100 YEARS ON............LEST WE FORGET

Norman McCormick · 30th July 2014, 04:25 PM

Hi Fernando,
My wife's grandfather was a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1916-18 and survived the war so I have done some reading about WW1 and remembered about a Portuguese soldier who gave covering fire to Portuguese and Scottish troops when they were pushed back by a much larger force during an enemy 'push' i.e. the Lys offensive. A quick search of course gave me his name as I couldn't quite remember that much detail. One of my grandfathers joined up twice! once in 1914 and once in 1916 both times he was escorted home by the Military Police as he was in what was called 'a reserved occupation' being a marine engineer he was involved in building submarines on the Clyde. The second time he actually got to the training camp before he was 'discovered'. I believe lots of men in these reserved occupations tried to join up during WW1 and it got to be quite a headache for the authorities.
My Regards,
Norman.

P.S. Interestingly I have a pigeon message holder complete with message that my wife's grandfather brought back. It was written by him, how it came back into his possession I don't know, in it he reports sighting enemy cavalry and gives their position.

fernando · 30th July 2014, 05:12 PM

In those days some guys got hold of all imaginary schemes to join the army ... and the war.
After i lost my forearm in South Africa (Railways) they sent me to a new job in the docks, where i met this old foreman. He had a blind eye since he was a kid (or even born so). When the war came (don't remember which) he wanted to join at any cost and, imagine his ability to pass the visual exams. They told him to cover one eye and read the little letters on the board ... which he easily did. Then they told him to cover the other and he raised the other arm but covered the same eye as before ... and 'managed' to read the letters again ... and passed through.

kahnjar1 · 2nd August 2014, 09:45 PM

The main combatants get serious...............
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhis...ndex-1914.html

30th July 2014, 05:12 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	In those days some guys got hold of all imaginary schemes to join the army ... and the war. After i lost my forearm in South Africa (Railways) they sent me to a new job in the docks, where i met this old foreman. He had a blind eye since he was a kid (or even born so). When the war came (don't remember which) he wanted to join at any cost and, imagine his ability to pass the visual exams. They told him to cover one eye and read the little letters on the board ... which he easily did. Then they told him to cover the other and he raised the other arm but covered the same eye as before ... and 'managed' to read the letters again ... and passed through. Last edited by fernando; 31st July 2014 at 09:37 AM.

2nd August 2014, 09:45 PM	#3
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,789	AUGUST 1 to AUGUST 4, 1914 The main combatants get serious............... http://www.historyplace.com/worldhis...ndex-1914.html

30th July 2014, 04:25 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,618	Hi Fernando, My wife's grandfather was a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1916-18 and survived the war so I have done some reading about WW1 and remembered about a Portuguese soldier who gave covering fire to Portuguese and Scottish troops when they were pushed back by a much larger force during an enemy 'push' i.e. the Lys offensive. A quick search of course gave me his name as I couldn't quite remember that much detail. One of my grandfathers joined up twice! once in 1914 and once in 1916 both times he was escorted home by the Military Police as he was in what was called 'a reserved occupation' being a marine engineer he was involved in building submarines on the Clyde. The second time he actually got to the training camp before he was 'discovered'. I believe lots of men in these reserved occupations tried to join up during WW1 and it got to be quite a headache for the authorities. My Regards, Norman. P.S. Interestingly I have a pigeon message holder complete with message that my wife's grandfather brought back. It was written by him, how it came back into his possession I don't know, in it he reports sighting enemy cavalry and gives their position.