Descendants who keep alive memories of Great War heroes
DENIS HOLDEN Grandfather was wounded
DENIS Holden, 65, came to the commemoration with a poem about the war written by his grandfather Michael Willis who was wounded by shrapnel on the first day of the battle.
He was evacuated, survived and on the ship back to Australia in 1919 penned the poem How Amiens Was Saved, which celebrates honours Australia’s dead.
Denis, a retired traffic policeman from Melbourne, said: “He was a very quiet, gentle man, a wheat and sheep farmer.
“As far as we know this was the only poem he wrote.”
HELEN PATTON Pioneer role of US General
ONE of the most famous soldiers to take part in what became the 100 Days Offensive was future US general George Patton.
His granddaughter Helen, 56, told how after Amiens in September 1918 he was the first US tank commander to see action.
Helen, who lives in France but trained in drama at Rada in London, said: “He had told the US commander General John Pershing that they had to use tanks not horses.
“He saw action at Saint-Mihiel but was shot in the thigh, winning the Distinguished Service Cross and the Purple Heart.”
ROBERT BROWNWELL Hero fought on horseback
ROBERT Brownell travelled from his home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to pay tribute to “the man of my life” – his grandfather Jacob who took part in a cavalry charge in the battle.
Jacob, who was only 20, attacked German positions on horseback.
Robert said: “Only six men survived that charge, including my grandfather. As they charged Hill 100, they had to avoid the trenches and wire which forced them to be funnelled into a wood.
“The air was full of smoke from shell fire and machine gun fire.”
SARAH CLARKE-FELTHAM Granddaughter of Fusilier
SARAH Clarke-Feltham paid tribute to her grandfather George Clarke – and his real life war horse.
George, a farmer from Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Sarah, 42, from Bude, Cornwall, showed off a photo of George in front-line uniform sitting on his horse. She said: “He used to tell everyone that this was the horse he used to take ammunition with to the front in France and it was blind.”
George, who was 33 at the Battle of Amiens, lived to be 91 and died in 1976.
ASHLEY SCHMIERER Pastor plans his own tribute
ASHLEY Schmierer, 62, is to pay tribute to his hero grandfather on the very spot and at the very moment where he was wounded 100 years ago during the Battle of Amiens.
Australian Lance Corporal Samuel Dales, 24, was shot through the shoulder on the third day of the battle which triggered the collapse of the German army.
Ashley, a pastor from Brighton, said: “He was a bit of hero to me. I am here to show gratitude for what he did. He inspired my life.
“After the war he became a pastor as I have done.”