Who Was The LAST Man Killed On The Western Front (WW1 Documentary)
TLDRThe video script recounts the poignant final moments of World War I, focusing on those who tragically lost their lives just before the Armistice on November 11, 1918. It explores the actions of various Allied forces as they continued their advance, despite the Armistice being signed, due to the need to maintain pressure on the Germans and secure advantageous positions. The narrative highlights individuals like Private George Ellison, the last British soldier killed, and Private Henry Gunther, the last American soldier to fall. The video also touches on the experiences of soldiers on both sides in those final hours and the confusion that persisted even after the Armistice was announced. It concludes with a reflection on the power of the 'last to fall' stories and the importance of remembering the sacrifices made during the Great War.
Takeaways
- ✒️ The signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, in a rail carriage near Compiegne marked the end of World War I, a conflict that resulted in the loss of nearly 9 million lives.
- 🕒 In the final hours before the Armistice, various Allied forces were still advancing on different fronts, unaware of the imminent ceasefire.
- 🏰 The Belgian Army was advancing north of the city of Ghent, while the British and Canadian forces were moving towards the town of Mons, site of their first engagement in 1914.
- 🇫🇷 The French Army was pushing towards the German border, liberating their own people and reclaiming their homeland.
- 🇺🇸 American forces, despite their late entry into the war, played a significant role in the final stages of the conflict on the Western Front.
- 🔫 Even after the Armistice was signed, orders to advance were still given, as it was not yet certain that the fighting would not resume.
- 😔 Approximately 2,000 men lost their lives on the last day of the war, some very close to the 11 a.m. ceasefire.
- 🎖️ Private George Ellison of the British Army was the last British soldier killed in action, dying just over an hour before the Armistice took effect.
- 🏆 Corporal Marcel Terfve of the Belgian Army and Private First Class Augustin Trebuchon of the French Army were among the last to fall, both dying minutes before the ceasefire.
- 🇨🇦 George Price of the Canadian Infantry was the last Commonwealth soldier killed in action, shot just a minute before the Armistice.
- 🇺🇸 Private Henry Gunther of the American Expeditionary Force was the last Allied soldier killed in action, with his death coming seconds before the Armistice.
- 🇩🇪 Leutnant Thomas of the German 19th Uhlans was reportedly the last German soldier killed in action, although there may be uncertainty about the exact final casualties on the German side.
Q & A
What event is described as having occurred in an old railway carriage near Compiegne?
-The signing of the Armistice that marked the end of World War I on the Western Front.
How many men reportedly lost their lives during the First World War?
-Close to 9 million men lost their lives during the conflict.
What was the name of the offensive that led to the German Army's last major defensive positions being shattered in August 1918?
-The offensive was known as the Hundred Days.
Which army was advancing towards the German border by November 1918?
-The French Army was pushing forwards towards the German border.
Who is recognized as the last British soldier to fall in the First World War?
-Private George Edwin Ellison is recognized as the last British soldier to fall.
What was the approximate age of George Ellison when he died?
-George Ellison was 40 years old when he died.
What was the role of the 5th Irish Lancers on the morning of November 11, 1918?
-The 5th Irish Lancers were probing eastwards to ascertain the location of the German rearguard and maintain pressure on the withdrawing enemy.
Who is recognized as the last Commonwealth soldier 'Killed in Action' on the Western Front?
-George Price is recognized as the last Commonwealth soldier 'Killed in Action' on the Western Front.
What was the approximate time of George Price's death on November 11, 1918?
-George Price died at 10:58 am, just two minutes before the Armistice took effect.
Who is recognized as the last American soldier to be killed in action on the Western Front?
-Private Henry Gunther is recognized as the last American soldier to be killed in action on the Western Front.
What is the significance of the St. Symphorien Military Cemetery in relation to the First World War?
-The St. Symphorien Military Cemetery is significant as it contains the graves of Private John Parr, the first British soldier 'Killed In Action' on the Western Front, and George Ellison, the last British soldier to fall.
What is the name of the resource that the video recommends for tracing family history in relation to the First World War?
-The video recommends using Find My Past, an extensive set of military records that offer a global perspective.
Outlines
📜 The End of World War I: The Last Soldiers to Fall
This paragraph sets the scene for the video, discussing the signing of the Armistice on 11th November 1918 that ended the fighting on the Western Front during World War I. It highlights the tragic fact that even as the war was ending, soldiers continued to die, and poses the question of who was the last to fall. The video promises to recount the final hours of the war, focusing on the fates of those who did not survive to see the end of the conflict. The background of the war's conclusion is provided, with the German Army in retreat and the Allies pursuing them, leading to heavy losses close to the war's end. The relief at the ceasefire is contrasted with the continued military actions in the final hours before the Armistice took effect.
🎖️ The Final Hours: Paths to the Armistice
The second paragraph describes the positions and actions of various Allied nations as they approached the signing of the Armistice at 11 a.m. It details the advances of the Belgian Army, the British forces, the French Army, and the American Expeditionary Force. It also discusses the state of the German divisions and the strategic reasons behind continuing the advance even after the Armistice was signed, emphasizing the human cost of these final operations. The narrative focuses on the experiences of the British sector around Mons and the advance of the 5th Irish Lancers, including Private George Edwin Ellison, whose military and personal background is explored through historical records.
⏳ The Last Moments: Soldiers' Stories Before the Armistice
This paragraph recounts the experiences of several soldiers, including George Ellison, who was killed just an hour and a half before the Armistice. It describes the advance of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and the tragic end of Ellison in a patrol operation near Mons. The news of the Armistice reaching Paris and the British population is also mentioned, highlighting the emotional impact of the imminent ceasefire. The stories of other soldiers, such as Corporal Marcel Terfve of the Belgian Army and Private First Class Augustin Trebuchon of the French Army, are shared, noting their deaths just minutes before the Armistice. The actions of Marechal Ferdinand Foch, the supreme allied commander, are outlined, and the cautious advance of the Allies after the Armistice announcement is described.
🔫 Final Actions: The Last Commonwealth and American Soldiers to Fall
The third paragraph details the story of George Price, the last Commonwealth soldier killed in action, and the circumstances leading to his death, including his decision to clear a group of miners' cottages just minutes before the Armistice. It also tells the story of Private Henry Gunther of the American Expeditionary Force, who was killed seconds before the Armistice took effect after charging at German machine guns. The narrative explores the controversy surrounding Gunther's burial site and the broader context of soldiers who continued to fight beyond the Armistice time due to lack of communication. It concludes with a reflection on the final German soldier killed in action, Leutnant Thomas, and the complexities of the Armistice's implementation on the battlefield.
🏛️ St Symphorien Military Cemetery: A Poignant Epilogue
The final paragraph provides a reflective conclusion to the video, focusing on the St Symphorien Military Cemetery near Mons, where Private John Parr, the first British soldier killed in action on the Western Front, is buried. It poignantly notes the burial of George Ellison, the last British soldier to fall, in close proximity to Parr's grave, symbolizing the vast number of lives lost during the war. The video ends with gratitude expressed to the viewers and a special thanks to Find My Past for providing essential military records that helped in understanding the stories of the last casualties. It encourages viewers to use the platform to trace their family history and offers a promotional code for a subscription discount.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Armistice
💡Western Front
💡Hundred Days Offensive
💡Canadian Expeditionary Force
💡American Expeditionary Force
💡George Ellison
💡George Price
💡Henry Gunther
💡Leutnant Thomas
💡St Symphorien Military Cemetery
💡Find My Past
Highlights
The signing of the Armistice on 11th November 1918 marked the end of years of destruction on the Western Front during World War I.
Approximately 9 million men lost their lives during the conflict.
The Belgian Army was advancing towards Ghent as the war drew to a close.
The British and Canadian forces were advancing on the town of Mons, the scene of their first engagement in 1914.
The French Army was pushing towards the German border, liberating their homeland and their people.
The American Expeditionary Force had a significant impact despite their relatively short time on the Western Front.
There were still attacks and movements on the final day of the war, leading to tragic losses.
Private George Edwin Ellison was the last British soldier to be killed in action, just an hour and a half before the Armistice.
Corporal Marcel Terfve was the last Belgian soldier to fall, struck at 10:42am.
Private First Class Augustin Trebuchon was the last of over a million to fall on the Western Front, killed by machine gun fire.
Private Henry Gunther was the last allied soldier killed in action on the Western Front, just seconds before the Armistice.
Leutnant Thomas of the 19th Uhlans was likely not the last German soldier killed in action, despite popular belief.
The Armistice did not immediately stop all fighting, with some areas continuing to experience conflict past 11am.
Many wounded men would later die in hospitals, even after the Armistice was signed.
St Symphorien Military Cemetery holds the graves of the first and last British soldiers killed in action on the Western Front.
Find My Past provided vital records for understanding the stories of the last casualties on the Western Front.
Transcripts
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