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I don't cry, I'm a man.

Its very seldom that a tear wells-up my eyes. Like I said, I'm a man and men do not cry.Well, I must confess, as I watched Antiques Roadshow yesterday - it was centred around the WWI memorial in north France - my eyes welled up with quiet emotion. Its funny that.

Gerry Tan ● 4377d1 Comments

My great uncle is commemorated a Thiepval on The Somme.Private Henry William Brooks G/29666, 2nd Bn., Royal Fusiliers  died on 25 November 1916 Age 21Sadly, his full service record was destroyed by enemy bombing in the 2nd World War but the battalion diaries and his medal card survived and are at the National Archive in Kew.The day's entry reads (a précis): Battalion parade this morning, the men were well turned out and sang heartily. Casualty - one other rank. Not even his name!What a senseless bloody waste of a young life - he had been at 'the front' for less than a fortnight.

Nigel Brooks ● 4377d