TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014 INTERNATIONAL

Sidney Lewis: British child soldier of the Great War

POOLE, United Kingdom: The “Boys would have been filled said that recruiting standards enough he re-enlisted in the youngest Briton to fight in World with the patriotism which was slipped as the war progressed. army and served in Austria fol- War I was just 12 years old - but amazingly strong at the begin- Many parents allowed their lowing the armistice in Nov Sidney Lewis’ identity remained ning of WWI,” said Anthony underage sons to join the army 1918. He later became a police- a secret for almost a century Richards, head of documents because they thought it might man, got married and, after until the chance discovery of and sound at the Imperial War do them some good, while poor retiring, ran a pub. Colin Lewis faded documents revealed his Museum in London. “There families saw it as one less mouth discovered his father’s astonish- extraordinary story. The cente- would have been a lot of pres- to feed at home. They were ing history less than a decade nary of the start of the war in sure from their families and often reassured by a rule stating ago, after the death of an uncle 1914 has brought official recog- friends, and from society gener- that soldiers could not be sent who had carefully preserved the nition of Sidney’s remarkable ally, to do your bit for the war.” overseas until they were 19. In letters detailing Sidney’s service. journey from an English school- Sidney’s case, however, his dis- “My father did mention he had boy to a fighter on the bloody Lied About Age traught mother had no idea seen some action but I thought fields of the Somme. On holiday from school, the where her son - one of eight it was a little bit of exaggeration The recognition is a source of fearless young Sidney decided children - had gone. She found because he was too young at pride for Sidney’s son Colin to take his chances and signed out a year later when a soldier the time,” Lewis recalled. “I was Lewis, who only discovered the up for the army in Kingston, home on leave mentioned that about 11 or 12, and he never truth about his father’s past a London. He lied to the recruit- Sidney was fighting in the mentioned it again, we never few years ago, long after Sidney ment officer about his age, pre- Somme with the 106th Machine discussed it. It was like a family died in 1969 aged 66. “The great tending he was several years Gun Company. Horrified, she secret almost. I think perhaps disappointment is that I can’t older. He was not alone - about wrote to the War Office to that he felt he was a bit the congratulate him and tell him ‘I 250,000 underage soldiers demand Sidney be sent home, black sheep of the family.” am very proud of you’,” Lewis, fought for Britain in WWI, attaching his birth certificate The Imperial War Museum now 80, told AFP from his home according to historian Richard showing he was only 13. The has authenticated the docu- in Poole on the southern English van Emden, author of “Boy response was swift. In a letter ments and recognised Sidney as coast. “You did a fantastic job, Soldiers of the Great War”. But dated Aug 24, 1916, an obvious- Britain’s youngest soldier from you are a very brave boy actual- Lewis was a special case. “How a ly embarrassed army official World War I. Colin Lewis now ly. Well done, Dad.” 12-year-old got into the British replied: “I have to inform you plans a trip to the Somme with The story began in August army is really beyond belief,” van that action has been taken. “The his children and grandchildren 1915, when Britain had been at Emden told AFP. lad will be discharged with all to remember where Sidney A handout reproduction of a historic edition of the Daily Mirror war for a year. The army was des- In a photo from the time possible speed.” fought for six weeks - and unlike newspaper shows an article about WW1 British soldier Sidney perate for more men, although it Sidney “looked older than his Unscathed, Sidney returned so many others, made it back Lewis who joined the army in 1915 to serve in the war at the age was still reliant on volunteers. age”, the historian noted. He also home, but when he was old alive. —AFP of 12. — AFP seeks US help as Putin talks tough Yanukovych to brief media from

KIEV: Ukraine sought urgent Western backing yesterday after Russian President insisted that had the right to join his country even while hinting at a readiness for dia- logue. The pro-European team in Kiev that rode the wave of three months of deadly protests to topple a Kremlin-backed regime is running against the clock to preserve the territorial integrity of the culturally splintered nation of 46 million. The self-declared leadership on the pre- dominantly ethnic Russian peninsula of Crimea has proclaimed independence from Kiev and set a March 16 referendum on switching over to Kremlin rule. The decision has been condemned by : A pro-Kremlin activist holds a scarf reading ‘Forward, Sevastopol!’ during Western powers who are also furious at a rally in support of ethnic Russians in Ukraine in central Moscow yesterday.— AFP Moscow’s seizure of Crimea in a lightning but bloodless operation that began days after the Sevastopol, scene of Russian February 22 fall and subsequent escape to Russia of president Viktor Yanukovych. German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose cautious glories, eager to ‘go home’ approach to imposing sanctions on Russia has SEVASTOPOL, Ukraine: The Ukrainian flag dered shawl and traditional headdress. clashed with the more hawkish positions of has never really been embraced in Sevastopol Eastern European nations and the United States and its famed port, home to Russia’s Black Sea ‘Like a Rejected Transplant’ - bluntly told Putin on Sunday that the Crimean referendum was “illegal”. “The United States is fleet since the time of the tsars.And as Among the crowd was 47-year-old Pavel DONETSK, Uktaine: A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag next to a statue of Vladimir not prepared to recognise any result of the so- Moscow cements its control over Crimea, resi- Filipov, wearing a red anorak marked “Russian Lenin during a rally in the centre of this eastern Ukrainian city yesterday. — AFP dents here say they are looking forward to National Team” in English. “I have been wait- called referendum,” US ambassador Geoffrey the day when the Russian flag, already ing for this moment for decades,” he said. “We Pyatt told reporters in Kiev yesterday. nomic relief for its wheezing economy. “This is a to impose travel bans and asset freeze on Russia omnipresent, will fly as the official standard. are going home, the vote here will be 100 The most explosive East-West crisis since the very important visit,” Ukraine’s interim Foreign officials held responsible for endangering the In this city of 350,000 - where the squares and percent for Russia.” His wife Olga, 46, recalls Cold War was stoked further when the Kremlin Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told Kiev’s 1+1 tele- territorial integrity of Ukraine. US officials have streets carry the names of heroes of the the Soviet era when the city and its surround- said Putin told both Merkel and British Prime vision late on Sunday. “We hope that during stressed that Putin himself is not on that list but Crimean War or the - Ukraine’s ings were secret military areas closed to for- Minister David Cameron that he fully recognised these negotiations, we will find joint approaches also warn that Washington could pull out of a G8 independence in 1991 was traumatic. eigners. “We had peace and security, we left the actions of Crimea’s leaders - in power since to solving the situation around Crimea.” summit the Russian leader is hosting in in So when the pro-Kremlin regime of Viktor our keys under the mat, children played out- an end of February seizure of the local parlia- The White House said Obama will also discuss June. The European Union for its part has halted Yanukovych was overthrown last month, tens side. It was good,” she said. ment and government by pro-Kremlin gunmen. an economic support package that so far has visa talks and threatened to impose tough eco- of thousands rushed to the streets, rallying in Touring the city, there can be little doubt But Merkel’s office also said Putin had promised seen Washington pledge a quick infusion of nomic sanctions unless Putin quickly opens talks the central square and proclaiming a pro- of the pivotal role Sevastopol has played in to discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei more than $1 billion and the European Union with the Kiev team. Moscow businessman, Alexei Chaly, as the Russian history. A “Hero City” of the Soviet Lavrov on Monday the creation of an “interna- promise to issue Ä11 billion ($15 billion) over The Kremlin blames the new Ukrainian rulers city’s new mayor. “The citizens of Sevastopol Union, Sevastopol saw 250,000 Red Army sol- tional contact group” on Ukraine that he had two years. Ukraine says it needs about Ä25 bil- for having fomented an atmosphere of intimida- decided to cut all ties with the thugs, crimi- diers killed when German forces took control resisted before. lion ($35 billion) in assistance through 2015 to tion against ethnic Russians in the eastern and nals and Nazis who seized power in Kiev,” Ivan in 1942 after a devastating siege. It was Germany is pushing the group’s creation as a keep the country running after Russia froze a southern swathes of Europe’s largest country Komelov, an advisor to Chaly, told AFP. “No rebuilt by Stalin after the war, its majestic way of avoiding a full-fledged war breaking out $15 billion package it promised Yanukovych as that prompted Putin to threaten to use force on one doubts the result” of the March 16 refer- buildings and statues to heroes lined up on the eastern edge of Europe that would see his reward for rejecting an historic EU trade deal March 1. The Crimean referendum will ask peo- endum in Crimea on becoming part of Russia, along a ledge overlooking the port. Along the Ukraine call for Western help against its nuclear- in November. ple to choose between joining Russia and he said. waterfront, shops sell striped sailor shirts to armed neighbour. The embryonic sign of diplo- Yanukovych’s shock decision sparked the Kiev declaring greater autonomy from Kiev while “During 23 years of independence, tourists, magnets in the shape of submarines matic progress came as Ukrainian Prime Minister protests in which 100 died - most of them in remaining a part of Ukraine - an option advocat- Ukraine has done nothing for us. Kiev took and Red Army souvenirs. The yellow-and-blue Arseniy Yatsenyuk prepared to fly to Washington days of carnage preceding the pro-Moscow ed strongly by both Washington and the new our money and that’s it. When the people of of the Ukrainian flag is nowhere to be seen. for his first meeting with US President Barack regime’s fall. Deshchytsya said on Sunday that interim team. Sevastopol have had their say we hope that Sitting on a park bench, Anna and Larissa, Obama - himself pushing a peace plan that Kiev hoped to sign parts of the rejected Deshchytsya said yesterday that if Crimea’s Mother Russia will answer our call and take us two women in their 60s with gold teeth, shel- includes support for snap presidential elections Association Agreement at either a meeting of EU leaders “want more rights and authority, then we into her bosom.” Chaly, who made his fortune ter from the drizzle under their umbrellas. on May 25. foreign ministers on March 17 or a summit of the are ready to do this.” Yanukovych for his part was in the electronics industry, is known in They will “happily” vote for Crimea to join Tomorrow’s meeting will both boost the cred- bloc’s 28 leaders on March 20-21. expected yesterday to brief the media in the Sevastopol for having financed the recon- Russia on March 16, said Anna, who would ibility of Yatsenyuk’s untested government - not southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don after struction of monuments to the memory of not give her last name. “This city has always recognised by Russia - and provide Ukraine with Autonomy Over Annexation affirming in the same city on Feb 28 that he was Russian heros. been Russian, and despite what was said, we a chance to iron out the details of crucial eco- The escalating standoff has seen Obama vow still the legitimate leader of Ukraine. — AFP Among them is Vladimir Kornilov, the were never part of Ukraine. It was like a trans- famed Russian admiral who led the defence of plant that was rejected - we were Ukrainians Sevastopol against a Franco-British-Ottoman in name only. Now we are going home,” Anna The man who won over the world in 5 minutes force during the 349-day siege of the city in said. “Ukraine is a very poor country. 1854-55. Kornilov’s famous last words during Everything will be much better for us when PARIS: Five minutes. That’s all it took to Maria Angelica Largo, a 50-year-old On Twitter too, the 77-year-old And the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics the siege - “Defend Sevastopol!” - were embla- our currency is the ruble,” said Komelov of city make papal history. Never has a leader from Colombia, said she “immediately pontiff has built up a following of mil- are grappling with sensitive and often zoned on a stage this weekend as city resi- hall. “Russia is a rich and powerful country, of the Roman Catholic Church become felt he was closer to the people, more lions of people and his messages are divisive issues, such as homosexuality dents gathered for a pro-Russia meeting. which Ukraine will never be. Of course the as popular in as short a time as Pope simple and more human.” “We have re-tweeted more than those of tech- and abortion. In comments that made Chanting “Russia! Russia!” the crowd watched Ukrainians who don’t agree with us will be Francis did when he humbly asked the never seen a pope become so popular savvy US President Barack Obama. waves around the world, Francis last as performer Nadezhda Babkina sang and allowed to stay. Like foreigners living in crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square on in just a couple of minutes,” said Odon Francis became the first non-European July famously asked: “If someone is gay danced in a multi-coloured dress, embroi- Russia.” — AFP March 13 last year to pray for him. A Vallet, a French historian and an expert pope in nearly 1,300 years when he and seeks the Lord with good will, who year on, Francis, known for his gentle on religion. The Argentine-born pope’s was elected by the College of am I to judge?”. Gay rights groups cau- smile and infectious energy, has won humble and homespun style - he likes Cardinals a year ago Thursday to suc- tiously welcomed the words as a Piecing together Ukraine’s over hearts worldwide. Admirers from to mingle with the crowds - also ceed Benedict XVI, who chose to retire change in tone, but warned they did Manila to Mexico fondly remember his bowled over Roger Kouassi, a teacher and is now pope emeritus. Over the not reflect a shift in Catholic Church shredded ‘corruption library’ first appearance on the balcony in the in the west African country of Ivory past year, Francis has won accolades policy - and certainly not a move Vatican when he began with the sim- Coast for whom the main thing is that and plaudits for powerful gestures towards accepting same-sex marriage. KIEV: With a pile of shredded documents in is ours,” said Lena Svitovets, a former real ple greeting, “Good evening.” “Francis is closer to the people.” such as washing the feet of young “If homosexuals want to marry, they a corner, dozens of volunteers in a Kiev estate agent who lost her job because of Muslim inmates, embracing the handi- can do so in a civil ceremony but we office are hard at work on the frontlines of Ukraine’s economic crisis, holding back capped and asking that gay people cannot change the Church of Christ to journalism - piecing together an ousted tears as she rifled through shredded not be judged. suit one’s tastes,” said Aurora Gomez, a president’s web of corruption. Like school- receipts. Sergiy Sushytskiy, a brand manag- Catholic in Mexico. children making collages, students, office er, said: “It’s important to understand what Being Catholic is ‘in’ On the other side of the Pacific in workers and retirees patiently glue the our president and the criminals around him In France, where only three percent the world’s fourth largest Catholic scraps onto coloured sheets of paper which did. They did so much harm to the state.” of Catholics are identified as practising country, Filipino Nona Andaya-Castillo are then carefully numbered, scanned and their religion, priests say there has said she would back moves to ease filed away. From lavish spending of public ‘Clean-Up Operation’ been an increase in church attendance Church policies on homosexuality. But funds by former leader Viktor Yanukovych Svitovets and Sushytskiy were among 60 since Pope Francis’s election. “Before it living in one of the few countries for his villas to hints of sinister secrets, the volunteers methodically making their way was ‘uncool’ to be Catholic, now it’s ‘in’,” where abortion is still illegal, the 52- hoard of papers left behind in the chaotic through 30 bin bags seized by activists said Vallet. Still the man who was born year-old added she opposed any final hours of his rule is already painting a from the offices of mystery oligarch Sergiy disturbing picture. Kurchenko, a member of Yanukovych’s Jorge Mario Bergoglio has to walk a moves to soften the Church’s stance The hope is that with the help of sophis- inner circle - known as “the family”. The 28- tight rope in his papacy. Among his on that issue. Although no one has ticated software like “Unshredder” that can year-old owner of Forbes Ukraine magazine challenges are the thorny issues of expected Francis to make radical piece together scraps of files, there will be and the Metalist Kharkiv football team, marriage for priests and overhauling changes in doctrine, the pope has much more in the months and years to Kurchenko’s name is on an EU sanctions list the Vatican’s coffers after a string of shown a willingness to encourage come that could aid prosecutions and the and has been placed under investigation scandals, including allegations of greater understanding and pastoral repatriation of stolen assets. “It makes me for embezzlement in the energy sector by ARICCIA, Italy: Pope Francis arrives by bus on Sunday for a retreat waste, corruption and even money- care of Christians who are divorced, mad! We could have been rich. This money the new authorities in Kiev.—AFP near Rome.—AFP laundering. single mothers, or homosexuals.—AFP