02-08/96
by Dick Fulford
My uncle at the age of 28, was killed on 10th August, 1918; Armistice, as we all know was 11th November, 1918; his daughter, my cousin, was born on 5th December, 1918. I was only one year old at the time, so I have never understood the agony my Aunt had to endure and the agony suffered by countless thousands because of the horrors of the Great War of 1914 - 1918.
Some 78 years have passed, during which time no family members have visited his grave. For emotional reasons only, my Aunt and Cousin felt they could never do so. Before she died, my Aunt said that if I should ever be in the Somme Department of France, she could let me have details of the War Cemetery where he rested. But I never went when she was alive and my cousin still declines although she has given me all the details which were supplied by the War Graves Commission.
So, with my two sons, I went to VILLERS - BRETONNEUX in May of this Year. I was more than pleased that they asked to come with me as I felt that three following generations would ensure that Uncle George will still be remembered.
VILLERS - BRETONNEUX in the Somme Department
of France is a few miles south of CORBIE, of all places! It is easy to locate as
it is not far from AMIENS. I contacted the French Tourist Office in AMIENS and
was sent, free of charge, a very informative booklet “The Battlefields of the
Great War” together with a map of the Somme region and details of the numerous
cemeteries.
Finding the village and then the cemetery, presented no problems and with the aid of the War Graves Commission information, we were able to locate Uncle George’s grave immediately. It was a beautiful place; each grave immaculately tended and surrounded by flowers and the vast lawns were kept as perfect as any bowling green. It is an Australian War cemetery though Uncle George was not an Australian. He was a Sergeant in the London Rifle Brigade, a unit which had fought alongside the Australian Army. He was killed at VAUX - SUR - SOMME, a few miles north at the side of the actual River Somme; he was buried in the VAUX village graveyard but re-interred a few years later in his final resting place at VILLERS - BRETONNEUX.
A visit to a cemetery such as this is with mixed feelings. One thinks of that awful war and then one is faced with the present day serenity of the place. Uncle George has a grave; but most of those who died have their names engraved on the Memorial Building as having “no known grave”. So many others were in graves marked “known only unto God”.
Each of us had taken Poppy Crosses and Peter Wilson, our Poppy Appeal Organiser, had provided me with a Poppy Spray. In silence we placed these on the grave, took photographs and then walked among the graves alongside. It was a moving occasion and I was so glad, that at last, some members of the family had been able to pay their respects.
We stayed overnight so we were able to spend some time in the area. A visit to the tiny village of VAUX-SUR-SOMME, where he fell, was memorable. The great River Somme and surrounding fields and woods are beautiful. Yet one can only guess what the same area was like some 80 years ago. On a lighter note and recalling that the cemetery at VILLERS - BRETONNEUX was Australian, the village cafe was named “LE KANGAROU”, typical of French humour . In very different mood, a plaque had recently been placed within the large cemetery Memorial Building saying that the monument and some graves had been attacked by the same enemy in the Second World War. Most had been rebuilt and repaired but some damage had been deliberately left by the French just to remind us of “man’s inhumanity to man”.
We left mindful of the words on all of our War Cemeteries “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”.
02-08/96
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