Remembrance Day - 2008 (Merged)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Wilts
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found this on the goat
It is the soldier, not the minister
Who has given us freedome of religion.
Who has given us freedome of religion.
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedome of the press.
Who has given us freedome of the press.
It is the soldier , not the poet,
Who has given us freedome of speech.
Who has given us freedome of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organiser,
Who has given us freedome to protest.
Who has given us freedome to protest.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And who's coffin is draped in the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Who serves beneath the flag,
And who's coffin is draped in the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
I shall be standing in quiet contemplation for those minutes at my favourite place to be on Rememberance Sunday this weekend.
There will be a few hundred others there, some wearing the Uniform, along with others who have done.
There have been too many since I was last there a year ago.
RIP
There will be a few hundred others there, some wearing the Uniform, along with others who have done.
There have been too many since I was last there a year ago.
RIP
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South Wales
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RIP Guys, I take my hat off to these people who put their lives on the line in order for us to enjoy what we have 'as written in the poem above'.
I just hope we can get our boys and girls home safe soon and end this horror.
Nice video - Quite moving I must say.
Andrew
I just hope we can get our boys and girls home safe soon and end this horror.
Nice video - Quite moving I must say.
Andrew
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: backofbeyond
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Thanks for posting some great vids. There were some faces in there I knew well . This Sunday I'll be saying a prayer for the families who've been bereaved too. It's all too easy to forget those who are left behind...
. This Sunday I'll be saying a prayer for the families who've been bereaved too. It's all too easy to forget those who are left behind...
Join Date: Aug 1998
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RFUK
Thank you for creating what is probably the most poignant video that I have seen for a long time. I will be showing it to my kids so that they get a full appreciation of Remembrance before their parade on Sunday.
Regards
Dave
Thank you for creating what is probably the most poignant video that I have seen for a long time. I will be showing it to my kids so that they get a full appreciation of Remembrance before their parade on Sunday.
Regards
Dave
Join Date: Jun 2006
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RFUK
I don't know what to say your video is a fitting tribute to all, It filled me with a sense of grief and the need to remember others. I will remember tomorrow my friends and work mates and all that have been lost. One thing that made my day today was my youngest Zofo coming home and telling me that his school had sold out of Poppies, let us hope the message is getting through.
We Will remember them
I don't know what to say your video is a fitting tribute to all, It filled me with a sense of grief and the need to remember others. I will remember tomorrow my friends and work mates and all that have been lost. One thing that made my day today was my youngest Zofo coming home and telling me that his school had sold out of Poppies, let us hope the message is getting through.
We Will remember them
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cheshire
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Words fail me re the video - I'm just reduced to tears now. The loss of life is just so dreadful. Today is going to be a very difficult day for a lot of people. My thoughts are with everyone involved.
TAC Int Bloke
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Today I went back to Old Lakenham and placed a wooden cross of Remembrance on the grave of Sgt EW Harvey RNZAF for a brave man who died a long way from home.
To all our Commonwealth US and European allies – thanks for answering the call
To all our Commonwealth US and European allies – thanks for answering the call
Join Date: Jan 2001
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A very heartfelt thank you to all who serve. It is not enough to say thank you and give medals earned but what else can we do? Remember, remember, please remember all who serve and especially those that have fallen defending what we believe is right. I hope the churches are packed tomorrow.
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Join Date: May 2007
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In the course of researching a Book of Remembrance we came across this, whilst it was written about one it applies to all.
Cleator Moor 'Roll of Honour', World War One
Lieutenant Claude Leslie Blair, M.C., Royal Engineers [Killed in Action, Ypres, 16 June 1917]
Transcription of a poem in 'The Whitehaven News', 28 June 1919 ('Local and Other Verse'):
Lieutenant Claude Leslie Blair, M.C.: Killed in Action, June 16 1917
Sad news has come across the wave, from the fire-swept fields of stricken France
That Blair, that stalwart, true, and brave, has fallen in the great advance.
A Cumbrian true in word and deed; a champion, aye, of honour's laws,
Who freely, in his country's need, answered her call in freedom's cause.
Oft on old Cumbria's football fields, the strongest measured out her length,
As on to the forwards, strong as steel Blair, like a panther, flung his strength.
On fields like these his manhood grew and gathered strength beyond compare;
'Tis meet, tho' sad, in freedom's fight, his peerless strength should perish there.
Dearly he loved his native hills, the dalesmen true, their native lore,
Mid their inspiring solitudes his mind could rise, his spirits soar;
For oft alone he ranged the fells, 'mid summer's calm and thunder's roar,
Alas, their jagged buttressed heights shall know his giant stride no more.
Dauntless in courage, freedom to save, he fell a hero in the strife,
And for his country's freedom gave his manly, brave, young life,
And now he lies amid the brave, and braver never faced a lance,
Close by a gallant cousin's grave, wrapped in the wreathing soil of France.
And thou St Bega's far-famed School, to many a hero the source and soul,
Of inspiration in his youth, shall claim him on thy honour's roll.
Well may old Cumbria wet her e'en, she never lost a manlier son,
But proud she'll keep his memory green, after the fighting days are done.
Ah! Mother Nature, thou hast lost a son who knew thy secret charms
And worshipped thee in all thy beauty, so take him kindly in thine arms.
Bloom on ye flowers of the hills; ye woodland warblers, sweetly sing
He still may range the mountain wilds and hear the woodland echoes ring.
(Author unknown)
Transcribed October 2007
[N.B.: Lt. C.L. Blair, M.C. belonged to the Blair family that had interests in the West Cumbrian iron and coal industries. Before signing up to the Army, Lt. Blair was employed as a mining engineer at Cleator Moor. His name appears on the War Memorial at St John’s Church, Cleator Moor
Cleator Moor 'Roll of Honour', World War One
Lieutenant Claude Leslie Blair, M.C., Royal Engineers [Killed in Action, Ypres, 16 June 1917]
Transcription of a poem in 'The Whitehaven News', 28 June 1919 ('Local and Other Verse'):
Lieutenant Claude Leslie Blair, M.C.: Killed in Action, June 16 1917
Sad news has come across the wave, from the fire-swept fields of stricken France
That Blair, that stalwart, true, and brave, has fallen in the great advance.
A Cumbrian true in word and deed; a champion, aye, of honour's laws,
Who freely, in his country's need, answered her call in freedom's cause.
Oft on old Cumbria's football fields, the strongest measured out her length,
As on to the forwards, strong as steel Blair, like a panther, flung his strength.
On fields like these his manhood grew and gathered strength beyond compare;
'Tis meet, tho' sad, in freedom's fight, his peerless strength should perish there.
Dearly he loved his native hills, the dalesmen true, their native lore,
Mid their inspiring solitudes his mind could rise, his spirits soar;
For oft alone he ranged the fells, 'mid summer's calm and thunder's roar,
Alas, their jagged buttressed heights shall know his giant stride no more.
Dauntless in courage, freedom to save, he fell a hero in the strife,
And for his country's freedom gave his manly, brave, young life,
And now he lies amid the brave, and braver never faced a lance,
Close by a gallant cousin's grave, wrapped in the wreathing soil of France.
And thou St Bega's far-famed School, to many a hero the source and soul,
Of inspiration in his youth, shall claim him on thy honour's roll.
Well may old Cumbria wet her e'en, she never lost a manlier son,
But proud she'll keep his memory green, after the fighting days are done.
Ah! Mother Nature, thou hast lost a son who knew thy secret charms
And worshipped thee in all thy beauty, so take him kindly in thine arms.
Bloom on ye flowers of the hills; ye woodland warblers, sweetly sing
He still may range the mountain wilds and hear the woodland echoes ring.
(Author unknown)
Transcribed October 2007
[N.B.: Lt. C.L. Blair, M.C. belonged to the Blair family that had interests in the West Cumbrian iron and coal industries. Before signing up to the Army, Lt. Blair was employed as a mining engineer at Cleator Moor. His name appears on the War Memorial at St John’s Church, Cleator Moor
Join Date: Oct 2004
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The Last Letter of Second Lieutenant Eric Lever Townsend, Civil Service Rifles, died of wounds, 16 September 1916
Dearest Mother and Father,
You are reading this letter because I have gone under.
Of course I know that you will be terribly cut up, and that it will be a long time before you get over it, but get over it you must. You must be imbued with the spirit of the Navy and the Army to “carry on”.
You must console yourself with the thought that I am happy, whereas if I had lived – who knows?
Remember the saying attributed to Solon, “Call no man happy till he is dead”. Thanks to your self sacrificing love and devotion I have had a happy time all my life. Death will have delivered me from experiencing unhappiness.
It has always seemed to me a very pitiful thing what little difference the disappearance of a man makes to any institution, even though he may have played an important role. A moment’s regret, a moment’s pause for readjustment, and another man steps forward to carry on, and the machine clanks on with scarce a check. The death of a leader of a nation is less even than seven days’ wonder. To a very small number is it given to live in history; their number is scarcely one in ten million. To the rest it is only granted to live in their united achievements.
But for this war I and all the others would have passed on into oblivion like the countless myriads before us. We should have gone about our trifling business, eating, drinking, sleeping, hoping, marrying, giving in marriage, and finally dying with no more achieved than when we were born, with the world no different for our lives. Even the cattle in the field fare no worse than this. They, too, eat, drink, bring forth young, and die leaving the world no different from what they have found it.
But we shall live for ever in the results of our efforts.
We shall live as those who by their sacrifice won the Great War. Our spirits and memories shall endure in the proud position Britain shall hold in the future. The measure of life is not its span but the use made of it. I did not make much use of my life before the war, but I think I have done now.
To me has been given the easier task; to you is given the more difficult – that of living in sorrow. Be of good courage, that at the end you may give a good account.
Adieu, best of parents
You ever loving son
Eric
Dearest Mother and Father,
You are reading this letter because I have gone under.
Of course I know that you will be terribly cut up, and that it will be a long time before you get over it, but get over it you must. You must be imbued with the spirit of the Navy and the Army to “carry on”.
You must console yourself with the thought that I am happy, whereas if I had lived – who knows?
Remember the saying attributed to Solon, “Call no man happy till he is dead”. Thanks to your self sacrificing love and devotion I have had a happy time all my life. Death will have delivered me from experiencing unhappiness.
It has always seemed to me a very pitiful thing what little difference the disappearance of a man makes to any institution, even though he may have played an important role. A moment’s regret, a moment’s pause for readjustment, and another man steps forward to carry on, and the machine clanks on with scarce a check. The death of a leader of a nation is less even than seven days’ wonder. To a very small number is it given to live in history; their number is scarcely one in ten million. To the rest it is only granted to live in their united achievements.
But for this war I and all the others would have passed on into oblivion like the countless myriads before us. We should have gone about our trifling business, eating, drinking, sleeping, hoping, marrying, giving in marriage, and finally dying with no more achieved than when we were born, with the world no different for our lives. Even the cattle in the field fare no worse than this. They, too, eat, drink, bring forth young, and die leaving the world no different from what they have found it.
But we shall live for ever in the results of our efforts.
We shall live as those who by their sacrifice won the Great War. Our spirits and memories shall endure in the proud position Britain shall hold in the future. The measure of life is not its span but the use made of it. I did not make much use of my life before the war, but I think I have done now.
To me has been given the easier task; to you is given the more difficult – that of living in sorrow. Be of good courage, that at the end you may give a good account.
Adieu, best of parents
You ever loving son
Eric
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
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Absolutely right to bring this to the top again. I have said it before and I still believe it is worth repeating; every damned politician should be made to spend several days at war grave sites. To each and evry one who gave the ultimate scarifice - may their God be with them!