November the 11th marks the ending of the Great war of World War 1, when the armistice was signed ending the war with Germany. Now we remember all other wars that have been fought throughout the years, the young men who gave their lives that we may live in peace.
On this day in 1915 on the 11th day of the 11th month, my Great Grandfather William Henry Sockett Private 14319 of the 9th Pioneer division, South Staffordshire regiment was killed in France.
He was a brave man, one of many who gave their lives, but particularly poignant to us as a family, my Grandad another W H S ockett, spoke of his bravery.
The story is as follows, hearing the cries of his wounded comrades,my Grt Grandfather ran to their aid, and in so doing he was greatly wounded by a German shell going off, he died of his wounds some hours later.Had he lived his name was to be bought forward in dispatches for his gallantry.
He is buried at Erquingham Lys churchyard in FRANCE. He was only 39 years old and left behind a widow sarah ada and 6 children .
We have visited the war memorial at Alrewas, an imposing monument, recording the dead from many newer wars, The falklands, Irelands troubles, Iraq, Afghanistan to name but a few. It is a meeting place for all who have lost family, but saddest of all are the empty walls, because looking at them you know they are for the soldiers whose names will one day be enscribed on those empty spaces. The first world war was said to be The War to end All Wars, but sadly it has not.
So on this day we remember all of our Armed Service personnel fighting, wherever they may be, the lost and the fallen.
The poppies symbolise the fields in France known as flanders fields and the poppies flanders poppies, like the blood that was shed they serve as a reminder that we MUST Never Forget.
For in some corner of a foreign field lies a part that is for ever ENGLAND.
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