Page 95 - All About History - Issue 38-16

All About
YOUR HISTORY
This is a picture of the ring in
2016, almost 100 years after it was
worn in the Battle of the Somme

Herbert looking proud
in his military uniform

A newspaper cutting of the
A newspaper cutting of the
hurried rescue at Seaton Carew
hurried rescue at Seaton Carew

sent into the teeth of the brutal German machine would wake up in the morning to find scorpions My dad remembers him sitting by the fire and
guns, and like so many others were shocked by in his boots and on his chest and also remembers occasionally having to cough up gunk or inhale
how intact the German defences were. Men fell how, during the bitter fighting, a lot of the men fell oxygen. This was due to the gas he took in during
all around him and he and his friend were forced victim to heat stroke and disease. Herbert went the war, which also sadly reduced his life by a good
to take cover behind a rock. The German gunners through each of these battles with his ring on his few years. My grandfather always said that when
concentrated their fire on his position, attempting finger but eventually he was injured by gas and he came back from the war he was never scared
to split the rock. By the time the shooting ceased, it also shrapnel, which became embedded in his of anything but rarely spoke of his experiences.
was nightfall. If the two men hadn’t stayed together neck, though he survived and fought through the Herbert Vickers died at the age of 75. His faithful
to testify to the truth of the story, they would have rest of the war. He and his ring finally returned ring now sits upon my dad’s finger. It appears
been court-martialled for desertion and shot. As home to the north east of England in 1919. During that anyone who has worn it since has ended up
ever, his trusty ring remained on his finger. World War II, he tried to sign up to fight again but working back in Europe. Since becoming the keeper
I also know a bit about his experience in Turkey was turned down due to his age and his injuries. of the ring, my dad has worked and lived in several
during the Gallipoli campaign. My grandfather Instead he volunteered to do work of national European countries, most notably France and
remembers him talking a bit about desert life. He importance in the steel works. Belgium, where the ring had already been before.
Send your memories to: allabouthistory@imagine-publishing.co.uk Do you have any family stories to share? /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag

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