tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post2181935502335151266..comments2024-03-28T07:22:41.637+00:00Comments on Hinton Hunt Vintage Wargame Figures: George Edward SpencerStrykerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14258922461691204362noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-71616984592020546522016-09-23T08:52:34.860+01:002016-09-23T08:52:34.860+01:00Thanks for all the comments - much appreciatedThanks for all the comments - much appreciatedStrykerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14258922461691204362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-86991694534465540772016-09-22T21:53:42.279+01:002016-09-22T21:53:42.279+01:00A thoroughly well researched little piece. Also ve...A thoroughly well researched little piece. Also very moving - another soul never given the chance to raise a family or realize his full potential by the monster of war. <br /><br />When you read the history books you sometimes forget they were all young men with a history of their own like Great Uncle George.<br /><br />I also have to say the family resemblance is quite uncanny.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15751744958434403184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-7320481193425470732016-09-18T17:41:41.609+01:002016-09-18T17:41:41.609+01:00A very moving story, thank you for sharing.
PaulA very moving story, thank you for sharing.<br /><br />PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-58089560461330566052016-09-17T12:22:23.506+01:002016-09-17T12:22:23.506+01:00Marvellous post, Ian - my sincere compliments and ...Marvellous post, Ian - my sincere compliments and thanks for your work and skill in putting this together and sharing it with us, and all respect and honour to your Great Uncle George. Very moving. MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-83176065076058148012016-09-16T22:36:53.712+01:002016-09-16T22:36:53.712+01:00It s difficult to read stories such as this and M...It s difficult to read stories such as this and Matt's NZ experience and not believe in the 'Lions led by donkeys' theory of WW1 generalship. They make a sensible case that the generals are trying new techniques each time, but whenever the casualty numbers are put against the yardage gained and the failure to break through it makes the loss of life seem rather pointless.<br />.lewisgunnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01935143236897047636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-12768214817470098432016-09-16T20:45:49.659+01:002016-09-16T20:45:49.659+01:00These events of a 100 years are almost too dreadfu...These events of a 100 years are almost too dreadful to relate.<br /><br />I've been doing a lot of work recently on the Somme from the New Zealand perspective. The NZ Division was just to the south of your Great Uncle George, attacking between High Wood and Delville Wood on 15 September 1916. German machine guns in High Wood took a dreadful toll. The 2nd Otagos on the left flank was practically destroyed, suffering 70% casualties. Altogether the division lost about 600 killed on that day, the worst loss in NZ military history up to that point. Only Passchendaele would exceed this. Nevertheless, Flers was taken and the attack chalked up as a victory.<br /><br />By early November, when the last New Zealand elements were finally relieved, they'd advanced just shy of 3km, but at the cost of 8,000 casualties, of which 2,000 died. It had taken less than 8 weeks for the division to accumulate casualties equivalent to those suffered at Gallipoli in 8 months. For a small country like NZ, the impact of such losses was devastating. The surviving accounts from the NZers who took part describe scenes which are simply heartbreaking.<br /><br />A very moving post, Ian.<br /><br />WM<br />Wellington Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08295966991101976478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-88088397427422854812016-09-16T19:34:55.047+01:002016-09-16T19:34:55.047+01:00A very moving story well told , TonyA very moving story well told , TonyThe Good Soldier Svjekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08749564052124659180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-25419467514692188922016-09-16T12:37:24.849+01:002016-09-16T12:37:24.849+01:00Powerful writing - I think because to all intents ...Powerful writing - I think because to all intents and purposes George's experiences would have been the same for most soldiers - long periods of boredom/illness/leave interspersed with moments of sheer horror - but then you multiply that by the unthinkable number of casualties for the whole war - well written and well remembered! RIP...Steve-the-Wargamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07077311120172727690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-49472499667080068772016-09-16T08:52:11.943+01:002016-09-16T08:52:11.943+01:00Congratulations on finding these records. Somehow ...Congratulations on finding these records. Somehow your efforts embellish his life. I salute your Great Uncle George.the Archdukenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6875985959507775409.post-33483535409351012732016-09-16T08:33:51.184+01:002016-09-16T08:33:51.184+01:00Ian- have read every word about your Great Uncle G...Ian- have read every word about your Great Uncle George- an altogether terrible loss of one of our young men -and an end-story one that was all to familiar of loved ones fighting in Europe. We too lost our Great Uncle 'Edgar Stephenson' from Australia who served with the AIF during WW1 in Europe. Towards the end of hostilities- Edgar passed away from his wounds at Reading War Hospital- England and was buried at Reading ( a long way from Home- though thankfully a marked grave in a friendly- known land). A very sad loss. I knew both his Sisters- my Great Grandmother Annie Stephenson and younger 'Lil' Stephenson - Aunt Lil was totally deaf and lived at New Castle (New South Wales)....I will endeavour in a future Blog-Post of mine to outline some more information - as you have done. Strange that earlier to-day I put in an order to the USA for some 1/32nd Plastic WW1 British and German Troops...these will be special. Regards. KEV.KEV. Robertson.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03057624752614080866noreply@blogger.com