Ewart, who captures the Eagle, survived and had kids.
His family emigrated to Australia and his grandson George, served in the Australian army in WW1.
He fought and died breaking the Hindenburg line in 1918 and is buried in Bellicourt Cemetery, less than 60 miles from Waterloo.
His family emigrated to Australia and his grandson George, served in the Australian army in WW1.
He fought and died breaking the Hindenburg line in 1918 and is buried in Bellicourt Cemetery, less than 60 miles from Waterloo.
https://twitter.com/mcribbHistory/status/1460880636655202305
You've got two men here, from the same family, who both fought for their countries. Separated by just one or two generations.
One was British. One was an Aussie, who grew up 9,000mi away.
Yet they fought only 60miles from each other. And only one survived his brush with history
One was British. One was an Aussie, who grew up 9,000mi away.
Yet they fought only 60miles from each other. And only one survived his brush with history
I wonder if George knew who his grandfather (or possibly great grandfather) was. I assume that he did. He captured an Eagle and is buried next to Edinburgh Castle.
Did that influence George signing up? Did he feel pressure to do so? Was he excited about his own chance at glory?
Did that influence George signing up? Did he feel pressure to do so? Was he excited about his own chance at glory?
When George got to France and was sent to St Quentin, did he tell his comrades about his ancestor? Did he know just how close he was to Waterloo? Did he hope to visit it when the war was over and before he went back to Oz?
Would have been the chance of a lifetime.
Would have been the chance of a lifetime.
We don't know. We'll never know. Because while Charles' luck held at Waterloo, George's luck failed him in the fighting for Bellicourt Crossroads.
Charles returned to his country from the continent, George never did.
60 miles, time and a bit of luck. All that separated them.
Charles returned to his country from the continent, George never did.
60 miles, time and a bit of luck. All that separated them.
Indeed we only know they're related because of a message scrawled on the back of a photo in the Australian archives, which mentions how close he was to his famous ancestor when he died.
Which suggests George definitely told SOMEONE he served with, who survived.
Which suggests George definitely told SOMEONE he served with, who survived.
But yeah. This kind of story is the moments where, as a military historian, I get a bit overwhelmed and contemplative about it all.
It's the connections and moments that are so personal and human that ram the tragedy of war, ALL wars, home.
It's the connections and moments that are so personal and human that ram the tragedy of war, ALL wars, home.
Because (as with my fascination with messages on war graves) they hammer home that behind every soldier or civilian death is a story lost to history, or a future lost to them, their loved ones and any family they may have had themselves.
If Charles is killed in that cavalry charge at Waterloo, George never exists. Charles isn't, and George does, only to die in France within spitting distance of where Charles didn't die.
History, mofos.
Thinking about that shit too long will fuck you up.
History, mofos.
Thinking about that shit too long will fuck you up.
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