interesting...

[kevin.303]

on CGN we where discussing the fact that a member would be in Europe for the 60th VE day ceremonys and that he was gonna visit Vimy Ridge. in talking with another member, it turns out that both of his great grandfathers and my great grandfather served in the same unit in WW1. the 8th Bn. CEF ( Winnipeg Rifles ) and he had a list of battles that they would have seen action in. the list is amazing, that anyone could survive 2 and a half years and come out unscathed. he enlisted under age in early 1915, so was probably involved in all these actions.

France and Flanders

Battle of Gravenstafel. 22-23 Apr 1915.
Battle of St. Julien. 24 Apr-4 May 1915.
Battle of Festubert. 15-25 May 1915.
Second Action of Givenchy. 15-16 Jun 1915.

Battle of Mount Sorrel. 2-13 Jun 1916.
Battle of Flers - Courcelette. 15-22 Sep 1916.
Battle of Thiepval. 26-28 Sep 1916.
Battle of Le Transloy. 1-18 Oct 1916.
Battle of the Ancre Heights. 1 Oct-11 Nov 1916.
(participation in the Battle of the Somme started in September 1916 and ended in October 1916).

Battle of Vimy. 9-14 Apr 1917.
Battle of Arleux. 28-29 Apr 1917.
Third Battle of the Scarpe. 3-4 May 1917, including the capture of Fresnoy.
Second Battle of Passchendaele. 26 Oct-10 Nov 1917.

Battle of Amiens. 8-11 Aug 1918.
Actions round Damery. 15-17 Aug 1918.
Battle of the Scarpe. 26-30 Aug 1918.
Battle of Drocourt-Quéant. 2-3 Sep 1918.
Battle of the Canal Du Nord. 27 Sep-1 Oct 1918.
Battle of Cambrai. 8-9 Oct 1918.


i was stunned when i saw this list. when he talked about the war, it was always about the people he knew and the experiances, but he never mentioned a geographical location. i hope in the not to distant future to visit Europe and walk the beaches of Dieppe and Juno beach, then visit Vimy Ridge and the Scheldt. alot of reletives served in both world wars, and luckily most survived the fighting, but not all of them survived the memories. my friend s have asked me why i like the Lee Enfield so much. because it's got history. for a few million Canadian kids far from home, sometimes this rifle was all that stood between them and death in 2 world wars and Korea. can you say that about your Remington 700?

[jh45gun]

Don't even get me started on France!  :twisted:  You see the graves from both world wars still over there and then to put up with the way France is these days is enough to make you sick, Let alone the rest of Europe. Just this Americans view!  :wink:

[S.S.]

I agree!
I think France should have been left
as part of Germany. Most people I have met from
Germany were very polite. I do not think I have
ever met anyone from France who was! That country
is really disgusting to me.

[Yukon Gold]

I may be going against the grain here - but over the past 3 years, As a civilian I have spent not less the 4 months in France - in numerous French cities - and to be honest - the vast majority of French people I ran into were polite, decent folks (even in Paris!).  Sure, I ran into a few jerks, but you run into that type everywhere.  Back 15 years ago, in the military, I spent six months working with the French.  It was the same then.

I am not a fan of their political views - but then again, I am not a fan of the political views of about 50% of Americans (Democrats to be specific).  That certainly doesn't mean I don't like Americans (nor Democrats!) .  I love Americans, and being American - best thing to be.
 These days, most of the world seems to be not fond of Americans - and basically because they don't like our politics.  They hate us, and don't know who we are.  They are victims of their own propaganda machine.

unfortunately, since I have been back, I see too many Americans doing the same thing.

[1911crazy]

The only good thing that came out of France is my 49/56's no wonder why they were rearsenaled/unissued heck they were only dropped once in the sand so all they had to do was to clean them good because they were still new.  They sure do shoot great in the right hands of course!!  BigBill

[jh45gun]

"I love Americans, and being American - best thing to be.
These days, most of the world seems to be not fond of Americans - and basically because they don't like our politics. They hate us, and don't know who we are. They are victims of their own propaganda machine. "

It is Hate but it is also envy on their part as we are the only super power left and are strong enough to tell the UN to shove it if we need to.  This they do not like. Most of these European and third world countries are right there when they want or need something but other wise they want nothing to do with us. Consider this question if a Major problem happened to the US how many of these countries would come to our aid. Not Many! Considering the severe hurricanes The south had and after 911 I did not see much for aid coming to us. After one Hurricane Canada in the past gave Plywood which is saying something for them as a neighbor but for the most part the US has to deal with its own problems, yet when others are in need we are there to help but then that is part of what makes us great something maybe these other countries do not understand or care. Jim

[Yukon Gold]

Consider this question if a Major problem happened to the US how many of these countries would come to our aid. Not Many!

True - But then we are one of the few countries Blessed Enough that we don't need handouts by other countries in times of need...

Of course let's not forget the help the French gave us against England many, many moons ago (back when France was a "super power" and the U.S. not much more than a "third world power").  But then, it may have more to do with the axe they had to grind against the British, than to help us.

Not that long ago, the people of France collected monies at school to buy the Statue of Liberty and presented it as a gift to the US as a symbol of friendship and unity.  Our history with them over the years have certainly been more good than bad.  Funny how things seem to change.

It is Hate but it is also envy on their part as we are the only super power left and are strong enough to tell the UN to shove it if we need to.

True also... This applies to a whole lot more than the French.  Of course we have no one else to blame than ourselves for the United Nations.  We started the organization in the first place.  Everything was fine while we called all the shots, and we expected other countries to comply.

You are right, the US is one of the few to be able to tell the UN to pack sand.  Without our financial and military support, it would be in a world of hurt.

The only good thing that came out of France is my 49/56's

Not true... lets not forget the wines and cheeses

[jh45gun]

THE ONLY REASON France helped us when we were a beginning nation was they were in direct competition with the English. America was a great resource for both countries who both were in the fur trade at the time and or any other riches they could find. You can still see this some what today in Canada as the English speaking folks and the French ones do not get along all that well. I think France has never helped any one unless there was something in it for them, and that includes the Lousianna Purchase. Jim