Instead of our usual blog this week we thought we’d add our voice to those that are remembering the sacrifice made by so many, especially those of 100 years ago. We decided to write this article: “Remembrance day”
There are scores of military cemeteries dotting the countryside across Flanders. Where thousands of soldiers who fought in WW1 lie buried. One is at Poelcapelle and it is there you will find the grave of the youngest recorded soldier to die in the war. Private 6322 John Candon was one of thousands of boys who lied about their age so that he could fight for his country. Most of the long rows of upright marble slabs are unadorned, but his grave on Row F, Plot 56 is surrounded by small wooden crosses adorned with poppies. Many have been left by schoolchildren of around the same age he was when he died, 14 years old. Today his grave is the most visited on the Western Front. It is believed only The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey receives more visitors.
John was killed in the second battle of Ypres, when the Germans used poisonous chlorine gas for the first time. He claimed he was 18 when he enlisted in his home town of Waterford, Ireland two years previously. At that time he was actually 12 years old. The outbreak of war the German army was 3 million stronger than the British army so a frantic scramble for volunteers ensued and among those that joined up were 250,000 boys under the age of 19, the legal age for joining up. At a time when most people didn’t have a birth certificate it was easy to lie about their age.
He enlisted in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment in October 1913. John was kept at their barracks in Ireland until he was unofficially 19, the legal age for active service. Having only been in France for 6 months when he was killed. John was indistinguishable from the thousands of others who died on 24th May 1915 in one of the worst massacres of the war, his age only emerged later. His parents believed he was still at the barracks in Ireland until they received a letter confirming his death. Last year a memorial was unveiled in his honour in his home town of Waterford. His 90 year old nephew also called John was there and said ‘I was glad when they put the memorial in the square, because to my mind it brought him home’.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
“Remembrance Day”
Journey Recruitment hopes you have a great day.