Dual Tragedies at Oppy Wood & Dunkirk | History Traveler Episode 393

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

“He died to make men holy, these died to make men free.”….thats one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@andrewwebb-trezzi2422 agreed

[@1psychofan]

Very much a throwback to Abe Lincoln’s favorite song…Battle Hymn of the Republic

[@dan-me9ts]

@@1psychofan I though the same thing. So I now wonder if this was inspired by the song. If so, how the song made its way to England to influence this monument.

[@sbishop6450]

Yes it is. Similar to v5 of the battle hymn of the republic "As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free".

[@jmazoso]

Watching yours and other history videos on WWI, i am always struck by the extreme care that the Commonwealth Graves Commission takes to care for these final resting places. They are always immaculate. These guys have truly "not been forgotten"

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

They do an amazing job.

[@1psychofan]

@@jmazoso same! I was watching this thinking the very same thing! Good on them!

[@tylerpiovesan1248]

Life stops when Ole JD uploads a new video. Your videos the past few years have reignited my love for history. I live 4hrs from Gettysburg and make frequent trips now. Keep up the great work

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! Appreciate that!

[@1psychofan]

This episode is just Wow! The story about both Harrison’s just gripped my heart! Imagine Jack Harrison’s wife-Jackie Harrison’s mother! That poor poor woman! I cannot imagine such grief! Just-wow!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awful.

[@1psychofan]

@ very!

[@strychnyne3530]

This is the best history channel on YT. JD makes you feel like you are there....

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@strychnyne3530 thanks! I really appreciate that.

[@dalewyatt1321]

Stunning, JD, thanks

[@Mark-c4t9j]

Wow. Every episode of this series is better organized, better shot, and more poignant than the last. You have really hit a stride with this group of videos. If only the so-called "History" Channel could produce this level of educational, compelling, and CGI illustration-free actual content. Fantastic job sir, please keep these coming.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. I really do appreciate that.

[@Rubbertramp_me]

Out of all wars WW1 is the most terrifying. 19th century tactics with 20th century lethality and weapons. I can’t imagine what those young men went through.

[@jmazoso]

The sadness and loss that comes across from learning about WWI is lost by many of the younger generations. The story of the "pals battalions" is just heartbreaking.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awful.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Your production is second to none

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@KimBowen-oz3gz]

I am from the city of Hull in Yorkshire and I am so awed and proud of the achievements of these soldiers. To walk, not run, with just a rifle and bayonet, across such flat, featureless terrain and into the teeth of a storm of murderous machine gun and artillery fire is incredible. These were real MEN, not fictional “superheroes” or Hollywood action movie stars, who would run a mile in the opposite direction if they were in the same situation. This story, and many like it, deserves to be better known, and commemorated not only in the UK but also in the USA and the rest of the world. A massive debt is owed to such men

[@jammyscouser2583]

The epitaphs on the graves are moving. The grave of an Aussie bloke at Gallipoli, Trooper Harold Rush, has an epitaph of 'His last words "Goodbye cobber, God bless"' He was killed moments later in a bayonet charge at the Nek. His father chose those words.

[@justinknt7]

“He died to make them holy, these died to make men free”. That gave me chills. That is powerful. That will stick with me for a long time.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Very powerful, indeed.

[@dawndickson2156]

So many personal stories. Makes one’s heart ache for the wife and mother. Thank you for sharing their story.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for watching.

[@brendanthornton1634]

How sad a father and son who died in 2 different wars ... great video thanks

[@Chris-Nico]

Thank you and God Bless you JD for this story and the personal touch of father/son of different wars…. Giving their lives for freedom. Very very moving. Absolutely love this. 🙏

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@trainencounters586]

I think we need to keep in mind that as JD walks these fields, and we see the drone shots with the haunting music, we need to keep in mind that we are looking upon the actual hellish, muddy ground where these men fought and died. We should not be deceived by the green, and seemingly happy, places meeting our eyes. Bless the farmers for healing the earth. But let your mind's eye see the hell that these places were and remember all those who served, as JD does.

[@GermzZz33]

Unbelievable documentary JD. Literally gave me the shivers hearing about the Harrison’s stories.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@GermzZz33 🙏🏼

[@coryhall7074]

Jack Harrison married a woman named Lillian on 1 September 1914, and had Jack soon after. They lived together for only around two years as he completed officer training, and when he deployed to France in autumn 1916, Lillian never saw him again. Jackie, perhaps in hopes of meeting his unknown father’s expectations, joined the regular army before WW2. He supposedly was himself being considered for the MC but his commanding officers were either casualties themselves or the records lost in the evacuation. Lillian Harrison lived until 1977, surviving both her husband and son by more than 30 years. She never remarried.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@coryhall7074 - oh wow. Thanks for that extra info. Is there an online source where you got this?

[@coryhall7074]

@@TheHistoryUnderground Info on Lillian is from a book by a Hull local named Patrick Neal named ‘’The Heroic Johnsman’’ primarily about Harrison’s sporting career but also with information about his family life and what became of them after his death. As well, the Yorkshire Regiment museum has Harrison’s medals that were donated by Lillian upon her death. As for Jackie, I don’t know precisely when he entered the British army, though that he was a captain in the regular 1st Battalion Duke of York’s means it had to have been pre-war. The 1st Dukes were *the* southernmost battalion of the southernmost brigade to get off of the mole at Dunkirk, the same one you were standing on in the video, and they did so on the night of 2/3 June, meaning that Jack’s date of death on 1 June saw him fall only about 24 hours before he would have survived. The battalion reformed in England with only 28 men effective, with all company officers having become casualties, though some of those were evacuated as wounded. Jackie was perhaps the last battalion officer on his feet when he fell pulling what was left of his unit back through Dunkirk itself. The DoY Regiment’s official history by Barclays is where I learned of just how few made it back as a unit, and also where it is intimated that the younger Jack Harrison was considered for a medal, though I can’t substantiate it further. It is possible that even at the time people knew the story of his father and felt it appropriate to honor the son’s bravery as well, but in the immediate aftermath of Dunkirk there were literally no officers left from the old 1st Battalion to make a recommendation.

[@la_old_salt2241]

​@@coryhall7074 How wretched war is...

[@tomboustead7588]

I love how you are making the Father and Sons references throughout this series

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. Pretty heavy story.

[@tomboustead7588]

@ when this series is over, can we get it in a playlist please

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

The WWI content you have presented has truly been remarkable. To the average baby boomer growing up, this War and the men who fought it seemed as distant as the civil war. For many of us, Charles Schulz and Snoopy put a dim light on it, but your series turned on the floodlights!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I appreciate that! I've also got a series on Verdun that you might find interesting as well.

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

@TheHistoryUnderground A new one? The previous one was unbelievable.

[@marklittle8805]

The Battles of the Somme, Arras and Ypres were epic and this is where the British gave up a large chunk of their future; and the survivors of these battles were forever altered how they saw the world and how Britain was to fight in future wars. It was also where the former colonies of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland and Canada showed their mettle and independence. It altered and led to the end of the old British Empire and planted the seeds of the Commonwealth.

[@la_old_salt2241]

​@@marklittle8805 Indeed

[@mommamooney]

I love how you pull out people to highlight their story rather than just having the nameless, faceless soldiers. Every one of them was a son, brother, husband, father

[@ElectromagneticUK]

This is a really powerful video which you should be rightly proud of. Thank you.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. That really means a lot to me.

[@ospreycove]

Another amazing video full of history and little known stories! One thought. IHS is often used in churches meaning In His Service. So I think that might be what IHS means. Thanks for all you do!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks for the info!

[@ospreycove]

@TheHistoryUnderground I was wondering why you mixed WW1 and WW2 in this video but then I saw the second tombstone. Incredible and sad.

[@PeppieP]

I just love watching your videos. I learn so much about history, better than books. War is so cruel and ruthless to all side. Poor men. Thanks so much.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate you watching.

[@tundranomad]

Closing in on that 1M subs JD. Good job.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! Gonna be awhile, probably. Thanks!

[@stephenrrose]

They might be buried 60 miles apart between the Son has eternity to know his earthy father! Nicely done JD! Great video! I love how you tell history! And the personal stories that go along with that history! Thank you for all you do!!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. Appreciate that.

[@Terlurd]

A very moving video. I like the fact that you also tell the stories of the lesser-known heroes. Especially in these difficult times, we should remember what war means.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. Thank you and feel free to share it out with others.

[@tonyk1584]

Solemnly impressive. thanks

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Many thanks!

[@beansgas6821]

These videos are always beautifully made, and you always show such reverence and respect JD. whomever the nationality may be, the information and the little snippets, of a particular action or battle, wether by individuals or regiments is always something to look forward to, beautifully done sir, I salute you. All the best from the UK 🇬🇧

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you. Hopefully, the small stories help people to understand the larger conflict.

[@noidlehands2019]

Thank you for sharing the history that I would not have known if not for your videos.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MbSaidSo]

Great stuff, as always, JD! Just wanted to point out that "IHS" on that young lad's gravemarker is probably not a person, but a common Catholic Christogram representing the name Jesus in Greek. It is also an abbreviation for Iseus Hominem Salvatore (Jesus savior of mankind). It is also the symbol for the Jesuits. My mother would be happy to know that my Catholic school education was not totally wasted!😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ahhh....learned something new today. Thanks!

[@LateNiteGrafix]

Correct on the IHS interpretation. Also, the first memorial (at about 10:16 minute mark) shows not only Christ on the Cross but the Star of David at the bottom step. Nice to have encompassed both faiths.

[@MbSaidSo]

​I noticed that too.

[@PaulDouglasDouglas97]

Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next one

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you!

[@michaellang8408]

At 17:25 I saw my name on the wall...sort of.. and I actually got the chills...So THAT'S where I was those years! I kid, but it did blow my mind. Makes it a bit different when you think about how those people could be related to you and what they went through. Awesome video as always.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@michaellang8408 👍🏻

[@Ronaldl2350]

Thanks for sharing this JD. It's absolutely heartbreaking what happened to these two men. The list of 35,000 names is tragic as well. War is such a waste.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awful.

[@justinweaver8107]

Have a good weekend sir thank you for all you do.

[@dortheawatson3938]

I'm at 4:36 in to the video, and while the subject matter is so dark, the natural lighting of the battlefield/space is so beautiful. It presents such a dichotomy doesn't it?

[@WFMeyer]

Great story JD, albeit sad. I'm glad I never had to go to war. My family doesn't do well in war. We lost two in WWI and four in WWII.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you.

[@wildcolonialman]

Beautiful man, as always fine work. God Bless your effort. can render me speechless, these vistas, these battlescapes.

[@Hobbitma]

These stories are heartbreaking. So glad how you respect and honor these men . Thank you

[@mfreund15448]

They are not gone until they are forgotten!! Thanks JD!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you.

[@trevorjamesbradley3010]

I hope you had the opportunity to visit Ypres, Menin gate and the Flanders museum. Right up your alley.

[@HannahGorecki]

great stuff JD! it's always so interesting to learn about the individual soldier's stories!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@HannahGorecki 👍🏻

[@lappin6482]

Man, this one hurt....thanks JD for bringing theses stories back to life 🤝

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Sad story, for sure.

[@ll77rre3]

😭😭😭😭 Absolutely tragic.....

[@wb6794]

Great Stuff JD, thanks for your inspiration. based on your inspiring videos, we took 12 friends all 50+ and spent a long weekend in Ieperand the battle of Passchendaele , which was fantastic. Next time we aim for the Somme. great stuff, keep up the great work!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That's awesome! Thanks!

[@johnmills1816]

How much we owe to these men, father and son and all the rest. We have dishonoured them, look at the state we're in.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@johnmills1816👍🏻

[@jackruzicka7508]

This video left me speechless. Keep up the good work, JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thank you.

[@jimkalash1256]

JD, This is one of your best works…So incredibly well done! Your outstanding cinematography is only eclipsed by your powerful narration..once again you hit it out of the park, yet this one is still traveling!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@jimkalash1256 thanks! I really appreciate that.

[@Michel-og5sg]

Toujours aussi bien ses documentaires triste de savoir que le père et le fils soit morts dans deux guerres différentes bravo à vous

[@briangibbs3774]

That quote on he Memorial was lifted almost verbatim from the, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". No better words of dedication could have been made than to quote from the immortal poetry of Julia Ward Howe.

[@WWII-Skipabeat]

oh JD you produce such brilliant videos... When I got into WWII history I always wondered and pondered about the ones that didn't get away at Dunkirk - later in fact there's a really good documentary 'The Forgotten Heroes of Dunkirk'. The story of the Harrison family really brought the depth of loss to the individual family level and how cruel fate can be. And, after not really pursuing the history of WWI, watching your recent videos I find you are drawing me into wanting to know so much more about it.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Glad to hear that. WWI is insanely interesting.

[@NDB469]

Really well done video. Thank you for this.

[@dankorolyk5917]

I think your French is getting better! But a great job on these episodes,well done JD.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Ha! Thanks.

[@dan-me9ts]

Thank you for yet another compelling and thought provoking episode. Who was it that said, in peace the Sons bury their fathers; but in war the fathers bury their sons? Well, as we are learning, this isn't always true. War causes both fathers and sons to be buried. I saw the reaction of a Chinese soldier form the 1970's Chinese war in Vietnam watching Saving Private Ryan and Fury. He said a lot of profound things, like As long as there are politicians, there will be wars. But he also said, "You have to have seen war to understand the importance of peace." He also said, "War is not people's nature, but it will change your nature."

[@craigfroese6689]

Beautiful Memorials and Cemeteries.

[@marionjohansson4235]

Thank you for this vlog. Tragic, and humbling, so brave, argh! My heart cries out for the women left behind…. 😢

[@MikeyD0]

Your videos are incredible quality. You’re the entire reason I started learning about war history. I didn’t care before.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that! That means a lot to me.

[@stevenwright9594]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh wow. Thank you!

[@gavrelle1917]

My gt uncle was with 17/Middx at oppy wood 28th April, they attacked a few days before the e.yorks, they got massacred. he survived but was killed at Cambria 2nd dec 1917

[@historyinyourhand1787]

A great video and a tragic tale across both wars

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👊🏻

[@simonrichards6739]

Great video as always, so much respect to those guys who protected the perimeter to save their mates, especially given how young they were. 💪🏻

[@JD-ij5fi]

Once again absolutely outstanding!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

🙏🏼

[@katiemyers4174]

I'm curious about the Star of David on the Oppy Wood Memorial but couldn't find anything. Just interesting with its placement under the cross.

[@robertmoyer175]

JD, excellent documentary, your narratives are getting better. I particularly appreciated the solemness to your tone as you told the story of this father and son.

[@garyaugust1953]

Great stuff on the WW1 battlefields JD. In this one, walking the ground, did you get the sense of how vulnerable those guys must have felt approaching Oppy Wood? Night attack in full moon, probably a quite clear night. Not the brightest of commands!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awful.

[@Mark-do9ep]

Love watching your episodes, always eloquently done, and respectful to both sides. It's also nice to see that as an American, you are actually interested in the other nations participation in the war and not solely focused on the US involvement. Keep the great content coming.

[@StevenJeNova]

Thank you JD. I hope humanity will learn, at some point, that War isn't the answer.

[@helenabiesma5560]

yes - these memorials were they were newly made just like everyone said - so beautiful and then no one is forgotten

[@davidosullivan4286]

Hi bud im from Ireland i have to say my great father fought in ww1 i love ur covered of it did u know about the Irish revolution well he joined the ulster fusiliers my dad was in the Irish army for 36 years as sergeant major i pissed him of joining the British navy but we r go now i was Bosnia with the.U N give a shout out

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@Wiccanglen]

"His truth is marching on."

[@mickbgb5254]

As always, very interesting and enjoyable.

[@sbishop6450]

Thank you JD. I found this a very moving episode. I have to say that the thing that what always gets me is just the ages of the men who died - hardly more than boys. So heartbreaking. I wonder if Jacks wife was alive when son John was also killed? Can't imagine her grief. uk

[@roywatkins4654]

thank you JD

[@helenabiesma5560]

wow a double tragedy - how did that his mother survive these wars - that must be unreal grief - stunning story

[@OldFrontLine]

I loved this one, and thanks for the kind mention. ‘IHS’ is common on civil graves in English churchyards back home and stands for ‘In His Service’ - ie in God’s service.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! The best part of having this channel is that I’m always learning new things.

[@themcbs3991]

More clarification on 'IHS'... IHS is a monogram that stands for Iesus Hominem Salvator, which is Latin for "Jesus Savior of Mankind": IHS is a combination of the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek, which have been Latinized. It's often used in liturgical art and architecture, especially on vestments. This can be widely found in the Church of Ireland and the Church of England, particularly on pulpits and on bible covers to mention just a couple of uses. Thanks J.D. for your coverage of this aspect of the Great War, especially your episode on the Arras Memorial. Me great-great uncle is commemorated on the wall there. He was 42422 Private Robert Clinton who was KIA on April 24th 1917 whilst with 10/11 battalion, Highland Light Infantry and was known to the family as 'Uncle Bob'. He was apparently struck by a shell and no remains were ever found. Your video reminded me of the several times I have been there to place a cross in Bay 8 in his memory.

[@dortheawatson3938]

So many young men's deaths, in their early 20's. I ponder if the sacrifice of their personal legacies were worth their sacrifices in the end?

[@ivorduke3575]

Wow amazing i went to thiepval last month so much to see and so many cemeteries.

[@JimmynVegas]

Alright,…I’m a long time follower. But good gosh, did you hire a production company?! Great cinematography. The history part goes without saying.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks. Appreciate the kind words. And no, no production company. I’m a one man band. 🙂

[@davidkurvach3993]

I love your videos but this one was on a whole other tier.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that more than you know.

[@waynefoster6964]

Do you think you'll ever do a video on Sgt. York?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

One of these days.

[@shawnastephens1536]

Lovely place.

[@mauriceclark4870]

All. In. All. Seeing these videos and. Epitaphs. Proves. A lot. Very. Brave. Men. Were. Here. And. Ended. There lives. In these. Fields.

[@robbiemcc4355]

Incredible ✌

[@Wreckdiver59]

They both live on because you told their stories. I wonder if the son had children too.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Appreciate that. If the the son had any children, I didn't come across it.

[@bethann0808]

My heart is broken for the wife and mother of these men. 💔💔

[@TehSpury]

On Wikipedia it says he died at 26 years of age

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@Triumph-Tiger-90-Com]

My Great uncle was killed at Loos in 1917, buried at Loos en Gohelle. His son was killed in the days leading up to Dunkirk and is buried at Doullens. Both serving with the Buffs, the East Kent's.

[@1giggles77]

I absolutely love your videos. We are going to Germany in March, flying into Frankfurt and will be visiting cologne and Bavaria. My boyfriends dad fought in WW2. We have photos of him alone and one with with his company sitting on the steps of the damaged Cologne cathedral in 1945. Needless to say, we would like to visit some WW2 sites in addition to Cologne cathedral. Would you be able to suggest any near Frankfurt, Cologne , or bavaria that you would highly recommend? I would Also love to know which cemeteries you visit ed that you featured on one of your Germany videos

[@gustavocastriota9514]

“IHS” means "Iesus Hominum Salvator" (in latin of course) that translated means "Jesus Saviour of Men". Originally, it comes from "IHSOUS" ("Jesus" in greek)

[@sophiegeorge2816]

Would be nice if you could cover Noel Chavasse, the only soldier to be awarded 2 vcs in WW1

[@onnybody]

13:50 IHS on war graves usually means either the short form of Jesus (ΙΗΣ) or Iesus Hominum Salvator or In His Service.

[@IVWOR]

Цікаве та пізнавальне відео. Дякую ❤️

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@yannschonfeld5847]

Just as an historical note but perhaps worthy of mention, the Canadian flag was the Red Ensign (plus the other emblems) from 1867 until 1965. Canadians in both world wars fought and died under it. It was my federal flag until I was 11years. That the government in Ottawa because it displeased some Canadian doesn't mean it should be forgotten any more than the "Stars and Bars" of the Confederacy. Teaching history includes some detail, sometimes. This is not, in my opinion a minor one.

[@jvmarsili]

JD I love your videos, just FYI the letters IHS is a monogram for the name of Jesus

[@JoeRitchie-e5l]

From your presentations and others that I have watched, I have formed the opinion that these assaults were worthless and resulted in so much unnecessary suffering and death. The military leaders in this war were not the sharpest pencils in the box

[@haraldafalter5929]

Just to be historical correct Germany and the Soviet Union did invade Poland

[@dimwitt461]

Having never been to Europe ( Uncle Sam thought I needed to see Korea) I wonder if WW1 history in Germany is scrubbed like WW2 history has been? Also it would be interesting to know how many families, on both sides, are like the Harrison family. By the way, my grandfather who fought in WW1 was called by his middle name Harrison, but being from the Ozark hills it was pronounced Hair-son.

[@alastairhoffmann9079]

IHS is Latin and stands for "Iesus" (Jesus), "Hominum" (of humankind) "Salvator" (Savior).

[@steveparker7240]

IHS on a headstone is a Christian symbol representing the name of Jesus Christ.

[@EastBayFlipper]

IHS isn't initials, it's religious. IHS refers to Jesus and is made up of the first three letters of the name of Jesus when written in the Greek alphabet.