For those interested in this topic:
"Trench Papers" ('Feldzeitungen') by German soldiers are online here (the papers are in German as you might think
):
http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/Englisch/helios/digi/feldzeitungen.html
I just stumbled across this. What a great thread!
I used to visit my paternal grandparents in the early 70s. I had lost
contact for far too long a time and wanted to enjoy their company for
as long as I could. My grandfather, George (he alone was called
"George" -- I was "Skipper" and my Dad was "Junior") was man who
carried himself with dignity and gravitas. I was astounded to learn
from him that he was a motorcycle courier in WWI and had had to be be
dragged back physically from his first leave in Paris.
It was the duty of a motorcycle courier to carry dispatches between
units on the field. There were telephones, but those depended on
cables that were subject to disablement by shellfire. Two couriers
would be dispatched by different routes to increase the chances of at
least one making it through. My grandfather was often sent out with
his best buddy. They usually arranged to meet once they got out of
sight and travel together. Totally against orders, but that didn't
seem to have bothered them.
They drove in the dark without lights, of course. They spent a lot of
time pulling themselves out of trenches and bomb craters. I can't
even imagine what it must have been like.
I should explain that my grandfather's failure to return on his own
from leave had nothing to do with any lack of courage. He was simply
having too good a time.
Grampa is dead now. He was buried in Fitchburg MA with full miltary
honors. His flag was given to my Dad. I have it now.
Great story, George, thanks. We have gotten to the point that almost all of the Great War veterans are gone, and the Dubya Dubya Two boys are now dying off, too. Personally, i think these memories need to be preserved.
Absolutely!
It was only recently that my Uncle Ed would even talk about Normandy.
I've some hundreds of letters my father wrote to his fiance from France and Russia (and Germany) as well as (the most, I think) from various camps of "prisonniers de guerre de l'axe" ... (including a couple of photos).
But that was WWII.
