Remembering war heroes
My great grandpa George was born in 1898. When he was 16 years old he joined the army because he lied about his age. He fought in the first world war which started in 1914 and ended in 1918.
He wanted to be a soldier and fight for his country. You have got to be 18 to be a soldier. In 1918 he lost his right arm, before he even got married. When he got shot he had to leave the war. He was in hospital in northern France.
In hospital there weren't many pain killers so the doctors gave him champagne to help ease the pain. He had to learn to do things with only his left arm.
When the war was over, he came back to England and his boss said he could only pay him half the salary because he only had one arm.
The first world war was supposed to be the war to end all wars, but it wasn't.
Sacha Field, Kennedy School
From the Editor
Thank you for your letter, Sacha. It sounds as if your great grand dad was a very brave man. Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day. It is celebrated throughout the British Commonwealth and remembers those who fought and died in the first world war. Hong Kong used to be a British colony, so we also hold services here.
The vast majority of people in Hong Kong are lucky in that they will never know war and its terrible consequences. Your great grandfather and what he did are the reason for that.
Susan, Editor
