The Boys Sent To Fight In The Last Year Of WW1 | The Last Voices of World War One | Timeline
This award-winning factual series draws on a unique collection of one hundred interviews with World War One veterans in which the soldiers and their loved ones relive all the heroism and heartbreak of the years from 1914 to 1918. Most of these men had never been interviewed before or since. All the voices are now silent.
In the spring of 1918 the war still hung in the balance. But as the Germans launched their massive offensive in the spring, 18-year-old British conscripts were sent to France to make up the numbers. Thousands were taken prisoner as the German advance continued and suffered months of hardship at the hands of their captors. But by the summer the tide began to turn and the Boys of 1918 helped turn defeat into victory.
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That man is no coward. A coward would have run, hid, and refused to fight. Being afraid doesn't make you a coward. All these men talking about letting people down breaks my heart.
How is it cowardly to refuse to fight for a bunch of powerful people who see you as cannon fodder, though?
Refusing to fight and die for such a meaningless cause is no cowardice.
@Chtigga hindsight. We can all see that now in 2024. We can see how much the rich used the middle and lower class to die in wars for them to gain profits and power! Back then in those days people didn't understand all that. They just thought they needed to save their people and their country. Brainwashed by propaganda and or forced to fight against the people who got brainwashed.
,, they had no choice If you wernt physically forced by police or army conscriptions in the town you were jailed, the town people ostracised men, there really was no choice. If you refused to enter the trenches you were executed on the spot for cowardice
The guy that was like "it was probably cowardly, but" ...Sir you have nothing to ever be ashamed of. The real cowards were the world leaders. I hope when these gentlemen passed they didn't carry that with them....they were as brave and solid as anyone could be in that situation.
Thanks. That is what I was thinking too. I had the chance to talk to some ww1 vets when I was young. They were very humble brave men
from 1916 peace negotiations were under way between English and Germans...but the Balfour agreement made sure to sway public opinion and bring America into the war...with two more years and millions more casualties ...in exchange for Palestine....with what is going on today 'they' ain't no angels!@@matthewcullen1298
Lions, led by donkeys
Your post is a triumphant expression of wisdom. Well said.
I was thinking more on the line that there's nothing long with self preservation, it's literally hardwired in us. What a guy though brave in eyes.
Imagine 20 years later, these heroes had to watch WW2. Incredible.
War is good for making money and depopulation , the elites love it
Not to mention a respectable percentage fought in the 2nd war!!!
And seeing their children go 😢
And many went back in themselves.
💀💀💀💀💀
I could listen to these older gentleman talk all day
To hear a man who was braver than I will ever be, question his bravery hurts to hear. You were and will never be classed as a coward sir; you are a patriot and a hero.
He may have been back then. Men were different back then. It may have been stupid, but laying one's life down for one's country was expected of men back then, as was protecting the weaker - women and children. Now, well, there's supposedly no difference between men and women, and we need to be understanding of adults who want to have relations with... anyone they choose. Maybe women will protect men soon, because they can do anything men can, but better.
I don't worry about men/women relationships. Mother Nature will abide and triumph. It's truly the upcoming Robot era that excites and awes me. I'm saving up for a " man Friday " robot personal assistant. I think I'll name him Hal, in honor of the computer in " 2001, a Space Odyssey ". What a great film.
@@Stahlgewitter Why so bitter towards women? men realised that laying down one's life for the conquest of some inbred monarch was a waste of life. Life is much better now because of it. There are differences between men and women, but in most professions women are just as capable if not more so than men. I'm from Australia and women have become more educated than men on average and go into more high skilled professions than men. If men feel they're being left behind then they should work harder.
@@Stahlgewitterwomen cannot do everything men can do.
@@ZiggyStardust49everything you've said is wrong.
My great uncle died in France towards the end of WW1, these types of videos keep all the lost souls in our memories
Hopefully this video will insure that these guys are never forgotten.
My Grandad was called up in 1918 just 18years old, fought in the last 6months of the war. Was called up as a TA soldier in 1938 and fought throught out the Second World War come home in 1947.
Bless your granddad. May I ask, what is a TA Soldier?
@@jaminwhite17 Territorial Army. part-time soldier
My great uncle, Moses Salt of the Sherwood Foresters was killed. He was a sergeant. Date apparently 4th December 1917. He was 20 years old. His body was never found. Peakdale memorial.
RIP
Bill Easton lived to be 100. And no man there need worry of being called a coward. A WW1 trench battle was about as bad as it gets.
These men gave their tomorrows for our todays! Lest we forget! I thank you all!
Everyone and I mean everyone should be grateful for our Veterans here and the states and abroad.
I couldn’t agree more! It’s such a shame that our current leaders if they can be called that are making everyone vilify the troops! They are hero’s and there will be a day maybe tomorrow maybe in 40 years when we need them again and the sad state of things means we will be screwed
No one will ever be able to match the world war 1 and 2 generation they are all special but these guys were a part of a turning point in history it's a different experience we should appreciate all our veterans and allies though
@@JoshuaFatman I really love that you said we should appreciate our veterans. As a former US Navy sailor I can tell you most of todays youth don’t respect any veterans which is sad because without the sacrifices and bravery of those very vets back in the Great War and WW2 then most of these disrespectful kids today prolly wouldn’t be alive or at the very least would be living in completely different circumstances. Ones that would be miserable.
@UnwrittenSpade I'm 36. I've had the honor to know some world war2 vets that are now gone and most of my family has served thank you for your service
As an American I appreciate this British centric account of this time. My grandfather landed, with others from Michigan and Wisconsin, in France in mid March and took part in the final advance that summer. I have a small diary of his from his experience there. Hearing the moving testimonies here, I understand why he never talked about it with any of us. Two weeks after he left the barracks in the US for France, the flu ravaged through the barracks, killing many waiting to leave for the war.
No disrespect to your grandfather, however, General Pershing kept US forces away from the Front as much as possible. General Monash (Australia) and his counterparts from Canada and New Zealand managed to coax a significant number of Doughboys to the ranks against Pershing’s orders. In fact, Pershing went straight Field Marshall Haig to have them withdrawn. They weren’t and your countrymen went on to perform feats of gallantry from then on to the 11th November. There were of, many green British units engaged from that period on and their sacrifice is worthy of respect. But the author and narrator clearly only focussed on the Brit involvement, including as they do, the successes of their Commonwealth cousins.
The adverts are just spoiling this masterpiece. Thank you RIP
videos like these should be played in schools every week as mandatory.
Anyone who spent even one minute in the trenches, can never be called cowards.
The monarchs of this world past and present have an immeasurable amount of blood on their hands. Hundreds of millions dead in the past century at their hands.
Actually the kings where trying to stop it. But the mobilization had started. Once it had stated there was no going back
Not just monarchs, but statists, natioanalists, and patriots. You can not fight a war without them, and they all are evil. Fight the state, never fight for it. Disobedience is the foundation of freedom. By definition, those who obey are slaves.
Yes its the politicians and to be most specific it's what is referenced to as 'Democide' - genocide by governments . U of Hawaii Prof RJ Rummel did lengthy research and produced a white paper report in 1991 that estimates over 262,000,000 + deaths of all civilians, old and young, men , women , children worldwide slaughtered by governments - NOT including any wars dead - during the whole of the 20th Century alone(!) Unfathomable. Tragic. Surreal.
yous make it sound as if the monarchs are powerless puppets? Or do you actually admire your powerless puppets? No you don't. You adore and defend them because you KNOW they rule. Get real.
The whole First World War was basically a huge family squabble between the related royal families of Europe, really. That and to honour commitments and promises made of alliances between factors of said families.
My great uncle, James Livingston Neely, was one of these boys. Serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, he was killed in action at the Battle of the Selle on 24 October 1918, a mere three weeks before the end. He was 19 years old.
listening to all these veterans moved me to tears..
Thanks to all who served. Ever.
No, shame on all those who served. You should of said no to war.
The politicians shouldn't make war in the first place.
@@MorrisHillmanVideos The people should lead themselves, instead of looking to other strangers to lead them
@@choppergirlit's not like they wanted to be there
@@choppergirl You should HAVE studied more, in school…
When I was much younger I replaced a gas service in an old man's house.He told me that he had been an Old Comtemtable in WW1 & as he was telling me his eyes were watering. I quickly changed the subject but boy do I now wish I hadn't because I could of learnt so much of his experiences. Bless him 😢
I completely understand. I used to know Vietnam veterans that were willing to share their stories, but their spouses would use hand signals to me to change the topic. They later explained that talking about it would cause their husbands to have horrible nightmares.
My Grandfather Elmer Hart and his 2 brothers were 3 of those Americans over there bless you all and thank you .
Rest in peace to all these gentlemen.
God bless those brave and courageous men. Those that survived and those that died. I owe everything I have and am to their sacrifice. God bless them all.
God bless this generation. Very powerful to watch and listen to what they have to say. This is extremely important. Where this needs to be apart of public education. Kids today need to know the history and why it’s important.
Heartbreaking and wonderful. So glad to hear these voices.
Called himself a coward but spent his time as a pow sabotaging the jerrys your a legend my good man not a coward rip mate and tha k you for all u have done for this great nation of ours
Wild to think that these men went through all of that, so long ago, and lived to be over 100.
Calling world war veterans cowards should be a crime.
😂😂😂😂😂
All soviet veterans and the non-waffen SS are deeply dishonourable. Look up their crimes against humanity, there is barely enough research to cover known crimes, let alone the ones destroyed or sealed away in russia, and they set even worse disasters into motion in China. The SS and offenders in the Japanese expeditionary forces have been put on trial, but russians were never condemned for anything. Not acknowledging that would be an outright insult to the British, Canadian, US and Polish veterans who behaved properly
@@charlesc.9012 I like reading your comments. I read one just a few comments up from this one that was very insightful and intriguing as well. Thank you.
To think of those terrified kids being forced to fight and die. Terrible!
The guy said getting gassed, falling to your knees, and lifting his mask enough to puke was cowardice…if he only knew the men of today.
Right
God bless you men who severd especially to those who died in battle in all the war's we've fought. And to all those who are severing right now thank you and God bless you
real men! real heros! god bless them all
God bless those young men.
Dear Sir you were not a coward you were existing on the extreme edge of human experience. There are no cowards there.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun & in the morning, We will remember them.
They shall not grow old, As we who are left, grow old. Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them. Lest we forget.
Real men. Simple as that. 😢
Hoy ya se cumplen 105 años desde que la primera guerra mundial dió por finalizada, mediante un armisticio el día 11 del mes 11 de 1918 a las 11 am. Que en paz descansen cada uno de los hombres caídos en combate.
😮
Cuál es el punto?
@thekneidlachengineer6038 what's the point of anything? Of life?
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them". Lest we forget
My gt grandfather said he was one of the first to know of the armistice, being a bn runner he delivered the message to the troops of the 20th DLI at the front.
Fantastic to have this archive of those brave men that fought the most horrible war in history. My own great great uncle was killed in Flanders in 1915. Fortunately his brother. My great grandfather survived. My grandfather served in North Africa in ww2 and also survived. For those that have fallen we will remember them
The eloquent way these men, who had long suffered escapes me.
We will never forget you brothers
Nobody hates war more than the actual soldier doing the fighting
Not to minimize the suffering of soldiers, but innocent and unarmed civilians dying as a casualty of war probably hate it as much, if not more.
@@karenreddy💯
What an incredibly moving and thought provoking series. Vale to them all.
Incredible documentary. What great men
Dude keeps on saying he was a coward. It’s not like he ran away, he went through the fire and had his metal tested, he just didn’t want to be there. He just was honest about being scared, instead of pretending he wasn’t. Poor guy just doesn’t realize that everyone was scared.
This needs to be seen by everyone
Wow,what an emotional view.Thankyou to all who fought to make us safe.😢
Bless them all massive Respect to you all, 🙏 our Hero's.
Thank you for your sacrifices gone but not forgotten ❤
RIP legends And Thank YOU
It's a funny thing, but although I was born after WW2, I've ALWAYS felt _emotionally_ closer to the Great War, somehow - and it tends to choke me up every time I see one of those film clips of smiling Tommies, marching to the Front, not knowing what lay in store for them! I wonder how many others feel much the same way? I only wish filmakers had had the foresight to capture more of these amazing stories; print on the page is a poor substitute for the 'living' testimony of those who actually experienced the events described.
WWI stuff always chokes me up. Just something about that war. The meatgrinder horrors, obviously. But I also think because so many of the young men in that war were so good-natured and kind hearted, and were forced to do and witness some of the worst we've ever seen. And yet many of them still kept a chipper demeanor their whole lives which hid their pain. And now here we are back to trench warfare a century later, only now in 4K and captured with murder drone cameras. Disgusting stuff. Makes me angry.
Im greatful for all these men. Also greatful for the interviews. Thank you so much 🙏
Good video. Thank you for uploading.
The story of Bill Easton is something every Medic should listen to
We will remember them
I remember in 1991 during the Gulf War victory parade I saw a WW1 veteran in the parade...
I joined the VFW in 1993 in Port Monmouth, NJ. We still had WWI vet kicking around. He passed away about a year or two later. It's incredible to think about.
What an amazing generation of men!!! God Bless all of you
thank you for sharingbthis. it gives me a better appreciation of service personnel and pows. met an american family frien wo was captured in ww2 in the battle of the bulge. i have great respect for veterans and the pows that survived captivity and torture in pow facilities.
Thank you and God bless.
Couldn't be more excited to bask in the light of collective knowledge and sacrifice shown through the so few left. Thank you Timeline, and for lack of any words capable of describing my appreciation and gratitude to all those who serve for the brothers next to them. Maximum respect to them all. I hope they are enjoying the long earned rest they all deserve
This was made quite some time ago, there are no veterans of the Great War left now.
Absolutely incredible !!
I only wish I'd asked my grandad more about the war. All he told me was, there were rats as big as cats, and he'd seen big men cry for their mothers because they were going over the top tomorrow. He said big men didn't stand a chance as they'd get mowed down by the machine guns. I reckon he survived because he was a runner, taking messages from HQ to the lines. If only I could go back and ask him more. My uncle, his brother survived because he was a barber and he spent the war cutting soldiers hair behind the lines. Two lucky men.
That made his story even more impressive, because runners were exposed to snipers and stray munitions every day, such as artillery shells, which caused some 90% of all casualties. They were also priority targets, because the enemy also knew how important these communications were. Not many messengers started by running messages from HQ, most started by running more dangerous missions first, which made them some of the least likely to survive the war, alongside anyone who held the rank of Captain.
Great video, thank you.
War is Waste and Insanity 😢 Solders witness this and Survived 🥲they will be Honored thru History 👏👏👏 R.I.P. 🙏🕊️
There are no winners in war. There are those who live, those who die, and those that suffer in between.
Excellent!
The man who didn't want to join after seeing the casualties...I promise you, you are nowhere near a coward. If anything you are the farthest from it. You were intelligent and scared and did it anyways. You are a brave man. Our generation is not even half the man you ARE.
I remember watching this on TV .
thank you for sharing. most alive for the first world have tranistioned to life after earth. the same id happening to the veterans and survivors of the ww2 conflict. and now there are deadly comflicts all around the wprld.
Wow not only did they survive the war but they lived a long life i wonder if any of them fought in WW2 as well
Most of the British veterans certainly served in some capacity. 1939 would be 21 years in the future, and the average age of WW1 privates was 25 years, so most of them would be in their 40s. We know of many who fought in WW1, then in WW2 and then in Korea, but even on the home front, there was a constant need for skilled labour in heavy industry, Air raid wardens and firemen etc.
Most of the allied commanders in WWII had fought in WWI.
So humbling! Cede Nullis
God Bless Them All...
God bless these poor, dear Souls ❤ Flights of angels sing them to their rest ⚘️
good way to start the morning
The number of ads/commercials is excessive and quite annoying. I watch for the history.
World Devils@MassMedia will make $ on the blood also.$ is king of Devil's world (Luke 4:6)
If it wasn't for the adds they wouldn't get paid. And we wouldn't have great videos to watch
@@justingoodman3662 Ignore this persons comment, it is ignorant and dangerous. it is a matter of your personal responsibility and safety to use an adblocker. Advertisers do not care for your online security.
My maternal grandfather joined up as a Boy Soldier in 1895. He served throughout the Great war and was at Paschendale. He suffered with PTSD until he died. My uncle lost a lung due to shrapnel but carried on smoking Players Cigarettes into his nineties...
What a great nation of people we had back in them days. Wish I could say the same for now!
Tell me about it.
Poor Percy that dude had no fight in him at all cant blame him though dunno if I coulda mustered up any kind of courage in ww1 combat
Brother it isn't cowardice to be afraid it takes intelligence to be scared bed of cocktail of stupidity and ignorance never to have none. I don't know who you are big brother of mine but i do know that that fear brung you home to us. Extreme love and appreciation for you and all you done❤❤❤
Very intense and sad 😔
My Grandfather was a Master Gunnery Sgt in the US Army. He worked the artillery in the smoke and mud. He came home and lived a great life into his '90's. Both of his sons were in the US Marines during WWII. Both survived. On display in my home, I have his helmet and backpack from his war days. He gave them to me a month before he died....
These Men are all heroes, now passed. I cannot express how uncowardly they were, bravery beyond measure. Also, Harry Patch lived to 111 years old. He saw the Dawn and Dusk of the 20th Century, he saw and survived all of it.
What they fought so courageously for has been given away. We should be ashamed of what we've allowed politicians to get away with.
I know what you mean. Most we can do is exercise our rights of Voting. And not just at the Federal levels. But in our Hometowns & Local Elections as well. And pray that it doesn’t come to Civil War, or even worse.. But these new age Liberals have control of everything nowadays. From Social Media, our Schools, Colleges, and so on. It’s permeated throughout everything in our daily lives. And by no means am I saying or acting as if there are not plenty of idiotic Republicans, because there definitely is. Just nowhere near the scale of Democrats. It’s honestly a miracle KZhead channels like PragerU haven’t been banned yet.
War is a racket
Smedley Butler approves this comment!!😁
That was very deep and painful to realize we will always repeat history
That birthday story is somethin else. My father turned 21 in Vietnam. I wish I would’ve asked what happened that day.
Very interesting
One of my uncles was a conchy at the end end of the WW1 , he was the Unitarian minister spent a lot of time in South Africa? With his wife and children. Was a really lovely man.
Lest We Forget.
I wonder what year these interviews were recorded. They all look so good for their age! Can’t be much after the year 2000!
Back in the 90s for most of them, it gives the date of their deaths right at the very end.
The bravest, are those who admitted they were scared to death, but went anyway.
Fear is normal and actually causes acts of bravery when it gets crazy
My Grandfather was the only WW1 veteran I ever knew and wish I had asked him a few questions at least about the war.
my great grandfather faught never got to meet him :(
He wouldn’t have told you. Most of them never said a word about what they went through. My mother said she once asked her Dad (my Grandad, who fought 1916-1917) how he lost his leg, and he just looked her in the eye, shook his head and said ‘go and make me a cup of tea, there’s a good girl’.
Sent to die is more like it. Tragic.
Lifting a virtual glass to the brave men from all countries thata served in the Great War. We salute all that lived as well as those that perished. My paternal Grandfather served in the US forces in France in 1918. He returned home with his hearing affected by the noise of the guns. While on a troop train headed for training, the train made a stop in Paris, TX where he met a young woman who came with friends to see the boys bound for Europe. After his return, that woman became my Grandmother in 1920. So I guess I can say I'm hear as a result of the American entry into WWI.
Could you imagine the youth of today having to face what those young men went through.. they are true hero's
The boys in ukraine and russia? The israeli and palestinians boys? They were forced, it would not be difference with the actual generation
They wouldn't make it. They're truly the greatest generation God bless also those who made the ultimate sacrifice ww1 and ww2
@@theboycheef841who would make it? These men were either dead, maimed, or traumatized. History just forgot about them. And men having PTSD were simply ignored or thrown in an asylum
They are made that way. Up until recent history, fighting back against bullies was accepted, and everyone knew that you either chose your fate or have it chosen for you; There were failures like Chamberlain, but most people knew that vicious regimes would not treat occupied nations gently. Today they are taught that they ae the problem, violence is wrong unless you are bullying the weak, and constantly belittled and disempowered. These ideologies are dangerous, the value of human is not for another human to decide. Gandhi had the fortune of not being Tank Man, precisely because the British were reasonable. In this world, it is no longer possible to be Gandhi, it is not even possible to be Navalny, yet we have created abominations out of education systems in a time when we need Gideon and Samson.
@@theboycheef841who really made it? Those who fought then perished too.
Wow all lived to 100 or more years what a generation respect
Recently discovered that one of my Great-great Uncles joined the Navy at 15 in 1916, left in 1928 and then re-joined in 1939-46. Trying to get more info. Another GG Uncle was Killed near Oss, Holland on 26.9.44 while serving as a Driver in the Coldstream Guards. Lest we Forget.