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Post by Larry Dunn on Jun 22, 2009 7:49:22 GMT -8
By chance, I was watching The Military Channel last night--much to my surprise and delight, it was a new episode titled "The Last Day of World War I," focusing on the events surrounding November 11, 1918 and on the final combat casualties, including an American killed at 10:59am. The show was hosted by Michael Palin (who had a great uncle killed at the Somme); it was very well done and definitely worth a look.
-Larry
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1886lebel
GWHS 
151?me R?giment d'Infanterie de Ligne
Posts: 732
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Post by 1886lebel on Jun 22, 2009 10:04:22 GMT -8
I thought it was interesting that at 10:45 the 40-year-old French poilu Augustin Trebuchon of the 415ème Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne who was taking a message to troops by the River Meuse saying that soup would be served at 11.30 after the peace was killed and that his grave along with the other 45 French soldiers killed on 11 November 1918 are marked 10/11/18. It is said that after the war France was so ashamed that men would die on the final day that they had all the graves backdated so that their familys would continue to get their pensions.
They did not even talk about the last reported German casualty which occurred after the 11 a.m. armistice in which Lt. Tomas, in the Meuse-Argonne sector, went to inform approaching American soldiers that he and his men would be vacating houses that they had been using as billets was shot by soldiers who had not been told about the ceasefire.
Patrick
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Post by Larry Dunn on Jun 22, 2009 10:39:31 GMT -8
I also thought it was interesting that the both the last British casualty and the last French casualty were 40 years old.
-Larry
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Post by Kruger on Jun 22, 2009 15:44:13 GMT -8
I won a buttonstick off of Ebay recently, and the seller told me it belonged to his great uncle was killed in France 4 days after the war had ended by a German sniper. His name was Fran Fullwood and was in the Sherwood Foresters regiment. I never looked into it so I don't know if it's true. But wouldn't casualties like this be considered the last?
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Jun 22, 2009 16:36:39 GMT -8
I won a buttonstick off of Ebay recently, and the seller told me it belonged to his great uncle was killed in France 4 days after the war had ended by a German sniper. I love the stories that sellers attach to items on Ebay, as some of them can be real tear jerkers in order to sell absolute rubbish! With not a shot being fired by any side after 11.30.am on the 11th Novewmber 1918, I doubt the authenticity of of the story from the seller you contacted. He/she must have a really vivid imagination to think that someone would fall for the supposed 'Murder'.Can you post a pic at all of the button-stick.. as they changed the pattern for WW2 items. There are also quite a list of repro items on the market now, but originals have the WO arrow somewhere on them... never engraved, always stamped. Seph |
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qms
Full Member
Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Jun 27, 2009 7:17:38 GMT -8
The CWGC 'Debt of Honour' register shows only 5 Fullwords died in 1918 (none after 11=XI) and one in June 1919.
The only Fullwood in the Sherwood Foresters to die was 71175 Fullwood P. (Percy) who died on 14=IV=17 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Any Help?
Tom
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Jun 27, 2009 7:54:11 GMT -8
Tom.. the best place to put your enquirey in this case would be the Great War Forum. As we both know, the expertise there is second to none!
Seph
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qms
Full Member
Posts: 100
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Post by qms on Jun 30, 2009 7:48:11 GMT -8
Seph,
Not an enquiry, just a follow-up statement to help disprove the button-stick seller's claim.
The only "Forester" Fullwood in the register died in 1917, not after 11th Novewmber '18.
Regards
Tom
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Post by rsm2ndbtnlf on Jun 30, 2009 8:43:58 GMT -8
OH!..  Sorry Tom. I missread the post! Seph |
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