Cronaca: Last reunion for British WW1 vets

March 9, 2003

Last reunion for British WW1 vets

Almost 85 years after the guns of the western front fell silent, British veterans who fought in the first world war are to gather in London next month for their last big reunion.

Aged between 102 and 108, up to 15 veterans who fought in bloody battles at Mons, Loos, the Somme and Ypres and those who served at sea will make the journey from across Britain to the Public Record Office in Kew.

Veterans hoping to attend include Albert Marshall, 105, the last survivor who fought on horseback with the British cavalry, Conrad Leonard, 102, the only commissioned officer now alive, and Jack Davis, who at 108 is thought to be Britain’s oldest man.

Davis fought at Ypres, in which more than 250,000 allied troops were killed during three battles around the small Belgian town. “It is a truly wonderful thing to be able to have the opportunity to share all those memories again and feel that you are still part of a team,” said Davis from his home in Buckinghamshire last week.

Such reunions are rare. There are thought to be only 37 British veterans alive today, and their numbers are dwindling rapidly. Most are wheelchair-bound and either live in nursing homes or with 24-hour care in their own homes. This year alone seven have died.

Last month the World War One Veterans Association sent letters to the surviving veterans saying: “We are about to ask you to fix bayonets and mount another attack . . . for the last big push. This is to be the final coming together of veterans of the first world war”. . .

The majority of the surviving veterans fought in rat-infested muddy trenches of the western front in France and Belgium, or served on the home front in London. Five served with the Royal Navy and a sole survivor remains who flew biplanes in the Royal Flying Corps.

Albert Marshall will travel from his home in Surrey. As a 17-year-old, he enlisted with the Essex Yeomanry in 1914 before fighting on horseback with the 19th Hussars in the battle of Loos in autumn 1915, when the British suffered more than 50,000 casualties.

Posted by David on March 9, 2003 12:36 PM

Comments

Wow this is so amazing!!! My name is Trevor Guthrie from Vancouver Canada, I'm wondering if its possible to come over there to meet these guys next month? Can someone please reply

Thank you, Trev

Posted by: Trevor Guthrie on March 16, 2003 3:44 AM

The Times article goes on to note that:

The reunion on April 8 will not just be sentimental. The veterans will record video messages about their experiences that will be used in classrooms across the country. They will also spend the day meeting children from local schools.

So it seems the event is not to be entirely closed.

Posted by: David on March 16, 2003 5:54 PM

I am a student of militatry history and it is amazing to hear this that after such a long time there still are vets of WWI living. Can anybody send me their photos and the places they fought and their comments on the reunion day.

Thanks

Asif

Posted by: Asif on September 22, 2003 10:35 AM

I live near albert

Posted by: ed on December 14, 2003 5:29 PM

I am doing my family history and i am looking for info on my Great Grandfather Arthur Beardmore. I am unable to find out very much from my family as they didnt know him, my Grandmother Daisy Beardmore was taken to the Barnardo home and sent to Canada in 1912 Daisy also had a brother Arthur he remained in England. Arthur was in ww1 and the Boer war. He was the holder of Queen Victoria general service and Victoria medals. He died Dec.23, 1940 at Christie Street Hospital Campbellford ? He was with the Staffordshire regiment - sergeant-major. In 1914 he saw service in both England and France with the 139th. Any one that would know where i could look for this info please send a message to .... maggie_777@hotmail.com in subject box please put family history.
thank you
louise haggitt
rr# 1 72255 Bells line
Exeter Ontario Canada
n0m 1s4

Posted by: louise haggitt on May 3, 2004 6:22 AM

I am doing a collection of stories from WW1 vets
in America. Also I am asking them if they remember any stories from Civil War vets, when they were kids. Perhaps someone in England can take the time to ask these WW1 vets about various stories they heard from vets that went to India to fight or Australia. Surely this is worthy goal, and I hope to read any accounts of this history anyone thinks is important enough to write down. Soon, after WW1 vets are departed forever to foreign shores, the memory of childhood stories not told, and written down, will be forgotten forever.
Much Obliged, Honor Seed -legal@honorseed.com

Posted by: Honor on November 11, 2004 3:23 PM

my father Daniel Sheridan was in the RAF Regiment 310 Regarde 62nd Division Medium Trench Mortar,rank Gunner Regiment number 775798. signed up at Fenton St, Leeds. Fought at the Sommes and not sure where else as he did not talk about it very much. Discharged on Feb 18,1919, received the Victory Medal and the General Service Medal. Was wounded under the kneecap. Then moved to canada and joined the RCAF.

Posted by: cecile phillips on November 27, 2004 3:22 PM

As a son of a WW2 vet I am happy and sad at the same time to read such a story.
Thanks God - my father is alive and kicking - and even holding lectures as an Univercity professor in Moscow.
Thank you for this story - I will wait for your account of the historical meeting...
Alexey Turbin, Moscow

Posted by: Alexey Turbin on March 29, 2007 1:02 AM

that was extremely helpful with an assignment i am doing on jack Davis.

thanx Zach

Posted by: Zach on August 8, 2007 8:43 PM

Hey I am a college student and i love history.
I would like to write to the last WWI vet, how I could do so. i would like to know a few things one his stories. Two what he thinks of today, if he could tell the future children of the world one thing what would it be and many more tings

Posted by: buddy on September 29, 2008 11:33 AM