My cousin Will and I were talking and I mentioned a plan to go to Europe and visit the WWI sites. Will was reminded of a conversation he had with our Grandfather. He had mentioned to our Grandfather that he was planning a similar trip. Poppa had turned to him and said that he must visit Ypres. He did not say much more, just that he would never forget it and Will must go there for him.
Not much longer after that conversation Poppa died. He was 85 years old. It had been 63 years since he had been to Ypres, yet the memory of what happened there still clung to him.
Now I wonder, what happened, what it like was for him, there in France. Who else like Will, in our family have stories to tell, of conversations they have had with our Grandfather? Who else knows the stories his daughter Claire has given me? Which ones are the true story of his adventure and which ones are the distortions of a story to enhance the telling.
I have started this blog, as a collection point for all the stories we have of Poppa's War. While it is true he served during WWII, in the reserves, I am limiting this blog, initially, to the time he spent in the Army during WWI.
