Claude Stanley Choules, the last known combat veteran of the First World War, died on Thursday in Perth, Western Australia. He was 110. Choules was born on 3 March, 1901, in Pershore, Worcestershire, one of seven children. In 1917, he joined the battleship HMS Revenge, from which he watched the 1918 surrender of the German high seas fleet, the main battle fleet of the German navy during the war. You can see a short video of him here. Take a look at this post on Harry Patch, the last soldier living in Europe to have fought in the trenches of the First World War, who died in July 2009.
The First World War came to an end 92 years ago. Traditionally the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year is the time we remember all those who died in wars. Have a look at this video in memory of the soldiers who died in the conflict. it is accompanied by the Last Post. You'll also find a link explaining why the poppy is used as a symbol of remembrance and some poetry from the First World War.
The First World War came to an end 91 years ago. Traditionally the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of each year is the time we remember all those who died in wars. Have a look at this video in memory of the soldiers who died in the conflict. it is accompanied by the Last Post.
You can look back at this post to get an overview of the Treaty of Versailles, but it is also worth checking out John Clare's webpage and having a listen to this podcast if you want to become an expert on the Treaty and its effects. Cast your eye over this powerpoint to revise the key terms of the Treaty:
Harry Patch was the last surviving soldier living in Europe to have fought in the trenches of the First World War. He died in July this year. At the time of his death, aged 111. He fought at Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) and was injured by a shell explosion on 22 September 1917 in an incident in which three of his comrades were killed.
Patch had refused to discuss his war experiences, but the realisation that he was part of a fast dwindling group of veterans of the Great War persuaded him to speak.
A fierce critic of war, Patch once said "...if any man tells you he went over the top and he wasn't scared, he's a damn liar."
The group Radiohead marked his death by releasing a song about Patch.
Here are the lyrics and Thom from Radiohead's comments about the song:
Harry Patch (In Memory Of) "I am the only one that got through the others died where ever they fell it was an ambush they came up from all sides give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves I've seen devils coming up from the ground I've seen hell upon this earth the next will be chemical but they will never learn"
Recently the last remaining UK veteran of the 1st world war Harry Patch died at the age of 111.
I had heard a very emotional interview with him a few years ago on the Today programme on Radio 4. The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me.
It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death. It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny. I very much hope the song does justice to his memory as the last survivor.
It would be very easy for our generation to forget the true horror of war, without the likes of Harry to remind us. I hope we do not forget.
As Harry himself said: "Irrespective of the uniforms we wore, we were all victims".
In order to understand the atmosphere at the Paris Peace Conference after the First World War you need to be aware of the way the war had affected the continent.
All participants in the First World War made use of propaganda posters to encourage recruitment to the armed forces, boost morale and attack their opponents.
At First World War.com they have a great collection of posters from many of the countries that were involved.
As all you Year 9 students should know by now, the Schlieffen Plan - designed by General Von Schlieffen in 1905 - formed the basis of German military plans at the start of the First World War. The School History site gives a concise overview of the plan.
Claude Stanley Choules, the last known combat veteran of the First World War, died on Thursday in Perth, Western Australia. He was 110. Choules was born on 3 March, 1901, in Pershore, Worcestershire, one of seven children. In 1917, he joined the battleship HMS Revenge, from which he watched the 1918 surrender of the German high seas fleet, the main battle fleet of the German navy during the war.
