We all fall out, from time to time but hopefully some things we can all agree on and stand together on, undivided. 100 years ago to the day, was the commencing of the Battle Of The Somme. It finished, 141 days later, on 18 November. 1 million soldiers lost their lives, fighting for what they were told was the right thing. Older parents watched their sons, and young kids watched their older brothers leaving home to go to war and many of them never returned home. RIP - all of the fallen heroes, your country needed you and you stepped up, we will never forget.
I've stood on the site of the Somme and Ypres Salient, traveled through the Ardennes, done the memorials, seen the museums all over France and Belgium. I've even walked through preserved trenches. I've seen the hundreds of thousands of nameless head stones which stretch as far as the eye can see. It's truly humbling. I recommend it. It's one of those things that changes the way you think forever. RIP indeed, if only folk could truely appreciate what they did, but as generations pass by the sheer magnitude of their sacrifices unfortunately fade away with it This deeply saddens me but it's an unfortunate byproduct of time. Too the known, unknown soldiers and innocent lives I salute you. What's more I thank you from he bottom of my heart. All 17 million of you. You never had a chance. But stuck together, faced it together and died together regardless of the questionable politics which cost you your lives. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
You can do it fella. there's coach trips or you can do it solo or in a small group. There's loads of websites doing packages if you can't be arsed with too much planning.
Stay a few and get across to the Ardennes I'd recommend, wonderful architecture with exposed beams and the countryside in places is breathtaking. Oh, I recommend Vimy Memorial Park, I remember it being about an hour give or take from Ypres.
How can anyone not be moved by the sacrifice of all those soldiers. Sadly lessons were not learned and WW2 soon followed, nationalism and religion have a lot to answer for.
This really moves me in a quite emotional way. My granda fought at the Somme. He was one that made it home. It was mass slaughter, no lessons were learned. Lads being butchered for **** all. My nanna lost three brothers in that war, one reported as missing in action but never came home. When my granda got back from France he got two weeks to get over it & then straight back down the pit. I wish I was half the man he was. He must have gone through sheer hell. Tears in my eyes as I type this - sorry.
As communities across the UK fall silent today, to remember those that fell at the Battle of the Somme 100 years on, we look back at some of those brave soldiers who represented Sunderland AFC, as well as their King and country. Roker Park favourites such as Charlie Buchan, Leigh Roose, Harry Low, Thomas Rowlandson, Bob Young, Albert Milton, and Bert Hobson all served in the Great War, along with many more. Tragically, like so many soldiers, some of the Roker Park heroes never returned. Albert Milton made 123 appearances for the Lads as a left back before enlisting in the British Army. Albert, who had struggled with injury during the title-winning 1912-13 season, represented Sunderland for six years between 1908 and 1914. He joined the Royal Field Artillery as a bombardier, before being killed in action at Passchendaele on October 11, 1917. Goalkeeper Leigh Richmond Roose was known for his antics both on and off the pitch because of his style and finesse. He was a trained doctor, and highly recognisable due to his Savile Row suits. First-choice keeper for the Lads between 1908-1910, Roose became a renowned grenade thrower in the Royal Fusiliers as a private. He won a Military Medal for bravery while fighting at the Battle of the Somme, the first time he had seen action having been a medic prior. On October 7, 1916, Roose was last seen in a bomb crater having run at the Germans with rifle in hand “at great speed” out of the trenches. His body was never found. Fellow goalkeeper Thomas Rowlandson made 12 appearances for Sunderland during the 1905-06 season. Having given up his home to the Red Cross to act as an Auxiliary Home Hospital, Tom joined the Yorkshire Regiment, being made Temporary Captain in October 1915. Sadly, Tom lost his life leading his men over a parapet of a trench, struck by a bomb. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. All-time top goalscorer Charlie Buchan returned from the Somme as Acting Lieutenant, and was awarded a Military Medal alongside teammate Bob Young for his bravery in Belgium. Bob was sadly wounded, while Buchan returned to play for the club. Many of the reserves with so much promise were too stifled by sacrifices made to war. Sammy Hartnell, a promising centre forward at the time, lost his life in August 1918, serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery. Jimmy Seed, who signed up to the Cyclist Corps with teammates Tony Thompson and Tom Wilson, came back to play for the club, albeit in vain. Gassed in the last month of the war, he played just one more game for the club. Winger Harry Low is a member of Sunderland’s elusive 200 club, making 203 league appearances in total. Having survived the war as an able seaman, he was wounded in action and retired from football in May 1919. He then became a popular landlord in the area the following year but tragically died in May 1920, aged 38, having contracted pneumonia watching his beloved Sunderland at Roker Park. All of us here at Sunderland AFC would like to take a moment to remember those that fell in World War I, and thank them for their wonderful service to our football club, and our nation.
Both grandads were gassed in WW1. They were never the same again. We have so much to be grateful for. Sadly the generations that follow never seem to learn the lessons of their forefathers. Our species just seem to enjoy the brutality of war.
