Petition to save Hill 60 at Ypres
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Sunnybunny.
My grandfather was transferred into the Australian Light Horse just before the start of the Gallipoli campaign from a British Infantry Battalion the Buffs, he joined then in Egypt directly from France. He discovered the complications of horse riding and how to manage camel riding and carrying his rather bulky machine gun. He went with them to Gallipoli and left with his Australian friends in one of the last transports off the beach. He was ordered to return to his British unit but refused and stayed with his Australian colleagues and went with them to France for the so called final push.
After his death I found a box it contained a Military Medal inscribed from the Australian authorities and the citation. He also kept a diary and the reading was beyond belief. In the box was a letter written in Arabic? The diary indicated that he had taken it off a dead Turkish officer that he and his chaps had killed during a skirmish. Many years later I had a friend translate it. It was from the offices wife indicating how much he was loved and how she was looking forward to his safe return home also saying how his children were looking forward to him returning home. I sent the letter and the oddly Germen Iron cross inscribed to the same officer to the Turkish Embassy in the hope that they could return it to the family.
My grandfather never spoke about the detail of his experiences however would talk fondly about his times with the Australian Light Horse and the men he served with.
Outhouse.
My grandfather was transferred into the Australian Light Horse just before the start of the Gallipoli campaign from a British Infantry Battalion the Buffs, he joined then in Egypt directly from France. He discovered the complications of horse riding and how to manage camel riding and carrying his rather bulky machine gun. He went with them to Gallipoli and left with his Australian friends in one of the last transports off the beach. He was ordered to return to his British unit but refused and stayed with his Australian colleagues and went with them to France for the so called final push.
After his death I found a box it contained a Military Medal inscribed from the Australian authorities and the citation. He also kept a diary and the reading was beyond belief. In the box was a letter written in Arabic? The diary indicated that he had taken it off a dead Turkish officer that he and his chaps had killed during a skirmish. Many years later I had a friend translate it. It was from the offices wife indicating how much he was loved and how she was looking forward to his safe return home also saying how his children were looking forward to him returning home. I sent the letter and the oddly Germen Iron cross inscribed to the same officer to the Turkish Embassy in the hope that they could return it to the family.
My grandfather never spoke about the detail of his experiences however would talk fondly about his times with the Australian Light Horse and the men he served with.
Outhouse.
Thread Starter
I have two sets of medals belonging to my Great Grand fathers, the first set to one who was with the Manchester Rifles, sadly I was never old enough or wise enough to ask him about his service days.
The second set belonged to my other GGF who served with the Border Regiment, then because of his background he was moved to the RE for mining under the German lines. When he returned home he had to go and recieve his medals, on returning to the house he threw them straight onto the fire where my Grand father grabbed them out with some tongs. He was told in no uncertain terms that he could keep them but they were never to see the light of day.
The second set belonged to my other GGF who served with the Border Regiment, then because of his background he was moved to the RE for mining under the German lines. When he returned home he had to go and recieve his medals, on returning to the house he threw them straight onto the fire where my Grand father grabbed them out with some tongs. He was told in no uncertain terms that he could keep them but they were never to see the light of day.
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Agree entirely
Signed it and sent it on to like minded individuals. Lest we forget. I did the WW1 tour as a 50th birthday present to myself. Fantastic if not sombre event. My son went as a school trip and it registered with him also. If you have never been to Ypres, the Menin Gate, Sanctuary Wood etc etc then make it one of your things to do.....you will remember it for ever. As for building on Hill 60....someone really needs to rethink that one!
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Hill 60 and the Salient
Like many others, my grandfather fought and survived the carnage as a machine gunner at Ypres - never spoke a word about it. I wish he was alive now to pass on his thoughts.
FYI, Winston Groom (author of Howard Gump) wrote a great book on the Ypres campaign in 2002. It's a very even-handed look at the campaign.
It's called "A Storm in Flanders" and is still available on A*azon and E*bay.
Well worth a read.
FYI, Winston Groom (author of Howard Gump) wrote a great book on the Ypres campaign in 2002. It's a very even-handed look at the campaign.
It's called "A Storm in Flanders" and is still available on A*azon and E*bay.
Well worth a read.
Last edited by tommee_hawk; 20th Jan 2010 at 00:49.
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Done. I was there just this Saturday, with four of my Scouts, all very near their fourteenth birthdays. Despite the dreadful weather and the fact we were rapidly running short of the day, they took in all the information from the plaques, then took themselves off up to the memorial at the 'top of the hill'. They were having difficulty getting their minds round fighting underground.
Later that evening, they laid a wreath at the Menin Gate 'Last Post Ceremony' on behalf of our Troop. There were, I was told by an NCO, eight platoons of young soldiers from a training regiment, plus my four! I was very, very proud of them.
Roger.
Later that evening, they laid a wreath at the Menin Gate 'Last Post Ceremony' on behalf of our Troop. There were, I was told by an NCO, eight platoons of young soldiers from a training regiment, plus my four! I was very, very proud of them.
Roger.
