Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GinoLR, post: 8364303, member: 128351&quot;]I was lucky enough to do my military service in time of peace. My father and two grandfathers served in time of war but survived. My dad was drafted on 10th June 1940, when the French army was already completely defeated, and with his regiment avoided annihilation or capture. He enlisted again in 1945-47.</p><p><br /></p><p>His father, my grandfather, had served in WW1, I have a picture of him riding his horse c. 1915:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1484414[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>My other grandfather volunteered in 1914 at the age of 16: he had 6 brothers who all served in this war, 3 of which were killed, a 4th one died from his wounds in 1919. He served 4 years on the frontline. He was drafted again in 1939 but soon discharged because of his 4 brothers killed in WW1. In 1940, when the Germans were advancing toward Paris, he evacuated with his family but the columns of civilian refugees were constantly attacked by German Luftwaffe and he was severely wounded and his wife, my grandmother, was killed in one of these low-altitude bombings on civilians (the bastards knew very well they were bombing civilians, my mom remembers she could see the pilot in his cockpit). </p><p>Here is a picture of him c. 1918:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1484415[/ATTACH] </p><p>I have another very rare picture of my... great-great-great grandfather (well... the grandfather of my great-grandfather!). He served in the Napoleonic wars. Of course photography was not invented yet. But c. 1858 a German photographer in Paris took pictures of old veterans of the &quot;Grande Armée&quot; wearing their uniforms at their annual gathering. My g-g-g-grandfather was one of them and this picture is still in our family old photos... Artillery, I think, judging from the uniform. He is obviously having fun remembering the good old days... </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1484416[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in