Time to remember

[lew600fazer]

http://www.google.es/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCkQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNkKEynoTwp8&ei=qCJiVNyJLvXLsASEhYHgCg&usg=AFQjCNHIYpAvS4_PLwene8pd4JPqVDoWfg&bvm=bv.79189006,d.cWc

[unfazed]

 

My wife's paternal Grandfather died in Salonika 2 months before the War ended.

[caretaker]

i have a slightly different perspective in that i'm half german. some of my ancestors died on both sides. highlights the pointless necessity of war, i suppose.

[unfazed]

I agree, we were discussing it this morning at tea break, the fact everybody stopped for Christmas, spoke and sang songs with each other. Next day after they started shooting each other again 

[Doddsie]

..... Sounds like Christmas in my house!!!

[unfazed]

 

[fireblake]

My wife's paternal Grandfather died in Salonika 2 months before the War ended.

When you think about the European Royal families all being cousins and mostly regular visitors to each others countries it does make you think how could it have started. So sad.


Mickey

[VNA - BMW Wank]

Have to say I'm glad it's all over.
It's becoming more like Red Nose Day every year.
Lets see who can wear the biggest poppy, get it on the earliest.  Print it on football shirts (puke)
And what if somebody doesn't want to wear it, or God forbid wants to wear a white poppy?
As for that poem,

"Take up our quarrel with the foe"

Well no, umm, no thanks.

Yup just ordinary blokes on both sides trying to kill each, trying to cut each other up with high velocity bits o metal,  I guess cos some rich folks thought it was a good idea.

Sorry, but for me, it's thank foc it's by for another year.

[Hedgetrimmer]

I don't really do the remembrance bit on 11/11 either. Not that I'm ungrateful for those who defended our country from tyranny (not just about WW1 after all, is it?), just that I read a lot of military history, so often think about that kind of thing anyway. A major national ceremony of commemoration is no bad thing though. But yes, there's a depressing trend towards commercialising it in recent years, which really does the sentiment a disservice.

I've just bought myself a couple of books on experiences of soldiers in the trenches (WW1). I haven't really touched on that period before, so will start learning a bit now.

[stevierst]

I can't go to any remembrance day parade. I was a soldier for 17 years , and saw too many of my colleagues, friends, and brothers killed in action. It's scarred me for life. Going to the parades  just brings it all back. Got a funeral to go to on Friday for an old friend that ended his life through PTSD only last weekend. He'd been a civilian for 5 years!

I can't bear to think what the poor vets that were in the world wars saw, and carried with them in their heads. What's in mine is enough of a burden.

If you choose to go to the parade, that's up to you. If not, well that's for you to take up with your conscience.

As for poppies, wear them with pride, or don't wear them at all, your choice.
Even if you don't support armistice day with your presence, support it in your heart, and respect it for what it is. It's only a day out of your busy life, and thousands gave theirs so you could live it in peace!

[Doddsie]

Well said that man!!

[VNA - BMW Wank]

I've just bought myself a couple of books on experiences of soldiers in the trenches (WW1).

What did you get?

Trying to get through Some Desperate Glory at the mo by Edwin Campion Vaughan - it's a young officers diary.

Check out, FEAR by Gabriel Chevallier - a French soldiers account.  As an account of ww1 it's umm, well, all I can say is it's a stunning book.

Really sorry to hear about your friend Stevie, happens all too often.  Dunno what to say.   

[lew600fazer]

Sorry to hear about your mate. I assume you may be of an age where you did a spell in Ulster? I had a mate was in the RUC. He was shot in the chest and was off duty for about 5 months. He went back to work and was on nights, West Belfast, his wife was also RUC. I was going to work myself as Ken was just arriving home. He gave his wife a kiss as they passed each other on the driveway as she was going to work.
As I was about to get into my car I heard a bang. Ken had put his service pistol to his head, in the early 70's I don't suppose they knew what PTSD was.
Certainly not being funny here but the Army on tour in Ulster did what ? 4 to 6 months at a stretch, the RUC/PSNI lived it 7 days a week 52 weeks a year , year in year out.
Oh and believe I am eternally greatful for what the Army did for us in our little corner of the UK.

[stevierst]

Yeah, I did my time in lisburn and absolutely loved it over there. 3 years in the province but in the late 90's. A very unsettled time.

PTSD is horrific, and the vast majority of us have experienced it somewhere along it's scale. Most of us are completely unaware of this too. Two friends have fallen foul to it over the years, and lots more suffering with it. I had it only for a short time luckily, had a relapse in my current job too at a violent incident a few years ago. family helped massively, and time is a good healer, but it's massively underrated!!

[Hedgetrimmer]

I've just bought myself a couple of books on experiences of soldiers in the trenches (WW1).

What did you get?

Trying to get through Some Desperate Glory at the mo by Edwin Campion Vaughan - it's a young officers diary.

Check out, FEAR by Gabriel Chevallier - a French soldiers account.  As an account of ww1 it's umm, well, all I can say is it's a stunning book.
 

PM'd ya.

[noggythenog]

I did 5 years in the Army and didn't see any active service.....not because im a bullet dodger or a biff but I just seemed to be in the right boring place at the right time....and after 5 years I was bloody bored stupid and on 10 minutes notice to move call for weeks and weeks on end.......I woulda gone somewhere eventually but I gave in and the power of a massive set of Tettas got me out and nice and cozy in civvy street 

But because I never went anywhere I feel a bit ashamed to get involved with the whole remembrance day as I feel a bit of a fraud

don't get me wrong I was lucky and I feel fortunate to be here and have all my limbs and one of my best mates who was always a bit tapped in the head had even went to the hassle of re-cap badging so he could see some shit and then after he had seen it he said to me honestly he'd rather have been in my position in hindsight....then he left soon afterwards.

ill always respect those that haven given the sacrifice but it is interesting just how many of us don't get involved for all sorts of different reasons.

[Dave48]

What really upsets me about these ceremonies is the involvement of all the "establishment" figures,politicos and dare I say it members of royalty with chests full of medals.Most of these are so far removed from the horror & reality of conflicts that it seems like they are there to make the unacceptable loss of life(on all sides) appear "respectable" & justifiable.
"Lest we forget" is a laudable idea but the facts suggest that we humans are unable to learn the lessons from history & we seem condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past.
I have the greatest respect for the ordinary soldiers,sailors & airmen tasked with carrying out the commands of  those who promote warfare from the comfort & safety of their distance from the battlefields.

[maddog04]

mmm.....  medals........not wishing to diss our brave people but far too many people wear a chest full of medals as if to say "look at me"
most of them are long service/campaign/silver or gold jubilee
for me, a medal is something earned in conflict for a brave or courageous act and I have no time for all these others who wear medals not earned this way. I call them "Mutleys" after Dick Dastardly's dog

[Robbie8666]

mmm.....  medals........not wishing to diss our brave people but far too many people wear a chest full of medals as if to say "look at me"
most of them are long service/campaign/silver or gold jubilee
for me, a medal is something earned in conflict for a brave or courageous act and I have no time for all these others who wear medals not earned this way. I call them "Mutleys" after Dick Dastardly's dog

hmm I agree about jubilee medals but my most precious medals are my Operational service medal (Afghanistan) & Long service medal & bar
yes medal for corageous acts should be better acknowledged but having done 2 tours in afghanistan 1 as serving member of Royal Navy & 1 as a civillian it was Feckin bad out there! 
I wear a poppy all year round, like others that served i have lost oppo's both in conflict & to PTSD, I have PTSD, I'm 90% bettter than I was but will never consider myself free of it.
I never critisize anyone for not wearing a poppy or even giving to any military charity & yes it pi$$es me off big time that political figures use it as a platform to push there own agenda's.
as for Royals ... Prince Andrew flew in the Falklands, Prince Harry has done time in the Afghan both on the ground & in the air. William did his time as Air sea rescue chopper jockey. even Edward had a go at been a marine but was man enough to say it was too much for him!!
I feel pride at having served and if any of my kids want to join up I will be as proud of them as my parents are of me!
 
-----------
sorry for the rant, was not aimed as a personal go at anyone on here.... just venting!!

[Hedgetrimmer]

I have a GSM from two one-month stints in N.I. I consider it an award for surviving two Xmas' of crawling round the many unit bars at RAF Aldergrove. Needless to say, it's buried in a drawer somewhere. 

[maddog04]

wasn't dissing anyone Robbie and no offence taken. I done a bit in the TA and wear a poppy with pride but when I look at a chest full of medals I think "that's a brave sod, must've seen some action"
and its not always the case
 
watching a RM officer on tv and he ran the band (stretcher bearers in combat and a RM to boot!) but he had 4 or 5 medals on his dress uniform and it turns out 2 were silver/gold jubilee. one L/S and another was the Queens medal for music or something inane. He had one badge of honour and the rest were for show.....sorry but it gets me goat
watch Dads Army were Godfrey (the cadre all think he's a daft old softy) is ill in bed and Jones spots the MM behind his bed and you'll get my drift

[Robbie8666]

Private Charles Godfrey (Arnold Ridley), a retired shop assistant, who worked at the Army & Navy Store in London. He lives in Walmington with his elderly sisters and served as the platoon's medical orderly. He was often getting "caught short" and needing to "be excused". A conscientious objector during First World War, he was nevertheless awarded the Military Medal for heroic actions as a combat medic. He also demonstrated bravery during his Home Guard service.