Hidden Stories of a War Cemetery | Cannock Chase & the German Cemetery
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- In this video, Kevin Hicks takes you on a tour of the Cannock Chase War Cemetery in Staffordshire, England. In his unique style Kevin tells some of the hidden stories from the cemetery and explains how German and Allied soldiers, including many from New Zealand, have come to be buried side by side. Then just a short walk away, down the hill, explore the German War Cemetery, the final resting place for almost 5,000 German soldiers who lost their lives during the two World Wars.
NOTE: we discovered after filming this video the identity of the photograph we found. Rifleman William Anderson, born in Glasgow 1897, he emigrated to New Zealand as a young boy, enlisted in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and embarked for the UK in May 1918. Died of pneumonia in the Cannock Chase Military Hospital on 31st October 1918. He is interred in the Cannock Chase War Cemetery.
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IMAGE CREDITS:
German POW Camp Cannock Chase: © IWM HU 75100
Soldiers training at Rugeley Camp: © Chronicle via Alamy Stock Photo
New Zealand soldiers © Jake Whitehouse
Blitz damage © IWM HO 108
William Leefe Robinson © IWM (Q 66470)
Military Cemeteries are always special to me. War is not Glorious, but men rise to Glorious things. They paid for our freedoms with their sacrifice.
@@henningerflatsit's actually pathetic that this is a comment you choose to make on a video about war graves.
Absolutely pathetic. Hijacking the memory of the war dead to push your own questionable modern politics.
@@henningerflats Not falling blindly for the right-wing rhetoric as people like you would like them to.
That is really well said Kirk! I couldn't agree more.
Dave.
@@davesheppard8797 Thank you very much.
@kirkmorrison6131 I think these things are more poignant if you have parents, etc, who served. My Father and uncle were both in the RAF in WWII. I remember when I was young.....around 10 years old and we were on holiday in Cornwall. Dad took us to St. Eval Air base. At the edge was a little church and cemetery. Dad and I spent a good while going from headstone to headstone, Dad not really saying much. Early in 1940, my Dad was stationed at St. Eval and one night it was attacked by German fighters. This would have been at the very start of the Battle of Britain. The Nissan huts were hit badly and luckily Dad had gone to the local pub. He said that anyone in the huts laying on their bunks were OK, but anyone standing was killed. He said when he got back, he saw that all the greatcoats, hung by everyone's bunks, had been cut virtually in two by machine gun fire. He was probably visiting the cemetery at St. Eval to pay his respects to his old mates. Dad, like most men of that time, never said much about his time during the War.
Dave.
I was once told, "If you're in a cemetery, take a moment to read someone's name aloud. After all, isn't that what we all want? 100 years from now, long after we're gone, for someone to take one second out of their day and say our name?"
I do so every time I'm there. I once heard until you're name is spoken for the final time you're never truly dead!
To be remembered isn't asking a lot is it.
Kev reminding us that if we dont end war, war will end us.
So true Chris!!
Dave.
Since the battle at Wadi Kubbaniya (Egypt, approx 17,000 BC, probably conflict over fertile soil along the Nile) there's been approx 12,000 battles/wars.
One would expect that we would have learned at thing or two about the pointlessness of conflict solving through violent means.
@JZsBFF Yes, and WWI was supposed to be the "War to end all Wars". Wars are started by a few, but it's the many that suffer.
@@davesheppard8797 I'm not sure (all) wars are started by only a few but truly many suffer. Populists usually fire the sheeple up before being able to make moves. That means the EVERYONE is responsible.
If a man be a man, let him be a friend,
If I be a man let me be a friend, to you!
And when the work is done, and the horror has gone,
remember we were once friends.
Thank you Kevin
How lovely.
South African here: You have the most fascinating channel. Every episode is a learning experience. Thank you.
Much appreciated 👍🏻
I visited my Grandfathers grave in the Military Cemetery in Aldershot. There were some interesting head stones including a Member of 'The Cape Cycling Corps' who died in 1916.
Class act for remembering ALL casualties.
We have the British and the German lads side by side in our cemetery here in Gosport, Hampshire - and thinking of that now, reminds me of my great-grandad, who did his bit 80 years ago next week and who I knew until I was 23. The story was told to me, not that he ever spoke a word of it, that after the end of the Second World War, the order was to shoot any German soldier they might happen to come across; he went over to a bush to answer nature's call, and lo and behold, there hiding in this bush was a German soldier. He aims his rifle, takes a breath as the chap prepares for the inevitable - lifts his hand, and makes a gesture. Neither man understands the other's language, but both know exactly what this gesture says. 'Scarper. Go on, off you go. This never happened.'
The other chap does as instructed. He might well have been captured and killed by somebody else at some point, but at least, on that day, one young English man chose humanity over atrocity. At least one young German man had a chance. I visit the local cemetery usually once a week to see my great-grandad - always sure, as we pass the war graves, to give a bow to one side, and one to the other. They were all men, after all.
What a lovely comment and story, thank you.
A friend of mine went over to France for the 80th anniversary, he went before Anzac day and asked me to place a poppy cross on his grave, a fallen New Zealand airman, there are about 12 graves in Byley Church in Cheshire. While he is over there he placed a poppy cross for me on my Great Uncles grave..killed in the second battle of Arras 1917.
Thank you again and again, Kevin. (Being a German-Scot, respect to the German casualties shows a more enlightened mindset that is encouraging to see)
In Wicklow Ireland (Glencree) there is a German war cemetery in a disused granite quarry the surrounding walls are around 600ft in height.
Spectacular to say the least.
@@clioflano421 I found it on You Tube. Thank you so much for sharing that tip with me. - Peace and respect from Ontario, Canada
I've been watching your channel now for just over a week and I absolutely love the enthusiasm and charisma you have in bringing the past to the present.
I'm a fellow history lover but other channels don't have the same level of passion as History Squad and the ability to bring it to life.
I'm born and raised in Stafford and the Chase I have gone to very frequently throughout my life since I was a boy, I remember visiting the war cemetery with my Dad once, the thing that stood out to me even as a boy was the honour we gave to the fallen Germans not seeing them as the enemy but as humans and treating them with the respect they deserve and buried alongside our British soldiers.
It's a privilege to watch your channel.
Thank you so much and welcome to the channel.
That was such a lovely unbiased talk and walk thru. Im half English half German. I love both my families. Thank you so much ❤
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for remembering our New Zealand soldiers. I'm watching your video before going out to a cemetery to clean the graves of those who made it made it home.
It was my privilege, thank you for the work that you do. 👍🏻
Military cemeteries are a testament to the cruelty of mankind.
To war against each other for resources, land, or just because they don’t like each other.
I grieve for all.
I particular the millions that are still missing.
How is that possible?
Great episode Kevin, thank you sir.
My grandfather was a RAF radio operator in WW2. (He witnessed the battle of El Alamein). He was on leave from the campaign in Egypt when the November 14th raid came to Coventry where he lived. Before the raid he had volunteered for bomber command, but because his eyesight was damaged by a German bomb that hit his house, he was not allowed to fly. So his life was in all probability ironically saved by a German bomb, given the huge proportion of bomber command fatalities.
Wow 👍🏻
Hi Stephen, this strikes a chord with me as my father joined up in the RAF as a wireless operator/air gunner. He was too young, so went on deferred service for a few months. It turns out he was slightly colour blind so had to settle for being an LAC Class 1 instrument maker. If he had flown on bombing missions I may not have been born!
Dave.
My uncle John's job was to help Bury,enter some of the german dead in Cannock Chase . He remembered sadly that, strangely, some of them were quite well preserved. John's gone too just like these brave young men. Cheers, Kevin, for this wonderful look .
Thanks for the story, I’m glad you enjoyed the video 👍
Sir Kevin thank you for this history and thank you for your service. As a US Army veteran and Free Mason I always remember the forget me not flower. Salute. And my Gods grace keep all the fallen.
Absolutely, thanks Michael 👍🏻
Thank you very much for commemoraing my fellow countrymen, Kevin ❤️ Greetings from Germany.
It is refreshing to hear someone like Kevin speak. Free of embellishment and propaganda. - Greetings from Canada
My pleasure 👍🏻
My gran could remember seeing a zeppelin over Middlesbrough during WW1. She was about 8 years old when that war started.
Kevin Hicks is truly an international treasure. Not only because he shines light on the brutal nature of the struggles between the peoples of this Earth, but also because he does not glorify war in its essence. He brings a much needed air of humanity to the re-telling of our violent pasts and acknowledges the tragedy in loss of life, and somewhat pointless struggles that these men and women faced in their day. God Bless.
Brilliant Kevin thanks for sharing this one with us, heartbreaking indeed. God bless the Commission for their work.
5:36 we were looking through my grandfather’s stuff when he died and found a box with some letters from his uncle to my great grandmother. It appeared he spent more time recovering from dysentery in England than fighting in France, but he spent just enough time there to get killed.
How sad 😔
@@thehistorysquad yes. It shows how appalling the conditions were when a young fit bloke spends more time recovering from illness than manning his post.
My Man. Kevin is the grandad we all need to listen to. Don’t forget. Don’t forget. Don’t forget, my dear lads.
My father was scheduled to go bomb over Hamburg, but only made it as far as the Bodenzee, where he woke up in an Austrian hospital 6 weeks later. Only reason he was there was the coroner detected a heartbeat, so he went up into the hospital, where they put him back together. All he remembered was the aircraft being on fire, and his parachute on fire, and him telling the crew to bail out. The Austrians told him they found him 2km from the wreck, under a pine tree in a snow bank, and they had been pulling bits of pine tree out of him for a few weeks.
Wow!
Amazing!
@@emilyr3451 Hi Emily 👋
These places always bring tears to my eyes!! War is such a waste of young mens and womens lives. Thank you for sharing their lives, and thank you for your service! From a very proud Army mom!!🙏💖🪶💞✨️💜🫶😪
God bless all those men that gave their lives for our freedom. Their bravery will never be forgotten, still it's sad that so many men died. Thank you, Kevin, for taking us on the tour you're an amazing person.
Cheers buddy 👍
how peaceful the cemetery looks in contrast to the horrors of war these mostly young people experienced before giving their lives.
Greetings once again from Nova Scotia, thanks for another great video. I want to say, how informed and respectful you are. Your easy going, and honorable nature shines through. Thank you once again, and as always best regards, Arthur
Thank you too Arthur, have a wonderful weekend.
I don’t know how good of a soldier you were Kevin, but you would have been one of the best history teachers of all time.
I've never been to a war memorial cemetery but I can see the respect these men still have. Their graves are weed free, very neat and with shrubs & nicely cut grass. I've just redone around my grandparents headstone with weedkiller & fresh white stones but looking at council run cemeteries is heartbreaking as its as quick as the job can be done and not very well done. Graves galore lie unattended covered in weeds, and it's sad as these people were cared about at some time.
What a peaceful, beautifully kept cemetery for the fallen veterans
An incredible tribute to ALL the fallen sir. Well done.
It's hard to fathom how all those military graves are filled with so many young men some not even legal to drink. To touch on what Mr. Hicks said about new technological advances, it is such a shame how new machines are refitted to be able to kill or ruin lives when it was not the inventor's primary purpose for creating such a thing. It shows how evil some people really are. Man has turned some great inventions into mass murdering weapons. Thank you for this episode, History Squad. You are quickly becoming my favorite channel for history.
Great to hear, thank you. 👍🏻
Another informative video, thank you... When were you there ? These cemeteries are quite local to me, and I often stop by if I am walking in the area. The cemeteries are beautifully maintained, and are a favourite of mine when I wish to reflect on things... As for the German cemetery, and as an RAF veteran myself, I find it fitting that the Zeppelin crews are buried together in a mass grave - a crew for all eternity.
Such cemeteries are worthy of our time, and the CWGC do an excellent job in keeping them..... In remembrance of the futility of war, and the cost - We must remember them all, equally and without favour... My father's enemy is not my enemy.
I was there at the end of April 👍🏻
As a brother mason I wear a forget me not pin..its nice to see some one care about the fallen for both sides. There were good and bad one very force during the wars
Great video Kevin
Well said! I wear the pin too
Visited the Cannock Chase cemeteries many, many years ago with my folks & some relatives, when I was about 10. I can remember the solemn, sad atmosphere, but also remember how peaceful & quiet it was (this was back in the days before the roads were developed). Hoping to go again in the near future. Thanks, chap 😊
Wonderful
It’s good day when Kevin uploads! Thank you for your continuous love for history. You make my day every time you upload.
😊 thanks
An old Greek bloke once wrote: In peace kids bury their dads, in war dads bury their kids.
An accountant once calculated: The cheapest way to solve a conflict is to talk, the most expensive is to war.
The other day I had a chat (and a coffee) here in Flanders with an English (expat) guy who told the story of his (?great-)granddad who managed to join the BEF in 1914 at 16 (SIXTEEN) and three weeks in his deployment lost sight on both his eyes.
I was one River tour and visited Patton"s grave near Luxemburg I believe. We placed flowers and recognized the Veterans on the tour. We then visited a near by German Cemetery. Several soldiers in one grave in comparison.
As kid from Brum we would do Orienteering in cannock Chase when i was in the Scouts. i think the cemetery at Newmarket has mixed gravesThis cemetery is located on the Newmarket-Cambridge road.And one day we stoped by the cemetery for a break in the car on the way to Great Yarmouth. And i heard the sounds of German hunting horns but I can't prove it.Cheers sir that was great.
'For whom the Bell tolls ' ! Excellently presented and narrated ( as usual) .Yes Kevin it does show what we are like. If one has any sense of humanity when you go to these places (take a trip to Hiroshima) there is an eerie ambience . Lest we forget.
Very interesting that people invent a way to fly and the first thing others did was use flying to kill other people. Note the invention of the Gatling gun; the inventor thought that it would make war so horrible that it might be a deterrent. It wasn't. Thanks Kevin for presenting this information to us.
Thank you for honoring the New Zealanders. I've been to the veteran memorial in Canberra, Australia once and it was heartbreaking. All the young guys. The list looked endless
Another brilliant video from everyone's favourite history channel.
Fascinating video. I always feel the great and terrible weight of our humanity in war cemeteries.
Ive walked round there many times, its very quiet and peaceful there . I lived about half a mile away, thank you for doing your video there xxx
Yet another Friday, and a wonderful way to kick it onward with HistorySquad ❤
Cheers! Have a great weekend.
@thehistorysquad Same to you and yours, as well as a huge thank you for what you do all ways around 🫡
No better vlogs on the web. Always a joy to watch and to learn. Well done as always, Kevin.
Many thanks!
Fraternal greetings Kevin, good to see you back home. Enjoy your time!
Thanks Brother, it was a great trip 👍
Another great episode Kev, thank you. A quick look on NZ Te Papa resulted in this on the photo of the gentleman in your video.
Rifleman William Anderson, service number 80719, New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
William was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 18 December 1897. He was 20 years old when he attested for service in January 1918. At this time he lived in Westport and worked as a purser for the Union Steam Ship Company. His mother, Marion and his father John Anderson lived in Yale Road, Wellington. He had a brother George and sister Janet.
Although William attested for military service on 25 January 1918 he was granted four month's unpaid leave and did not actually enter training camp until 22 May. He had stated on his attestation form that he would have preferred to join the Artillery, but the Army posted him to C Company of the 41st Reinforcements to train as a Rifleman.
He embarked from Wellington on 1 August 1918 and marched into the Rifle' Brigade's camp at Brocton, England on 4 October. William joined the Brigade's 3rd Reserve Battalion for further training, but on 28 October he was admitted to Cannock Chase Military Hospital suffering from Influenza. William died three days later, the cause of death being recorded as 'Pneumonia', and he was buried at the Cannock Chase War Cemetery. For many years following, William's 'sorrowing parents' and siblings placed 'In Memoriam' notices in the Wellington newspapers on the anniversary of his death.
Yes, such a sad story. Thanks for watching and the extra info 👍
You have a fascinating perspective on the tragic early and continuing use of flight for killing. I'm very grateful that you shared it.
There are some Germans buried at Brook wood. May I suggest that next time you are in the UK you visit Brockenhurst Anand tell the story of the Indian/ New Zealand ww1 hospitals . And visit the graves in the church.
You tell dad stories so well
lol, thanks.
Thank you to all our veterans. Thank you for bringing this bit of history to us. Most interesting.
I think of all your videos, this will be my favorite. God bless all veterans!
Thank you. It's hallowed ground. It has a life. I feel humbled when visiting a military cemetery. It's my wish to be buried with my brothers in arms at a national cemetery. Have you been to Gettysburg? I spent two weeks there. US ARMY 73-75 USMC 77-82 SEMPER FI.
Hi Squad, nice job putting that brave soldier's information on screen. Pure class.
Hi Kevin! We have the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery near Dallas, Texas. It's over 600 acres, and I believe it can accommodate well over 100,000 departed souls, in 80,000+ burial spots combined with niches for ashes.
Wow, that's huge.
Dear mr. Hicks, thank you for sharing all your knowledge in such a respectful way for those who gave their lives so we can have a little bit of confort today.
As a grandson of a 1932 revolution, and WW2 brazilian expeditionary force soldier, it fills me with joy seeing you guys keeping your ancestor's memories alive, they didn't die in vain, that's for sure...
Anyways, I would love to see an episode dedicated to Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart. His story is so interesting that I read all information I could during my shift at work... But watching a video made by the best historian on RUclips is certainly a relieve to the soul.
Cheers from Brazil, mate!
An interesting character for sure. Thanks for watching today 👍🏻
Great one Kev, while so many celebrate war we need the stories of the common people and the suffering that was endured to keep being told. Appreciate you.
Cheers Greg 👍
It's lovely to see you somewhere local to me! Just a couple of miles down the road, I'm in Brereton
Ah, I know Brereton 👍🏻
Just wonderful history 🎉❤
Always appreciate your history lessons Mr. Hicks, Great Video!
Thanks again!
Thank you for creating this most memorable video. I really appreciate it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the visit, Kevin. Myself, I am an assiduous visitor of war cemeteries, for all countries. Always fascinating to get to know an other one.
Absolutely 👍
Thanks for taking us along, Kev 👍🏼
No problem 👍
I am so honored to be the 1,000 person to like this video!
What a beautiful well kept cemetery. Thank you.
I visit both cemeteries when I cycle passed, and weekends there is always a few visitors, so it's not completely forgotten..
Thanks Kevin, I hope you can make it to the noon changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery outside of DC one day. God bless, Rob
Another great video. It's very incongruous to me to see 5-digit service numbers being more used to 8 (or 6 for officers).
Very interesting film and well presented; thank you for posting.
Amazing video, very touching and somber! Very important reminder, to me, that you cant support the troops without being anti war.
Another excellent production Kevin, i love your vids, every one has its quirks and turns, RIP to ALL these brave men, from all sides, as they were only doing there job, albeit fighting against each other, what a true waste of young lives
Went past there the other day. It's very nicely kept and very interesting.
Thank-you for this.
Humbling video.
Also so interesting, to have found the grave you touched as a child, actually is family.
Also the end of the video, very true about how it reflects what we are like.....the veterans of the first world war, in canada, said "never again" ...... yet, we keep doing it
For sure 👍
One of the best channels I follow, a well informed man of the world. A lot of the places he visits I really must get to myself.
I can tell you, I bet as many of the allied forces fighters didn't want to be in this war, the same could be said for just as many for the central/axis powers.
Enjoyed as always...thanks Kevin
Fantastic as always Kevin. I too lived in Germany, but with a German family in 1984, in Hoexter near Paderborn. Still friends to this day! What a waste of everyone's lives and like you ive visited many cemeteries from both first and second world wars, British and German. I have to agree with your description of the German ones....very dark places. Will we ever learn....no chance 😢
Doing a great job mate 👍
I had the same experience in Germany. I loved the place! 36 years later, though, my German is pretty rusted. lol And so glad you found a name for the face in the photo. Things don't change, though. The faces of boys can be seen in any photo of any war. Currently, it's the boys who sailed to the Falklands, 42 years ago. A pub near where I used to live, here in Australia, has a picture of a 51 year old man and his 4 or 5 Sons. (Memory fade here) All enlisted in WWI. Any Aussies who read this: it was in the pub at Neath, in the Hunter Valley.
The local church cemetery at Scampton has German bomber crews buried in a different section to the RAF bomber crews
Really enjoy your stuff. Informative and entertaining! Big fan. Cheers.
Much appreciated!
Another great video Kevin well done 👍🏼
During my life I have befriended Iranians, Afgans, Russians, Chinese people etc, and came to the conclusion: the enemy does not exist. We are told there are enemies, but there are only humans, with human feelings.
My grandmother lived through the blitz of 1940 and she was a war bride to my mother father and served in the merchant Marine going across the Atlantic Ocean
Thank you so much, visited many times, i love the fallen warrior inscription, War Cemetery’s Are The Greatest Preacher Of Peace, all young lads, and it still goes on! Weep for mankind! Have subscribed, best wishes from Castle Bromwich, home of the Spitfire!
Cheers Paul, I know Castle Bromwich quite well 👍
What a brilliant video, which such a beautiful respect for the past, so glad I saw the trenches on a school trip sometime you just got to see it for yourself.
Once again another great presentation Kevin. Always thoroughly interesting and thought provoking, especially when you included your own thoughts on the subject. . Keep up the great work!
Cheers, will do 👍🏻
Really good video, thank you both very much.The vivid LT William leefe Robinson VC story and the German crews burial site together was hard hitting.
Glad you enjoyed it, cheers James
Always do my friend...see you next time 😊
Thank you for this wonderful post. And my country NZ soldiers.
It was my absolute pleasure. 👍
Very interesting
Oh wow god bless Mr hicks
Thanks Gary
That was a wonderful show, very thought provoking. Thank you for all your hard work ❤😊
You are so welcome
hello from New Zealand, thank you. another interesting video and feels rare to see much talk about the kiwis.
Hello there, thanks for tuning in 👍🏻
I recall I was taken by my parents in the 1970s, I recall being confused, Germans and British, ex Stoke, I live now far away. RIP all
What we are like. Well said. 🖤
Great Video love to see you do it again.
Thanks Kevin
Incalculably fascinating stuff! Thanks so much for sharing this, Kevin. 🌸 I happen to have a bundle of ForgetMeNots tattooed on my forearm.
A family member served in WWI named Private Gilbert Edward Jones enlisted in the Australian army 51st Battalion in 1917. Passed away from the Spanish flu in November 1918. Lest we forget