A 15 year old boy on the front lines in 1915 would definately partake in cigarettes and wine had he been unlucky enough to end up there. They weren't really supposed to be combantants, but so many enlisted with false ages that no one really knows how many of those soldiers were just boys.
I'm an English man (British UK). I absolutely love listening to Irish (NI/Republic), Welsh and Scottish singers. The wonderful accent/dialect differences are so enjoyable to me. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all. 🎄☃️🎄.
I have followed Celtic (pronounced Keltic) Thunder from the beginning. They are still a band that I follow and love. This was a song on their first DVD called The Show. The line up has changed through the years but I have enjoyed each show they have toured and love the shows they produce for Stageit.
The young boy singing of cigarettes and wine? Private John Condon born in Waterford Ireland is recognised as the youngest British soldier to die in World War 1 Squirrel. He was just fourteen when he died at the second battle of Ypres in 1915. I wouldn't begrudge the lad a cigarette or a glass of wine, If he is old enough to die in combat surely he is old enough to have a ciggy or a glass of wine if he wanted one? I thought the boy looked out of place at first. But it is just a reminder old politicians and generals may cause and direct wars. But it is young guys that actually do the fighting.
I would love to know what you were thinking and where you mentally drifted off to while listening to that song, I adore that song and drift every time I hear it. It is of love for the fellow man on a certain time of the year when all hurt and anger with others diminish. Oh by the way, it's just turned 12 oclock on new years eve, so happy new year to you and yours and I am glad you enjoyed the song.
Another wonderful reaction, I have been playing this today its on my Christmas playlist, a lovely song and story. The youngest member you mentioned was I think only 14 when this was recorded.
If memory serves me I think the youngest 'man' on the battlefields of Western Europe in WW1 was 12, there were lots of under age 'men' with most being between 15 to 18. Some of those 'shot at dawn' were under age. The recruiters were so short of 'cannon fodder' that if you looked 'adult' then you were in. Later in the war an Act of Parliament allowed parents to get their sons back from the army, but very few returned to their parents in this way, most wanted to stay with their units. War is a great tragedy and yet it is a place where people are tempered and made strong and it is a mental hell that you live with for the rest of your life, often screaming into the night with memories and paranoia when awake. This is a very good song, it tells the story of that day and the following events. Thank you for your comments.
When I was at school we were taught to sing the first verse and chorus of Silent Night in German in recognition of the football event. It wasn't unusual to have kids of that age in the Army. Many lied about their ages. My son was around 6'2" and broad shouldered when he was 13 years old. He'd probably have managed it. The other was around 6' but he was slimmer and younger looking so he'd probably get sent home again. Don't forget that cigs were not thought of as bad things back then.
These boys are great...beautiful voicez, only 2 off this cohort still there, sadly George big guy shaved head, died few years ago, the new cohort are exceptional too. That song is so poignant and moving the futility of war. As a 100% Irishwoman born in Derry but living in England for a lifetime i find they remind me of home, but i do laugh when they go to very Irish parts of the US im always astonished how bonkers Americans , who are 3 or 4 generations back and many who have never been to Ireland, go...its lovely and kinda scary ...when they sing Irelands Call i swear some of the audience would follow them into battle against the English that very minute....very funny....i saw them in New York and thought my English accent very inappropriate..found myself talking like ma granny so I did🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
When ever you see the Christmas truce on TV they always have the English and Germans sing silent night, when in fact that wasn’t true. The English had never heard of silent night because it was a German song. That was the first time the English had heard that song. And the English sang other Christmas songs. After that silent night became a huge hit all over the world. This is the German version, actually I think it sounds better in German. Oh by the way the Christmas truce was in 1914 not 1915. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4puLybRGSAw.html
I saw Lindisfarne Live in the late '70s and early '80s at their multi-night Christmas concerts in Newcastle City Hall. They were 'magic'. Allan Hull singing a stripped-down "Winter Song" still _fogs_ my eyesight and makes swallowing hard. 😂 No need for religion; just open our eyes and be human beings. His premature death was a big loss to music, but a bigger loss to The North East. AFAIK, some of his daughters were still young bairns. Heartbreaking. Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. ☮
I cant watch warhorse i cried at the theatre, cried at the film, cried when i sas the puppets close up ....i have had horses my whole life....Warhorse Black Beauty....im a wreck.🤣
Nobody liked Prussian militarism. Not even the rest of Germany. We all tried quite hard not to hurt one another during WW1 for most of the time, wherever possible.
