My Grandfather served in the trenches in WW1 as a cartographer, which mean the went on scouting missions with a guard or without to map artillery emplacements, machine guns etc. There is a scene in the movie “Legends of the fall” that reminds me of his experience on the battlefield where the youngest brother is guarding a cartographer doing the same role. The Cartographer was killed and the brother was blinded by mustard gas and machine gunned mercilessly.
I share this as my grandfather was mustard gassed in the war and had physical issues as a result. From his diary he also reflected that their were others, I presume Scots., whose kilts would float on the surface of the water in the trench waist deep so they looked like lily pads. I would say that he had residue of PTSD from his experiences documented in his diary from the time and drinking which I am sure stilled the memories.
Another movie that I have watched many times that to me bespeaks another aspect is “The Lost Battalion” based on real events https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyJwtC8kwJM
RIP Grandpa George, I know you saw a lot that you kept inside. hope to see you soon in Heaven
God bless, thanks for sharing
My Grandpa was there. He had health effects from the mustard gas too. Died when my dad was 8. Never met him. RIP Joe and George.