General Chat

Good on him Rose ... :-D

Rose. I doubt many are watching Family Tree. I have struggled with it. Last week he found his gt gt grandfather had fought for BOTH the Unionists and the Confederates in Civil War. Found photos of him in both uniforms - with a suspicious button missing on both photos.

Not sure if Family Tree is fiction or fact.

More seriously, I hope my family were Roundheads in English Civil War. But I have this nagging suspicion they were either Royalists or a bit of both. No wonder I am confused :-D :-D

Renes looking at my grandfather's military records ( Grenadier Guards) , he certainly had the wine and the women...and probably the song lol.

My ?grt grandfather was the eldest son of Oxfordshire farmer ...
And should have got the farm ...
he however joined the Dragoons..as a tailor ...

second son had the farm ... ?gt grf got a fiver in the will ....

bless hope he spent it well, and had a little wine, women and song from it

Thanyou Sheila :-)

very true that history can turn on the slightest of things! What is the title of the book you've just been reading? I'd quite like to brush up on my history, though I do know a little about WW1 from college. Must dig out my old notes lol.

My grandfather was the eldest, so would by usual practise have inherited the farm...what would have happened I wonder if it had been he who stayed and not his brother? :-)

lol Renes, I always favoured Oxford myself :-)

Dear Rose -

No I haven't, as yet, and it wouldn't bother me. We have to view things within the context of the times, and also have little idea of an individual's personality, circumstances, constraints or responsibilities at his/her time. I have just finished reading a fascinating book about the lead up to, and causes of, WW1, it was never a foregone conclusion that we would fight at all, ot that we would be with France and Russia against Germany. History can turn on the slightest of things, as can an individual's path. I would hope never to be judgemental, although it can make for interesting debates :-D

So good to see you back :-D

RR
Nearest our family ever got to opposing views was

My Dad was Oxford and Mum Cambridge...in the boat race :-D

Have you ever found yourself on the 'other side' from a relative?

I'm just having what could become a tricky conversation with a cousin.
My gt grandfather is his gt gt uncle. My grandfather left Ireland having joined the British army (1879), his gt gt grandfather ( my grandfather's brother) stayed. So my gt grandfather fought for the 'enemy' ... while my cousin's father fought against the Black and Tans.

That's a specific instance, but there are no doubt others that could surface in other families, like being a different religion, or being on opposing sides politically.

Any one had similar experiences?