WW1 Soldier dies 109

[Fiona]

I recently watched a BBC programme "The Last Tommy" taking part in the programme was one of the oldest soldiers from the WW1, Alfred Anderson in the programme he described how he joined the Black Watch in 1914 and it was thought he was the oldest surviving vetran from the Christmas truce of 1914.

He looked to be such a proud man and at one time during his service was batman to Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who was the brother of the late Queen Mother this led to a private meeting with Prince Charles.

He then suffered a shrapnel wound 1916. His injury ended his active service and he spent the rest of the war as an instructor, finishing the war as a staff sergeant.

In 1998 Mr Anderson was awarded France's highest militaty honour - the Légion d'Honneur - for his services during WWI.

At the time of making the programme there were only about 4 or 5 vetrans left, I think it was an update of interviews conducted over the last couple of years.

I hope we continue to see these programmes as we must not forget the sacrifice these boys made, because once they have all pasted on there will be no one left to tell their stories.

Alfred Anderson 1896 - 2005

[The Doctor]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I recently watched a BBC programme "The Last Tommy" taking part in the programme was one of the oldest soldiers from the WW1, Alfred Anderson in the programme he described how he joined the Black Watch in 1914 and it was thought he was the oldest surviving vetran from the Christmas truce of 1914.

He looked to be such a proud man and at one time during his service was batman to Fergus Bowes-Lyon, who was the brother of the late Queen Mother this led to a private meeting with Prince Charles.

He then suffered a shrapnel wound 1916. His injury ended his active service and he spent the rest of the war as an instructor, finishing the war as a staff sergeant.

In 1998 Mr Anderson was awarded France's highest militaty honour - the Légion d'Honneur - for his services during WWI.

At the time of making the programme there were only about 4 or 5 vetrans left, I think it was an update of interviews conducted over the last couple of years.

I hope we continue to see these programmes as we must not forget the sacrifice these boys made, because once they have all pasted on there will be no one left to tell their stories.

Alfred Anderson 1896 - 2005

Very sad just seen it on c fax.

[Lou]

Sad, but oh to make it to 109 - he lived the years of the men he stood beside who didn't have more than 17, 19, or 21.....

RIP Mr Anderson - and thankyou.

[Paul Oliver]

Yes, very well said Fiona and my main link to that war

Private William Robert Webber 9th Bn, The Worcestershire Regiment 1892-12 Mar 1918 (My Great Grandfather) Died aged 26 with two son's aged 2 and 4.

[Tony F]

We owe all of our servicemen so much, I have a big boy type general interest in all war history but the individual stories send shivers down my spine.

I think it deplorable and shameful that so many youngsters today know so little of what these men did for us. I don't want to forget them so please may these programs go on teaching for a long time our future generations about the stock from which they come.

Perhaps some appreciation of what these people did and what they went through would help us all be better people today.

I thank you most sincererly Mr Anderson, may you never be forgotten and may you now rest in the peace you so richly deserve.

[Buoyant Babe]

Originally Posted by Tony F

We owe all of our servicemen so much, I have a big boy type general interest in all war history but the individual stories send shivers down my spine.

I think it deplorable and shameful that so many youngsters today know so little of what these men did for us. I don't want to forget them so please may these programs go on teaching for a long time our future generations about the stock from which they come.

Perhaps some appreciation of what these people did and what they went through would help us all be better people today.

I thank you most sincererly Mr Anderson, may you never be forgotten and may you now rest in the peace you so richly deserve.

Wot he said - hear hear!

[MATTBIN]

I recorded Ian Hislop's new programme (1/4) on C4 last Sunday, havent watched it yet, if its anywhere near as good as "The Last Tommy" it will be brilliant. My Grandfather fought in WW1, no idea where, like so many, he rarely if ever talked about it. On the Tommy programme one old veteran admitted the first time he mentioned the war was when he passed 100 yrs old. They certainly dont make em like that anymore do they, celebrities clammering for their 5 minutes of fame being commonplace.

Of the veterans left I think there were only 3 after the programme (Tommy) had been shown, now one more has passed away, I hope he finds peace.

Matt

[Mr T.]

Agree completely!

Thank God for the BBC - no other channel would have/could have put together the desire and commitment to render a programme like 'The Last Tommy' - it should be required viewing in schools.

Parts of it nearly had me in tears - not helped by the violin piece from Schindler's List.

Some of the personal stories which came out of the programme:

* the UK's largest ever standing army (over 5 million troops) were sent over to France and Belgium (incidently, and to give you an idea of scale, London's Metropolitan Police force is larger than today's Royal Navy - make you think)
* one of the veterans (born 1898) only begain thinking about his experiences in 'the first war' (notice we all call it WW1, World War One or The Great War - folks of his era all refer to it as 'the first war') when a cleaning lady in the old folks' home in which he resided switched on a utility room light which flickered and then shone over the skylight over his room door - taking him right back to the bombarments he suffered in the trenches. This incident happened when he was 100 years old.
* the last guy (who died only yesterday) alive to witness the Christmas truce and play football in No-Man's Land


It really was 'must watch' television.

They gave their tommorrows for all our todays. We will remember them.

[Mr T.]

Last soldier serving in 1914 Christmas truce dies, aged 109
By Auslan Cramb, Scottish Correspondent
(Filed: 22/11/2005)


The last veteran of the Christmas truce during the First World War died in his sleep yesterday, aged 109.

Alfred Anderson, who was born in 1896, was 18 on December 25, 1914, when British and German troops climbed out of their trenches and crossed no-man's land to shake hands, sing carols and share cigarettes.


Alfred Anderson

The soldiers famously played football together, kicking around empty bully-beef cans and using steel helmets as goal posts. The unauthorised truce spread across much of the 500-mile Western Front, where more than a million soldiers were encamped.

Recalling the truce last year, Mr Anderson said: "All I'd heard for two months in the trenches was the hissing, cracking and whining of bullets in flight, machinegun fire and distant German voices.

"But there was a dead silence that morning, right across the land as far as you could see. We shouted 'Merry Christmas', even though nobody felt merry.

"The silence ended early in the afternoon and the killing started again. It was a short peace in a terrible war."

A holder of the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest honour, Mr Anderson received his 19th telegram from the Queen in June this year, but was too frail to take part in the recent Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Speaking two weeks ago from his nursing home in Newtyle, Angus, the former sergeant with the Black Watch, who was also Scotland's oldest man, described himself as "the last man standing".

He said he found the two-minute silence on November 11 "remarkably poignant" because of the "terrible constant noise in the trenches".

"It's special to think that Britain is united in silence remembering a time that I will never forget," said Mr Anderson. "The country stops for a few minutes each year and remembers those who fought and died but there's not a day goes by that I don't think of those I left behind. Young men I went to school with, played football with and trained for war with. All dead, all gone."

The Rev Neil Gardner, of Alyth Parish Church, said that Mr Anderson was a "very gracious and unassuming man" who remained lucid until the end.
"He was the last surviving veteran anywhere to have served in the First World War in 1914 and lived a truly remarkable life," he said.

"Alfred was quite philosophical about his wartime experiences. He took everything in his stride.

"He had a great sense of humour but also a terrific sense of wisdom which came from his great age."

Neil Griffiths, of the Royal British Legion of Scotland, said Mr Anderson was a fine old soldier and a "brilliant example of old world courtliness".

He said: "He was gentle and very humorous, with a quick wit. He used to say until recently that his ambition was to die shot in bed by a jealous lover.

"But I think also there was a great sadness in his heart that he had outlived his generation.

"He was one of those who represented the finest aspects of the Scottish character and his departure is a sad moment for this country."

Mr Anderson's unit, the 5th Battalion of the Black Watch, was one of the first to be sent to France in October 1914 when the First World War broke out. He was billeted in a dilapidated farmhouse away from the front line at the time of the truce.

He had reached the rank of sergeant when he was invalided out of action in 1916 by a shell explosion that left him with serious shrapnel wounds. He later helped to set up Home Guard units during the Second World War.

After the war Mr Anderson married Susan Iddison, a nanny from Ripon, North Yorks, and moved to Scotland where he took over his father's building and joinery business in Newtyle.

They celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary before she died, aged 83, in 1979.

Fiercely proud of his Army service, his Black Watch cap hung over the door of the family home in Alyth, Perthshire, where he lived until September this year.

Two years ago he was visited by the Prince of Wales after it emerged that he had served as batman to Capt Fergus Bowes-Lyon, brother of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Mr Anderson is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

[CotoChris]

It may seem weird but I found the Black Adder goes Forth series to be moving, the last episode was very sad. It strange how comedy can be made on such horror and yet made you laugh and cry at the same time.

The best book/play on WWI has to be Journeys End, it was compulsory reading when I was at school, hope it still is.