A single story of World War l, one amongst tens of thousands, is contained in the memoir written by my Great-Aunt Alice Ascoli over fifty years ago. Her brother, Herbert Ascoli, is described as an untrustworthy and puny boy. He went off to Canada aged 17 to work on a farm. In 1916 he joined the Canadian Infantry and returned to England for two weeks training en route to France. Alice was impressed by the broad-shouldered and upright man that appeared. He was killed on sentry duty at Vimy Ridge on 10 April 1917 aged 29.
The Onlooker
Neither Alice nor Herbert have direct descendants. A chapter on each sibling appears in Alice Ascoli’s memoir called “The Onlooker” available as a download without charge here.
In her introduction she concluded:
“It is my fervent hope that this generation determine that many things in the world their ancestors knew shall never return and the legacies we have left them of struggles unconquered, and problems unsolved, they may realise are “the birth pangs of a new age” (Mark 13 New Testament) and in enthusiastic resolve and imagination seek their solution.”
References
Canadian War Graves Commission – H A Ascoli
Canadian Virtual War Memorial – H A Ascoli