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To My Great Grandfather

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nostromo
  • Start date Start date
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Nostromo

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I found your last resting place today in Witton Cemetery, old soldier. I can't even begin to imagine what you lived through. But if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here, so I must not only remember I must also never forget. We hear so often about those who didn't survive. But how about those who survived and lived? What of those who came through it all and lived to tell the tale? I salute you. Nothing I do will ever be enough. You will not grow old as I grow old: age will not weary you, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning I will remember you. Samuel Walter Keight. 1876-1934. RIP.
 
How wonderful Nostromo I know exactly how it feels to discover a long lost burial place of a great grandfather, it is also very emotional.
Your words ar very fitting RIP Samuel Walter Keight.
 
I too know how it feels to find and visit the resting place of an ancestor. There was no headstone as such (Your so lucky to have that), just a memorial wall to a number of graves close by that held the bodies of the named on the memorial.

I echo your words to all those who fought for our freedom...

Pom
 
Thank you, everybody, for your kind comments. Much appreciated.
 
I sat and read your post and had tears in my eyes. I am relatively young having been born in 1965 but my father served in WW2 and my grandfather in WW1. I was brought up with stories of the war and vividly remember my dad nearly crying on 11th November remembering his fallen colleagues. I always wear my poppy with pride.

When researching my family tree, I discovered my great uncle died in WW1 in a prison camp in Stendal, Germany. I cannot really described my feelings but I was very sad and would love somehow to honour him and his sacrifice.

I now have young children of my own. Unfortunately my dad, their grandad, died before they were born. When I was growing up I had my grandparents living next door and "was taught" (that's not the right word) about the sacrifices people made both at home and in the forces. My children will never understand or appreciate the great sacrifices our ancestors made. I will try to teach them but even in schools they are not taught about these things. I think it would be great if they were. Because as you say they should not be forgotten and always remembered. You put it far more elequently that I can but I am sure you will understand what I mean.

Thank you for your post - it has made me think and appreciate my own families sacrifices.
 
View attachment 16758
With All who Died
We cherish,too,the poppy red
That grows on fields where valour led
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies. . .

In Flanders Fields,
Col John McCrae ​
 
God bless your Grandfather and others like him who fought for their country and freedom lets all raise a glass to them all and bow ours heads in prayer for them
 
Michael's sister has just managed to get their grandfather John Charles Pockett's WW1 medals this is so exciting. I will let you know how she did it when I have spoken to her.
 
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