I was asked on another forum what reminded me of Rememberance Sunday, well its this.
My grand father
My grand father
Nearly that time of year again. Lest we forget
- Thread starter wingstoo
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I wear mine with pride also. As far as I am aware, those made in Scotland don't have the green leaf attached. I can't recall why, I think it's just to simplify the manufacture of them, as I believe these are assembled by disabled (including blind) personnel.
Wear mine with pride and attend the rememberance day parade with my grandfather who served in the navy. He doesn't do the march up to cemetary any more as he is getting on a bit now(88 not that you would notice) so i march for him.
some lump bringing poetry here.
some lump bringing poetry here.
This will probably bring a few more lumps
[video=youtube;OWsf76wG78g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWsf76wG78g&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Wings
How early is "too early"? I pick one up as soon as I see them...
As for lumps, I keep trying to learn to sing this, but I can never even make it past the second verse without cracking:
[video=youtube;wN-NIHbfJ1k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN-NIHbfJ1k[/video]
As for lumps, I keep trying to learn to sing this, but I can never even make it past the second verse without cracking:
[video=youtube;wN-NIHbfJ1k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN-NIHbfJ1k[/video]
Shambling Shaman
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Always have all way will.
I was luck enough to go to Munich on the remembrance parade when I was at RAF Bruggen. We did 3 parades, On the practice at the RAF cemetery WO Sutherland told us to have a look round before we started, First thing we all noticed was the head stones were a bit higgeldy piggldy, On closer inspection the stones were in set out by how many had died per plane,, so one here three there 5 there etc.. the oldest one we found was 21.
I was luck enough to go to Munich on the remembrance parade when I was at RAF Bruggen. We did 3 parades, On the practice at the RAF cemetery WO Sutherland told us to have a look round before we started, First thing we all noticed was the head stones were a bit higgeldy piggldy, On closer inspection the stones were in set out by how many had died per plane,, so one here three there 5 there etc.. the oldest one we found was 21.
Shambling Shaman
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
See what you mean
Green Fields of France
Well, how do you do, Young Willie McBride,
Do you mind if I sit down here by your graveside?
And rest for awhile neath the warm summer sun,
I’ve been walking all day, and I’m nearly done.
And I see by your gravestone you were only 19
When you joined the great fallen in 1916,
Well, I hope you died well and I hope you died clean
Or young Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?
Did they Beat the drum slowly, did the play the fife lowly?
Did they sound the death march as they lowered you down?
Did the band play The Last Post and chorus?
Did the pipes play the Flowers of the Forest?
Did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined?
And, though you died back in 1916,
In that faithful heart are you forever 19?
Or are you a stranger without even a name,
Enclosed forever behind a glass pane,
In an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained,
And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame?
The sun now it shines on the green fields of France;
There's a warm summer breeze that makes the red poppies dance.
And see how the Sun shines from under the cloud
There's no gas, no barbed wire, there's no guns firing now.
But here in this graveyard it's still No Man’s Land
The countless white crosses lie mute in the sand
To man’s blind indifference to his fellow man.
And to a whole generation that were butchered and damned.
Young Willie McBride, I can’t help wonder why
Do all those who lie here know why they died?
Did they believe when they answered “The Cause?”
Did they really believe that this war would end wars?
Well the killing, the suffering, the glory, the pain
The killing, the dying, was all done in vain,
For young Willie McBride, it all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again.
I was up in the Coniston Fells this weekend and I have to admit to not really thinking about these things. I always say I'll get a poppy but never do. Anyway on this walk (with friends) I dashed off to bag some extra hills as I am a fast bugger when I feel like it. Anyway on the side of the hill between two of them there is a white cross next to the path people have taken between the hills. It is in a cairn with some metalwork in it and the remains of the undercarriage of a plane. The plaque is a simple one. It says all it needs to, that is what crashed from which group, when and the names, ranks. numbers and what I assumed to be their age at the end of the service numbers in brackets of the 9 who died. I looked down it. 3 flight officers, 1 pilot officers and 5 sargeants (sorry if the spelling is wrong but I always spell that rank wrong). Anyway, it was October 1944 IIRC. I don't remember the date because what I was concentrating on was the ranks and the ages. They were 21 years old down to 18 years old. There were officers who were not even considered of the age of consent back then which I understand to have been 21 years old. They died that day.
Anyway I'll remember them or at least their sacrifice. I will get a poppy and I will wear it to remember. Not for political purposes or to raise money or to say thanks. In my humble opinion it is a symbol to show you remember. They are not forgotton. The money raised to help past and present servicemen is a side benefit.
The white poppy, being for a peace charity like the one Locum named, is a money raising and campaigning thing for them. Please don't bring that appeal up. If you have any questions why I find it offensive please look at the following link.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...py-appeal-as-a-political-tool-91466-27614172/
It is this peace organisation that made a comment I disagree with. I do agree that this is not about supporting any war. It is not about supporting our boys out there (although we should all year round). It is about those who have made sacrifices for our country. There are some who are suffering now through past wars. Even the WWII or WWI. I know my geat uncle had many health problems following his capture and near starvation in a POW camp after he and his other non coms helped to defend a retreat on the mediterranean island (sorry I can't remember the details but he never spoke of it). Those problems lasted into his old age.
Sorry lost my train of thought.
Anyway I'll remember them or at least their sacrifice. I will get a poppy and I will wear it to remember. Not for political purposes or to raise money or to say thanks. In my humble opinion it is a symbol to show you remember. They are not forgotton. The money raised to help past and present servicemen is a side benefit.
The white poppy, being for a peace charity like the one Locum named, is a money raising and campaigning thing for them. Please don't bring that appeal up. If you have any questions why I find it offensive please look at the following link.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...py-appeal-as-a-political-tool-91466-27614172/
It is this peace organisation that made a comment I disagree with. I do agree that this is not about supporting any war. It is not about supporting our boys out there (although we should all year round). It is about those who have made sacrifices for our country. There are some who are suffering now through past wars. Even the WWII or WWI. I know my geat uncle had many health problems following his capture and near starvation in a POW camp after he and his other non coms helped to defend a retreat on the mediterranean island (sorry I can't remember the details but he never spoke of it). Those problems lasted into his old age.
Sorry lost my train of thought.
What I'm trying to say this is about remembering sacrifice. I just hate politicians at the cenotaph with the red poppy wreath laying when it is their hands that is the most red. About the commercialisation and "appealing to the youth" aspect of the poppy apeal that article might have some point. It is not about a girl band prancing half naked in a load of poppies so RBL can sell more poppies. It is purely about the people and their sacrifice.
Sorry rant over.
Sorry rant over.
Anyway I am thinking of going to the top of Great Gable to where each year the Fell and Rock club and others remember those whose sacrifices wer made for their country. First time in years I have done that since I was a scout I think 25 years ago. All down to that memorial on a hillside. Makes you think.
At The Cenotaph [Siegfried Sassoon]
I saw the Prince of Darkness, with his Staff,
Standing bare-headed by the Cenotaph:
Unostentatious and respectful, there
He stood, and offered up the following prayer.
'Make them forget, O Lord, what this Memorial
Means; their discredited ideas revive;
Breed new belief that War is purgatorial
Proof of the pride and power of being alive;
Men's biologic urge to readjust
The Map of Europe, Lord of Hosts, increase;
Lift up their hearts in large destructive lust;
And crown their heads with blind vindictive Peace.'
The Prince of Darkness to the Cenotaph
Bowed. As he walked away I heard him laugh.
I saw the Prince of Darkness, with his Staff,
Standing bare-headed by the Cenotaph:
Unostentatious and respectful, there
He stood, and offered up the following prayer.
'Make them forget, O Lord, what this Memorial
Means; their discredited ideas revive;
Breed new belief that War is purgatorial
Proof of the pride and power of being alive;
Men's biologic urge to readjust
The Map of Europe, Lord of Hosts, increase;
Lift up their hearts in large destructive lust;
And crown their heads with blind vindictive Peace.'
The Prince of Darkness to the Cenotaph
Bowed. As he walked away I heard him laugh.
Bought another the other day from an ex kingo and got chatting 
tbh i wear mine out as i keep wearing them long after remembrance day then i have to wait until they're out again to wear more.
may see if i can get a patch done.
got my dad a beret badge and backing this year, damned difficult to find a non furry beret tho in time. he never misses a parade as he lost a good few friends in NI my grandfather was in the merchant navy, wouldn't let him in anything else with his legs (polio as a kid) and i think this'll be the first year he may have to use a chair.
tbh i wear mine out as i keep wearing them long after remembrance day then i have to wait until they're out again to wear more.may see if i can get a patch done.
got my dad a beret badge and backing this year, damned difficult to find a non furry beret tho in time. he never misses a parade as he lost a good few friends in NI my grandfather was in the merchant navy, wouldn't let him in anything else with his legs (polio as a kid) and i think this'll be the first year he may have to use a chair.
I've just tried to order a few of these but the Paypal link doesn't seem to work for me.
I sent the payment anyway to the contact address and got a reply within minutes to say they were on the way
