[newday777]

Amen Don. God bless to all of our Veterans!
I'm in Dallas at my cousin's today visiting and am going with he and his wife to their church school to see the program the kids will be doing for the Vets. There will be a Veteran there today invited to be the guest speaker from Ft Bliss(El Paso). My cousin was the guest speaker 2 years ago, he was a Navy P3 pilot.

[vfourfreak]

yes, it's a public holiday here in France when at that hour the fallen are remembered with military honours. Almost every commune in France has a war memorial commemorating the staggering losses in 1914 to 1918.

I have visited several WWI battlefields and always left speechless at the horrors that occurred there.

[Kevin D]

yes, it's a public holiday here in France when at that hour the fallen are remembered with military honours. Almost every commune in France has a war memorial commemorating the staggering losses in 1914 to 1918.

I have visited several WWI battlefields and always left speechless at the horrors that occurred there.

Have you been to the Canadian memorial at Vimy? My great uncles name is chiseled in the granite there.

[vfourfreak]

I have not yet, but I intend to let me know if you would like any photos, I'd be happy to oblige

[Kevin D]

I have not yet, but I intend to let me know if you would like any photos, I'd be happy to oblige

Thank you very much, but it is not necessary. The Canadians have provided photos of all names inscribed on the memorial. J W Harvey
I’m told his name is on the right side of the memorial.

[vfourfreak]

That is brilliant. If I can add to the memories, please let me know.

[Don R]

Ancestry.com has a free veterans look-up until tomorrow. I've found a little WW2 info on one uncle, another one not as much. My father-in-law said he was a cook, he had records of clearing mines for an armored unit. One uncle lost his life on Bougainville Solomon islands, one drove a truck from Egypt onto the Burma road. Two were on Europe, one of which landed on Omaha beach a few days after D day, his unit went west towards the ports in France, then east into the Hurtgen forest and battle of the bulge, supporting the 82 airborne and ending in Belgium and Germany. My Dad worked two full time war production jobs, one loading ice onto train cars and one hauling coal. Everyone pulled their weight.

[vfourfreak]

The Hurtgen forest was a bitter battle. Tree bursts of artillery rounds decimated troops on both sides.

Good on you to maintain records of your family member's service.

[Don R]

 I think my uncle's regiment relieved one that was seriously reduced in strength at the Hurtgen. When they saw the soldiers that were leaving it made an impression. My mother told me some their stories and that it was important to remember.
 

[70CB750]

yes, it's a public holiday here in France when at that hour the fallen are remembered with military honours. Almost every commune in France has a war memorial commemorating the staggering losses in 1914 to 1918.

I have visited several WWI battlefields and always left speechless at the horrors that occurred there.

Every Czech village has the same, list of dead soldiers from WWI.

This monument, in Hungary, I found the most touching. 

[Don R]

 Wow, that monument speaks volumes.
 
 

[vfourfreak]

Wow, that monument speaks volumes.
 
 

It does indeed.

Many French monuments are over stylised, showing angels summoning the fallen soldier to paradise. Like it was a reward for an horrific death.

BTW French soldiers of that period were known as "Poilus" or hairy ones.

[70CB750]

Wow, that monument speaks volumes.
 
 

It does indeed.

Many French monuments are over stylised, showing angels summoning the fallen soldier to paradise. Like it was a reward for an horrific death.

BTW French soldiers of that period were known as "Poilus" or hairy ones.

Yes, I know that.  I am obsessed with WWI since my teenage years.

If you know this book, La Guerre des boutons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_the_Buttons_(1962_film) - we loved that movie for being funny, but those boys were Kanonenfutter in WWI.

[vfourfreak]

I watched the 1994 Irish version of that movie at the time with my son. I must view the original.

At age 16 I had a dusty yellowed 1930s era book on the Schliefen plan, which I studied with maps on my bedroom wall, trying to figure out where it all went wrong (well at least from the German side) .

[vfourfreak]

It took me a while to find it again, but here is a sound ranging image courtesy of the Imperial War Museum of the moment when the guns fell silent.

[Don R]

 That is awesome, too bad they were firing up to the last second.