I’ve been reading a book called “Passchendaele – a new history” by Nick Lloyd.
I read a lot of military history. Mainly about the Second World War. But when I saw this book recently I decided to buy it as although about the First World War, Passchendaele resonates with me.
The Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was a campaign of fought by the Allies against the German Empire.[a] The battle took place on the Western Front, from July to November 1917, for control of the ridges south and east of the Belgian city of Ypres in West Flanders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Passchendaele
The reason Passchendaele resonates with me is that I believe that my maternal grandfather Ira David Thomas fought there and was seriously wounded in the leg there. So much so that he was invalided out. I say believe as I did not know Ira (he died 2 years before I was born having suffered the physical and mental effects of his wounds all his post war life.) And by all accounts he never spoke of his experiences. My only clue to his war service is a framed certificate I came across on one occasion. The certificate mentions that Ira was “Mentioned in dispatches” for an act of bravery. (Ira was a first aider and went out under fire to bring wounded in.)
The certificate suggests this took place during the Battle of Passchendaele.
Several years ago, I visited Ypres with my wife and son. It is a pretty little town reconstructed after the First World War. And it is at Ypres every night that the dead of the First World War are remembered when the Last Post is sounded at the Menin Gate. The Menin Gate was one of the entrances to the old town and after the war it became a war memorial with the names of over fifty thousand dead who have no known grave, inscribed on it. (To attend that ceremony is hugely moving.)
I have then (I think) a connection with Passchendaele. I’ve known this for several years. But it is only when reading the book I’ve mentioned, that I realised I have another connection.
Ira’s wife (my grandmother) was Phyllis. They were married for over 50 years. She clearly had loved Ira dearly and during his last years she had cared for him constantly. (His leg was amputated in the 1950s and he suffered from depression including spending some time in a local mental hospital.) But again, she said very little about him. (If this wasn't enough, Phyllis had been engaged before she met Ira. Her fiance - Clarence - was killed in the First World War. I have his cap badge. He served in the Royal Artillery.)
In the last couple of years of her life Phyllis had several serious strokes. These left her paralysed down her right side and unable to speak apart from one or two words.
In 1980, I’d just finished my “O” levels. Some friends were hosting a German student whose family they’d met on holiday. The student (I’ll call her Barbara) came from Bavaria, and during those weeks of the school holiday, Barbara and I became friends. And it is a friendship that exists to this day. (In fact, all being well, this summer my wife and I will be going on holiday with Barbara and her husband Peter)
On several occasions during that 1980 summer Barbara came to my house and met my grandmother. We explained to Grandma that Barbara came from Germany. And I could see Grandma trying to form some words. Eventually she said “Ira” and shook her head.
I was a bit concerned, would Grandma display some hatred of German people? I should have known my loving, caring, Christian, Grandma better. For she looked at Barbara and I, smiled and said “Friends. Good. War bad. No more.”
Like people of her generation who lived through two World Wars she knew the cost of war. And she knew it personally. She did not want to see me (or her other grandsons) fighting. She wanted to see peace and friendship between countries.
On reading “Passchendaele – a new history” I made another connection with Passchendaele. Many of the German troops at Passchendaele were from Bavarian regiments. (Ira brought home with him an Iron Cross and a Crucifix found on the battle field. Many Bavarians are Catholic.)
I’ve no idea whether Barbara’s grandfather fought in the First World War (or the Second World War for that matter.) But to think that Ira could have been fighting Bavarian relatives of Barbara, or at least people who came from her town, makes our friendship even more important.
Micah 4:3 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
3 He will judge between many peoples
and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war any more.
