The Boys Sent To Fight In The Last Year Of WW1 | The Last Voices of World War One | Timeline
Published 2023-11-11
In the spring of 1918 the war still hung in the balance. But as the Germans launched their massive offensive in the spring, 18-year-old British conscripts were sent to France to make up the numbers. Thousands were taken prisoner as the German advance continued and suffered months of hardship at the hands of their captors. But by the summer the tide began to turn and the Boys of 1918 helped turn defeat into victory.
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All Comments (21)
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I could listen to these older gentleman talk all day
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That man is no coward. A coward would have run, hid, and refused to fight. Being afraid doesn't make you a coward. All these men talking about letting people down breaks my heart.
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The guy that was like "it was probably cowardly, but" ...Sir you have nothing to ever be ashamed of. The real cowards were the world leaders. I hope when these gentlemen passed they didn't carry that with them....they were as brave and solid as anyone could be in that situation.
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Hopefully this video will insure that these guys are never forgotten.
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Imagine 20 years later, these heroes had to watch WW2. Incredible.
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To hear a man who was braver than I will ever be, question his bravery hurts to hear. You were and will never be classed as a coward sir; you are a patriot and a hero.
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My great uncle died in France towards the end of WW1, these types of videos keep all the lost souls in our memories
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These men gave their tomorrows for our todays! Lest we forget! I thank you all!
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My Grandad was called up in 1918 just 18years old, fought in the last 6months of the war. Was called up as a TA soldier in 1938 and fought throught out the Second World War come home in 1947.
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Bill Easton lived to be 100. And no man there need worry of being called a coward. A WW1 trench battle was about as bad as it gets.
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As an American I appreciate this British centric account of this time. My grandfather landed, with others from Michigan and Wisconsin, in France in mid March and took part in the final advance that summer. I have a small diary of his from his experience there. Hearing the moving testimonies here, I understand why he never talked about it with any of us. Two weeks after he left the barracks in the US for France, the flu ravaged through the barracks, killing many waiting to leave for the war.
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My great uncle, James Livingston Neely, was one of these boys. Serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, he was killed in action at the Battle of the Selle on 24 October 1918, a mere three weeks before the end. He was 19 years old.
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Anyone who spent even one minute in the trenches, can never be called cowards.
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listening to all these veterans moved me to tears..
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videos like these should be played in schools every week as mandatory.
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Everyone and I mean everyone should be grateful for our Veterans here and the states and abroad.
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The monarchs of this world past and present have an immeasurable amount of blood on their hands. Hundreds of millions dead in the past century at their hands.
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My great uncle, Moses Salt of the Sherwood Foresters was killed. He was a sergeant. Date apparently 4th December 1917. He was 20 years old. His body was never found. Peakdale memorial.
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When I was much younger I replaced a gas service in an old man's house.He told me that he had been an Old Comtemtable in WW1 & as he was telling me his eyes were watering. I quickly changed the subject but boy do I now wish I hadn't because I could of learnt so much of his experiences. Bless him 😢
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God bless those brave and courageous men. Those that survived and those that died. I owe everything I have and am to their sacrifice. God bless them all.
