In October We are going to France for a short holiday and most importantly to visit the memorial at Cambrai, Northern France. The Memorial commemorates over 7,000 troops who died there in November and December 1917. Jack Appleby was the Son of Joseph and Margaret Appleby of Rathangan, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Jack Appleby worked for the Post Office in the General Post Office, Dublin. Like thousands of of others he volunteered to fight against the German invasion of France. Aparently people were offered promotion in their job if they volunteered. Unfortunately very few returned and Jack was killed in action on December 2nd 1917. Jack was Mums Uncle and of course Mum never met him, but we have decided to go to France to visit the memorial nearly 90 years. I don't really know if any of the soldiers are actually buried at the Memorial. There are no marked graves, only a panel on the memorial which should contain his name. Jack was attached to the Post Office Rifles, London Regiment. Reading old books and also from watching TV documentaries most of the soldiers like Uncle Jack didn't have a chance, or much chance to return alive. The tactics at the time were to send the ground troops 'over the top' to face the enemy hidden in trenches. Most were simply 'mown down' by machine guns for the sake of a few yards or metres gained. Of course the higher up members of the Armies on both sides didn't get out of their bunkers, they probably were too busy eating lunch or having an afternoon brandy. 'Like lambs to the slaughter' was another phrase used at the time.
Anyhow I suppose thanks to the bravery of Uncle Jack and many thousands of other Irishmen, and all the millions of volunteers from England, Wales, Scotland and Europe and even as far afield as Australia and New Zealand, I am able to type this up today.
According to my Uncle Joe, at the time of Jacks death, his family was told that he was killed by a piece of shrapnel, but as his body was never found how could they have known that. Maybe they thought it was better to say that rather than give no information. The only picture I have is from his memorial card. The photo is very faint but I can just about see what looks like him in a Military uniform.
When I find the memorial I will take a few photos and also on return to Ireland will do the modern thing and mark the memorial in GoogleEarth and Wikimapia in case anyone browsing will one day find the location and want to read more about the memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission also record everything on the Internet and will maintain the memorial in perpetuity.
