War of attrition. . .such a sad waste.
My grandfather “went over the top” seven times before he was hit in the hand. While being treated for that injury he was gassed. Survived but had a mangled hand and bad lungs for the rest of his life.
He was with the 30th Division to the 4th British Army under Sir Henry Rowlinson, “The Old Hickory Division.”
He was in the same company with his childhood friend and he saw him get hit. As it is related, my grandfather asked his pal after he saw him fall if he was wounded severely. The friend answered “I guess one of my legs is gone, but I don’t think there’s any danger.” His friend died 6 days later.
Such men. Such brave men. Too few today.
Some slightly more distant relatives fought for Canada...One of them was gassed and died as a result not long after the war ended.