They've just arrived Fluffs... so hopefully I'll be up and running and can record by the time it comes on!

Its repeated at 10pm on Yesterday+1 and tomorrow on Yesterday at 9 a.m. and at 1pm

 

http://www.radiotimes.com/epis...---5-christmas-truce

Tomorrow on Yesterday how confusing does that sound 

OMG!!!!! Cant believe I missed it - went out on the spur of the moment last night and had a busy run up - is it on catch up?

Fluffy, I recorded the programme and have watched it this morning. How tragic that Walter was killed during the Christmas Truce Although the programme was incredibly poignant, it was also heartwarming to hear how soldiers on both sides retained their humanity, in such difficult conditions.

Just watched it- heartbreaking. Poor Walter killed in such circumstances during the truce, Fluffs 

 

And with three other brothers in the same batallion, how incredibly sad. I wonder were they with him at the end.

Additional information.

 

Walter had 4 brothers in all. The three that were in the same battallion all survived both wars (WWI & WWII) and lived to ripe old ages - apparently a trademark of that side of the family!

 

The fourth brother however joined the Air Force. He, unfortunately, was shot down and suffered brain damage. He lived the rest of his life in mental institutions. Although his mother, who was quite elderly and frail herself, was informed of his eventual death, I was always told that the family never told her that the cause of death was 'Self-strangulation'.

That's so tragic, Fluffs. I can understand her family wanting to save her from the complete truth.

Oh yes, I could always understand that. She was around 80 at the time.

Oh how sad Fluffs 

 

Though its great that the three other brothers made it through the war and lived long lives. What a family history you have!

I could go on about it for hours! I love Family History Research. We've done quite a lot and have loads of stuff on both sides of the family.

Its fascinating isn't it. I've loved that sort of thing since the very first episode of Who Do You Think You Are with Bill Oddie.

 

I bore everyone with my ancestry, Fluffs  but it fascinates me.

 

Fabulous programme, and I think your sister did really well, although I expect there were a few re-takes needed at certain points.  Gulp.  I liked how she kept saying she would tell her sisters and that you'd all go back together.

It must be comforting to know that Walter is commemorated at Bonjean Cemetery; no one likes to think of their own still 'missing'.

I also chocked up when they played the young lad's gt grandfather talking about his experience - and even more so when they showed the photo of him in later years.

 

I presume you have all the links to CWGC and have lots of documentation on the family?

Yes Cosi. We had a big help when my mum's cousin sent us a copy of The Leslie-Smith family tree. It was drawn up around 1930 by a professional company.

We had done a bit of research of our own by then. So it corroberated some of our own searches and gave a few leads for further research. We even found a couple of errors on it! But we've now got more than twice the amount of info - and it's still growing!

We've known for a while that Walter's mother had a sister and we have a bit of information on her (the sister's) husband and children, but we have just recently discovered that she (Walter's mother) had an older brother too.

Interestingly enough, we have been contacted by a young French lad who says he is employed as a gardener at the Cité de Bonjean and he said he would give Walter's grave an extra spruce up for us and maybe say a few words.

Oh God, Fluffs, I'm wobbling here so I've no idea how you must feel.

That's one of the nicest things what a lovely gesture.

 

Good luck with the researching too 

Finally watched this, Fluffs.    Very touching - I really felt for your sister when she was reading the report in the paper for the first time - and when she finally found his Walter's resting place.   I agree with Cosi, it was lovely the way she kept referring to 'her sisters' (and I'm  thinking 'you mean our Fluffs'         That's a lovely gesture from the French lad too.