Calling Jimmy Gillies

John_102

Heard this afternoon that Alfred Anderson died today(?) at 109 years, the last survivor of the Christmas Truce of 1914. I believe he is (not was) a Scot. As an Irish-American (fellow Celt), I lift my glass of Guinness to him & to Scotland. Thanks to him & to you.

To those who aren't familiar with the Christmas Truce, I suggest the book "Silent Night" by Stanley Weintraub. In a nutshell, German & British troops defied their governments to observe a truce smack dab in the middle of no-mans-land.

My grandfather was a lieutenant in the 30th Division, badly shot up, gassed, etc. A hero (to me, at least). A delightful man who later entertained the very German soldiers who had faced him at the Somme, in this house where I now live. I remember them sitting out on the terrace, singing songs of the war.

Anyway, deep thanks to Scotland (by the way, great beer & whisky, but I prefer Guinness & Paddy's) and peace to you & your family.

Brian (Tankless)

Bottoms up

A Guinness it is.

Brian, a grateful Limey in Louisiana.

P.S. I am absolutely certain that the humble, Mr (Sir) Alfred Anderson is in heaven wondering what he did to deserve all this attention. Probably not even aware of the impact of the contribution he and his mates made during that time.

I can feel your heart swelling with pride from a distance, Mr. Gillies, and rightfully so.

I don't know if you other guys know it, but Scotland was the ONLY nation ever, that the Romans were unable to conquer. So they built a wall (Hadrians Wall) to keep them at bay. And my hometown, Wallsend-on-Tyne is at the eastern end of that wall. Toughness & Scottish are synonymous.

I spent two holidays in Scotland, one in a tent by a stream with my girlfreind on the site of the Glencoe Massacre, with trips to Fort William for the best Guinness this side of Ireland. The other, trout fishing to western & southern Loch Ness, where we again found world class Guinness at a pub called the King George. What memories.

I think my old Audi must have been on auto-pilot back to the tent on those trips, because the "hospitality" definitely impaired my abilities :O)

Here's to the "real men & women" then & now, who did, and are doing heroic things for us. You aren't forgotten.

Rest in peace and God Bless, Mr. Anderson.

Thanks to all the Jock's, Jack's, Taffy's, Paddy's & Yank's who made the world a better place.

Brian, A limey in Louisiana.

ScottMP

funny

I just read about that in a book my son has. Soldiers actually climbed out of the trenchs and played soccer and sang songs. The next day they where back to shooting at each other.

Heros indead.

Scott

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Jimmy Gillies

Sorry John

Sorry for my slow reply. Yes it's correct, the British and German troups played football(soccer) and sang Carols on Christmas day 1914. These brave, brave men, many gave their lives for us. It's not uncommon for 100 men to have died that came from a small village. We will never forget them!

I'm so proud to tell you that my own Granpa, Big John Gillies(6ft), was with the Scottish Horse Regiment and also the Black Watch during WW1. He was a lovely big man, my Granny died giving birth to her last of nine childeren and my Granpa raised them all by himself, my Dad and all his brothers and sisters are/were lovely people, I'm very proud to be a Gillies.

Yes John, Alfred was Scottish, and one of these brave men.

Thanks very, very much for your kind words.
Regards.
Jimmy Gillies.