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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Youngest Grandchildren of WW1 Casualties.


Nooshie

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Hi,

Just a little question to put to you all. When I say to people, 'My Grandfather was killed in WW1', they say that they are surprised as I seem too young to have a Granddad that age. I am 49. Are there any younger Grandchildren on this board?

Just a curious thought!!

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Nooshie,

not trying to out do you but i get even stranger looks when at the age of 51 I tell people that my Grandfather was wounded during the Boer War in 1901!

regards,

Scottie.

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Nooshie,

I am only just younger at 48 !!, my grandfather was terribly wounded on 31/10/1918 just 11 days before the armistice.

John.

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My Grandfather served, and two Great Uncles were KIA. I am at the ripe old age of 44.

There is a long story there...

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I am 47 and my paternal grandfather was (just) too old to be conscripted in World War One, although his three younger brothers served, one of whom was killed. My maternal grandfather was a fitter in the RFC. On our 2000 school battlefields tour we visited the grave of Rifleman Edmund Kaye, Royal Irish Rifles, at White House Cemetery in the company of his great-grandson Stephen Kaye. Edmund was 29 when he was killed in November 1917. His great-grandson ( who is a very good likeness) was, I think, 15 at the time, so around 23 today.

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My father's 49.

His Grandfather (My Great Grandfather) fought in the Boer War from 1899-1902 and in the Great War. 3 of his Great Uncles were killed, making them my G G Uncles

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How exciting!!,

My maternal Grandfather could havebeen in the Boer War, he was old enough but wasn't involved. My paternal Grandfather joined the Army in 1906, served almost the whole of the First World War, going to France in August 1914 and being killed in April 1918. He was 32 when he was killed.

I am so interested to hear other peoples stories!!

Kind Regards

Nooshie

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I shall expand on my post. My Grandfather had just emigrated to Canada when the War broke out. He went back to England and enlisted in November 1914. Three of his brothers served, two were KIA, one other survived.

After the War my Grandfather came back to Canada to homestead in Alberta. He was married in the early 1920's. Unfortunately his wife died, along with the baby, at childbirth. Eventually he met my Grandmother and they had my Mother in their forties. I, in turn, am the youngest in my family. So at 44 I can say my Grandfather fought in the Great War.

Ed

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As he is my hero I will expand some more on my maternal Grandfather, Charles Stenning Wollaston, he joined the army (Border Regiment) under age using a false name (Grainger), was in the garrison at Malta, then involved with the Occupation of Crete (expelling the Turks) then fought in the Boer War, walkled approx 1200 miles around the Veldt, then got shot in the leg, returned to England, invalided out of the army due to his wound and then married my Nan, all before he was 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was unfit due to his wound to serve in the Great War but was working in a munitions factory in Palmers Green, North London. Sadly he lost his two younger brothers during the war, one KIA and buried at Anzin St Aubin, the other died of wounds and buried in Islington Cemetery, Finchley. Sadly he died in 1945 10 years before I was born.

My paternal Grandfather served in the Great War and survived, he died in 1962 so I can just recall him.

thanks for indulging me!

Regards,

Scottie.

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My cousin is 36, and we share the same grandfather who served in the Great War.

Mart

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My brother is 34 and our grand father went in the army during the 'mobilisation generale' of august 1914.

Aged 18 he wast just going to be a student (ingeneer) in september that year.

He did all the war and was wounded several times.

He died in 1935 my mother aged three.

Oh this is my post 700 !

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I am 55 my grandfather was born in Dec 1862, Two of his sons served in the great war one dying of wounds and the other living a full life after serving in the Ramc for 2 years, both of them being my uncles.

eskimo

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Not the youngest grandchild but I have a cousin who is 15 - our grandfather was too young to serve in the Great War but his elder brothers served!!!

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Grandad was born in 1890 injured on the Somme 1st July 1916, I am 54 and there are 7 grandchildren younger than me.

Barbara..

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On the Birmingham WFA trip to the Somme 2006 a lady member who is a very young and attractive 60ish asked if we could make a detour to visit a small cemetery, as noone in the family had ever been to visit the grave of her....brother!!

Not her great grandfather, grand father or father but her brother. We asked her how come, much too young etc, but apparently her father had married three times, she was the last child of this over a long period of years and the chap one of his first sons, so actually as she pointed out her half brother. Pleased to say we did visit and find him, extremely moving the whole party gave her and just her friend five minutes private space there but how it brings it home , so much of it and its effects is still within living memory. Although further marriages and children her father had remained very bitter about the loss of his son. SG

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I'm another 36-year old grandson - though I see TD60's brother has trumped us. Congrats on 700-up, by the way.

However, anyone care to guess when the last known widow of an American Civil War veteran died?

2003...

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0908934.html

Adrian

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I'm 56. My first cousin once removed (my grandmother's nephew) was killed in 1918 flying with SPA 80. So my 14-year-old son is two generations removed from a Great War casualty.

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I'm 41. Grandfather and 3 great uncles all served of which one great uncle killed. My other grandfather served in the second world war.

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My father was a Canadian who served as a Veterinary Officer in the

British Army from 1916 to 1919. He was wounded a couple of times

but survived. He was born in October 1893 and died in April 1994.

I am 69 and have three sons, born 1968, 1969 and 1972.

David

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A mere boy at 40 (!), both my grandfather's served in the Great War. On my father's side grandfather was RN from 1903, and later served at Gallipoli, and on my mother's side RAMC in 1918, and served right through to fight at Arras in 1940.

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My wife's (aged 36) grandad was an infantryman in 1918 (his story can be found HERE ). One of my mates (also aged 36) had a grandad who was wounded at Gallipoli.

Dave

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