Children who wore their lost ancestors’ medals with pride
Ablaze with light for one last night...
YOUNG and proud, they came to honour a lost generation, carrying medals and memories.
Descendants of those who served in the First World War marched past the Cenotaph yesterday in a unique commemoration of their families’ sacrifice.
They joined relatives of servicemen and women from the Second World War and more recent conflicts to form a 10,000strong parade, dubbed the Nation’s Thank You. For many it was their first opportunity to come together to express their profound gratitude and pride for the actions of a previous generation.
For others the memories were still raw, and they wept as they recalled fathers and grandfathers who never returned from the frontline. Children too young to remember their forebears wore their medals pinned to their chests.
Their families watched them march and expressed the heartfelt hope that they would never have to repeat the sacrifices of the wartime generations. Eight-yearold Ioan Williams wore the medals of his great-grandfather Sergeant Walter Benjamin, who served in India and Burma during the Second World War. At his side, his grandmother Jane
Benjamin carried a wreath for Ioan’s great-great uncle, Rifleman Walter Singer, who was killed in France just three weeks before the Armistice. Mrs Benjamin, 62, from Pontypridd in South Wales, said: ‘The veterans of the First World War aren’t here any more, so it’s up to us to make sure their legacy is passed to our children and grandchildren.
‘We must never forget. The legacy of that war and their sacrifice must be peace so that these children know the value of peace.’ Rifleman Singer served with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and was one of four soldiers sent to take a German position near Montay in Northern France on October 23, 1918.
Two were killed as they dived into a German dug-out and he died later that day from his injuries, leaving only one survivor. His great-great nephew Ioan said he felt proud to take part in the Nation’s Thank You procession, after his family were awarded two of the coveted spots in the parade, allotted through a public ballot.
Elsewhere in the procession, 13-year-old Harry Gayfer-Toms marched to commemorate several members of his family. His great-great grandfather Frederick Gray was killed at the Second Battle of the Somme in September 1918, just five months after his brother Hubert died. Frederick, a soldier with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, was hit by a shell as he dug a grave to bury a dead comrade.
He had written to his wife Ethel just four days earlier, saying he hoped to be home soon to be reunited with her and their one-year- old son Harry, who he had only seen once while on leave. That son, Harry, went on to serve during the Second World War and was captured in the fall of Tobruk in Libya. Harry’s daughter Vivienne
Gayfer, 71, of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, said she had brought her grandson, also named Harry, to the procession to commemorate their family’s history.
She said: ‘Harry is one of nine great-great grandchildren of Frederick Gray. That genera-
‘Legacy of sacrifice must be peace’
tion gave up so much – it is important we remember them.’ Serving officer Mark Goodwin-Hudson brought four of his children to the procession to commemorate his great-uncle, who was severely injured at the start of the First Battle of the Somme on July 1, 1916 – the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army.
British forces suffered 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 who were killed, and gained just three square miles of territory. Hubert Goodwin-Hudson was shot by a machine gunner as he approached a German trench and lay dying in No Man’s Land, beyond the reach of the British stretcher-carriers.
He was rescued by a German who had briefly lived in the same Essex village, and recognised him from the church where they had both worshipped.
Colonel Goodwin-Hudson, of the Household Cavalry, said: ‘It was an extraordinary rescue. My greatuncle thought he was done for and then suddenly heard a German voice asking, “Are you Hubert?”. This German man took him to a field hospital and ensured he received the best possible treatment. He saved his life.’
Colonel Goodwin-Hudson was joined by his wife Alice and their children Rose, nine, Tarka, 12,
Henry, 15, and Benjy, 18. Henry said: ‘It’s a great honour to be here today to remember all those who died in the First World War.
‘It’s important we remember all the sacrifices that were made to give us the freedom that we have today.’ Kate Nicholls, 48, joined the procession in honour of her greatgrandfather John Waugh and his brother and sister Tommy and Violet. Tommy Waugh was injured by shrapnel at the Somme but survived by hiding under the bodies of the dead for three days.
Taken to a field hospital at Verdun for treatment for his wounds, he heard a voice he recognised and was reunited with brother John and their sister Violet, who was working as a nurse. The reunion was to be the last time the three siblings, from Nettlesworth in County Durham, were together. John Waugh was on his way back to the front and was killed in action just three weeks before the Armistice was signed, aged 28.
Mrs Nicholls, who was joined at the procession by her daughter
Sophie, 16, said: ‘ Their story has been passed down to us. Those generations who experienced the impact of war are dying out and we need to make sure their stories of indescribable sacrifice continue.’ Sophie said: ‘It’s very important to remember, and it’s very emotional.’