Topic ID 5600
Today is Remembrance Day. A day when we should take a couple of minutes to remember the boys and men who died during two world wars. I have visited some of the war graves in Europe. And I cried. As I do now. Some of those boys were only teenagers. Never had the nervous anticipation of a first date. Never tasted life. Sex? For most of them never. It was a different era. A generation wiped out. Please spare a minute today to think of those vibrant lads from Hertford who didn't want to go to war, but had to do what they were told. And died.
Reply ID 77718
Well said buzz - I agree with every word. As both my grandfathers received serious injuries in WW1 but fortunately survived I also give thanks that I am here at all.
Reply ID 77720
Hear hear. Could I respectfully add "girls and women" to "boys and men"?
Reply ID 77722
quote:Yes, of course, but I was thinking more of the boys & men in the trenches, on the front line, bleeding & dying far from home. For many of them their last words were "Mum, help me"
Originally posted by CSP
Hear hear. Could I respectfully add "girls and women" to "boys and men"?
Reply ID 77723
Visited the Menin Gate in Ypres about this time last year. Moved me emotionally more than anything else I think I've done. Just a huge concrete monolith covered with the names of 55,000 they didn't find & bury.... And that's just one part of one war...
Reply ID 77724
I also grieve for the German boys as well.Just like ours, they didn't want to die
Reply ID 77727
Its when you see the ages of many of them that the horror of it all sinks in; imagine a class of sixth year boys going 'over the top' and none of them making it back. "My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori."
Reply ID 77731
quote:My dad fought in WW2 and he used to say that he'd "Never met anyone braver than the ordinary German infantryman." I hope we can remember all the civilians who die in wars too.
Originally posted by buzz
I also grieve for the German boys as well.Just like ours, they didn't want to die
Reply ID 77733
quote:Indeed. I agree. For a lot of the civilians it was a bomb. Not expected, not worried overly about it. For the lads in battle, particularly in WW1, going "over the top" What was it like the night before? Bowels erupting. Thoughts of loved ones. Silently weeping.I cant imagine what it must have been like. I am deeply grateful that I never had to go through that.
Originally posted by dennismoorequote:My dad fought in WW2 and he used to say that he'd "Never met anyone braver than the ordinary German infantryman." I hope we can remember all the civilians who die in wars too.
Originally posted by buzz
I also grieve for the German boys as well.Just like ours, they didn't want to die
Reply ID 77737
It is interesting to see as time passes that there is much less 'us and them' and a realisation that ordinary boys and men went to fight their leaders battles from all over Europe. At our Primary school today there was an impeccable two minutes silence in the hall, with all of the children having at least a little understanding of what was going on. I managed to do my bit without losing it. . . just. They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old age shall not weary nor the years condemn at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
Reply ID 77738
Good-bye Max. Good-bye Ma. After the service when you're walking slowly to the car And the silver in her hair shines in the cold November air You hear the tolling bell And touch the silk in your lapel And as the tear drops rise to meet the comfort of the band You take her frail hand And hold on to the dream.
Reply ID 77740
And still they bring back the boys from Afghanistan. In coffins. I'm not going to argue about the rights and wrongs.It just totally kills me to think of those young guys. It's not right
Reply ID 77753
Richard Hale Remembrance ceremony: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QFkeJSYqj0[/url]
Reply ID 77754
It always brings a tear to my eye, was lucky enough to visit the war graves and museum near the'Bridge on the River Kwai' so moving..so young and so far away from home.
Reply ID 77756
Thank you to all those who posted on here. Glad to know I'm not the only stupid old sod who gets emotional about lads dying.When will we learn? Thanks also to those who read these posts and perhaps paused for a moment to think about those who died.
Reply ID 77757
this is something I would like to share. It was a quote from a family who had recently lost their son... it simply said "to the world he was just a soldier - to us he was the world".. We will continue to lose our sons and daughters, husbands and wives and loved ones - I only hope that we can honour and respect them all. My dad served in WW2 and his dad also served in WW1 - they were always very modest about their efforts in the wars, but their stories will stay with me forever. I too, cannot ever fail to be emotionally moved by those who have given, or will give their lives for all of us. Bless them all. We will remember them. *J*[IMG]http://www.millan.net/minimations/smileys/rose.gif[/IMG]
Reply ID 77758
quote:I don't think "we" will ever learn. My grandfather was in Afghanistan in 1918-1919..............nothing changes unforunately.
Originally posted by buzz
Thank you to all those who posted on here. Glad to know I'm not the only stupid old sod who gets emotional about lads dying.When will we learn? Thanks also to those who read these posts and perhaps paused for a moment to think about those who died.
Reply ID 77760
quote:I'm afraid that's all too true. One of my biggest regrets is that I have never had sons. On the other hand I have never had to wave them goodbye as they went to war.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I don't think "we" will ever learn. My grandfather was in Afghanistan in 1918-1919..............nothing changes unforunately.
Originally posted by buzz
Thank you to all those who posted on here. Glad to know I'm not the only stupid old sod who gets emotional about lads dying.When will we learn? Thanks also to those who read these posts and perhaps paused for a moment to think about those who died.
Reply ID 77762
There was a small ceremony held by the poppies in front of the Castle gates on Wednesday (10 November) There was a group of 20 or so what appeared to be mainly young people Three police officers attended and stopped the traffic at the War memorial and at Old cross for the gathering to observe 2 minutes silence at 11.00 am. Does anybody know what this short service was for? I had heard a suggestion that possibly a local soldier had recently been killed in action.
Reply ID 77770
Just been watching Andrew Marr on BBC1 interviewing a guy called Peter Ayres, who was a Wing Commander in the RAF during WW2. He flew Spitfires & Hurricanes. He said that at one point they were so desperate for pilots that boys got TWO WEEKS training before being sent into combat. Most of them were under 21. The old boy has just turned 90 and is as bright as a button!!
Reply ID 77778
quote:It was to mark the opening of the Garden of Remembrance that is at the gates every year. Very short service and nice to have a place for people to put their own tributes. The Mayor lays a wreath along with local ex servicemen and representatives from the local schools.
Originally posted by Eyeone
There was a small ceremony held by the poppies in front of the Castle gates on Wednesday (10 November) There was a group of 20 or so what appeared to be mainly young people Three police officers attended and stopped the traffic at the War memorial and at Old cross for the gathering to observe 2 minutes silence at 11.00 am. Does anybody know what this short service was for? I had heard a suggestion that possibly a local soldier had recently been killed in action.
Reply ID 77787
Thanks Turnip77. Even though many people did not seem to know the exact nature of the event, many of us did observe the 2 minute silence. The Staff at the Cornish pasty shop even turned off the shops music as a mark of respect.
Reply ID 77927
I know this is few days past the event (and last post), but I have only just returned from my honeymoon in America. I was overwhelmed by the sense of pride they have for their troops (and ours for that matter). We were in Miami and went to see the Miami Dolphins, there were a huge amount of troops present both young and old, and they were treated like celebrities, it wasn't even just for a few minutes like at our sporting events, the praise went on throughout the day with regular video messages and rounds of applause from the crowd. It seems as though Americans aren't ashamed of themselves at all, and rightly so as well. They get a lot of critism but we can honestly learn a lot from their patriotism. It's good to see this tradition consistently held up in Hertford, I used to participate myself when I was a young scout, probably didn't realise how much these heroes gave during various campaigns back then. Lets not forget them during the rest of the year.
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