Remembrance Day - 2008 (Merged)
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Thank you for bringing this thread out this year (my first as a PPRuNe member).
For the past few years I have lived in Germany where there does not appear to be a day of Remembrance.
However, a few days before Remeberance Day last year I had to go to the north of Germany. I stayed in a bed and breakfast just south of Hamburg. The family were very friendly and accepted my bad German with good grace.
I had been sent a poppy from home and was wearing it. On my last evening the landlady asked what it was and why was I wearing it. Suffering from a certain amount of embarrassment I explained that the tradition started after WW1 an that we wore in respect for, and rememberance of, the fallen and that I had relatives who had died in the two world wars and friends who had died in wars since.
She then said that her father had been killed fighting for the German army in WW2. Thinking that I was about to be thrown out I was surprised when she said that it was good that we not only rememberd our dead, but also that we had a visible symbol to wear as they deserved all of the respect that we can give them.
To my mind a woman of great understanding and intelligence.
For the past few years I have lived in Germany where there does not appear to be a day of Remembrance.
However, a few days before Remeberance Day last year I had to go to the north of Germany. I stayed in a bed and breakfast just south of Hamburg. The family were very friendly and accepted my bad German with good grace.
I had been sent a poppy from home and was wearing it. On my last evening the landlady asked what it was and why was I wearing it. Suffering from a certain amount of embarrassment I explained that the tradition started after WW1 an that we wore in respect for, and rememberance of, the fallen and that I had relatives who had died in the two world wars and friends who had died in wars since.
She then said that her father had been killed fighting for the German army in WW2. Thinking that I was about to be thrown out I was surprised when she said that it was good that we not only rememberd our dead, but also that we had a visible symbol to wear as they deserved all of the respect that we can give them.
To my mind a woman of great understanding and intelligence.
Cool Mod
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Once again it is time to remember fallen comrades and I am returning the original thread as I promised to do a few years back.
Sadly, there is rather more to remember this year and so it goes on. However, we must continue to think of the guys and gals who are in harm's way. To thank them for the job they willingly do and wish them to safe keeping.
You are not forgotten.
PPP
Sadly, there is rather more to remember this year and so it goes on. However, we must continue to think of the guys and gals who are in harm's way. To thank them for the job they willingly do and wish them to safe keeping.
You are not forgotten.
PPP
Thank you PPRuNe Pop. Yes more to remember, but in tribute to this generation it seems to me that there is more remembering as well. Perhaps it is the very medium that we are using here, but there seems to me more awareness and more preparedness to pay homage to the fallen. On this site alone we have this thread, one supporting the Royal British Legion's call for a proper manifestation of the Military Covenant, and one proposing the long delayed provision of a proper National Bomber Command Memorial.
We Will Remember Them.
We Will Remember Them.
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Carrying out research into the men behind the names on the war memorials - I came across the following in the In Memorium columns of the local paper from the First War period
Pte Arthur Hiscock - Basra Memorial
Pte Francis Harding aged 19 - Cologne Southern Cemetery
Pte George Dixon aged 23 - Windmill British Cemetery
Pte Arthur Hiscock - Basra Memorial
Out in that foreign field
Lies one we all love well;
We could not hold his dying hand,
We could not say farewell.
Until the day breaks
From his loving Mother and Dad, Sisters and Brothers.
Lies one we all love well;
We could not hold his dying hand,
We could not say farewell.
Until the day breaks
From his loving Mother and Dad, Sisters and Brothers.
Out in a foreign country there is a silent grave
Of one we loved so dearly, yet we could not save;
His King and Country called him, he bravely did his best
Till God saw fit to take him to his eternal rest.
Sadly missed and ever remembered by his sorrowing Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters.
Of one we loved so dearly, yet we could not save;
His King and Country called him, he bravely did his best
Till God saw fit to take him to his eternal rest.
Sadly missed and ever remembered by his sorrowing Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters.
Can ever a mother forget
The son she loved so dear?
Oh, no, the voice that is now still
Keeps ringing in my ear.
In the quiet hours of the night.
When sleep forsakes my eyes,
My thoughts are ever far away,
Where my dear son George lies.
Somewhere in France he lies at rest,
For his King and Country he did his best,
With other comrades he played his part
And did his duty with a loyal heart.
From his loving Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters.
The son she loved so dear?
Oh, no, the voice that is now still
Keeps ringing in my ear.
In the quiet hours of the night.
When sleep forsakes my eyes,
My thoughts are ever far away,
Where my dear son George lies.
Somewhere in France he lies at rest,
For his King and Country he did his best,
With other comrades he played his part
And did his duty with a loyal heart.
From his loving Mother, Father, Brothers and Sisters.
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William McBride
Well how do you do Private William McBride
Do you mind if I sit here down by your grave side
And I'll rest for a while in 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 glorious fallen back in 1916
Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Or Willie McBride was it slow and obscene
Did they beat the drum slowly
Did they play the fyfe lowly
Did the rifles fire o'er you
As they lowered you down
Did the bugles play the Last Post in (Dm) chorus
Did the pipes play the Flooers o the Forrest
And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
In some faithful heart does your memory enshrine
And though you died back in 1916
In some faithful heart are you forever 19
Or are you a stranger without even a name
Enshrined forever behind the glass pane
Of an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained
And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame
Ah the sun's shining now on these green fields of France
The warm winds blow gently and the red poppies dance
The trenches have vanished under the plough
No gas and no barbed wire, no guns firing now
But here in the graveyard it's still No-Man's Land
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To Man's blind indifference to his fellow-man
To a whole generation who were butchered and damned
And I can't help but wonder now William McBride
Do all those who lie here know why they died
Did you really believe them when they told you the cause
Did you really believe that this war would end wars
Well the suffering and the sorrow and the glory, the shame
The killing the dying, the dying, it was all done in vain
For Willie McBride, it all happened again
And again, and again and again and again.
Well how do you do Private William McBride
Do you mind if I sit here down by your grave side
And I'll rest for a while in 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 glorious fallen back in 1916
Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean
Or Willie McBride was it slow and obscene
Did they beat the drum slowly
Did they play the fyfe lowly
Did the rifles fire o'er you
As they lowered you down
Did the bugles play the Last Post in (Dm) chorus
Did the pipes play the Flooers o the Forrest
And did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind
In some faithful heart does your memory enshrine
And though you died back in 1916
In some faithful heart are you forever 19
Or are you a stranger without even a name
Enshrined forever behind the glass pane
Of an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained
And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame
Ah the sun's shining now on these green fields of France
The warm winds blow gently and the red poppies dance
The trenches have vanished under the plough
No gas and no barbed wire, no guns firing now
But here in the graveyard it's still No-Man's Land
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To Man's blind indifference to his fellow-man
To a whole generation who were butchered and damned
And I can't help but wonder now William McBride
Do all those who lie here know why they died
Did you really believe them when they told you the cause
Did you really believe that this war would end wars
Well the suffering and the sorrow and the glory, the shame
The killing the dying, the dying, it was all done in vain
For Willie McBride, it all happened again
And again, and again and again and again.
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Rememberance
Lie in the dark and listen,
It's clear tonight so they're flying high,
Hundreds of them, thousands perhaps,
Riding the icy,moonlit sky.
Men, machinery, bombs and maps,
Altimeters,guns and charts,
Coffee, sandwiches, fleece-lined boots,
Bones and muscles and minds and hearts,
English saplings with English roots
Deep in the earth they've left below.
Lie in the dark and listen.
Lie in the dark and listen.
They're going over in waves and waves
High above villages, hills and streams,
Country churches and little graves
And little citizens worried dreams;
Very soon they'll have reached the sea
And far below them will lie the bays
And cliffs and sands where they used to be
Taken for summer holidays.
Lie in the dark and let them go;
Theirs is a world we'll never know.
Lie in the dark and listen.
Lie in the dark and listen.
City magnates and steel contractors
Factory workers and politicians
Soft hysterical little actors,
Ballet dancers, reserved musicians
Safe in your warm civilian beds,
Count your profits and count your sheep
Life is passing above your heads,
Just turn over and try to sleep.
Lie in the dark and let them go
There's one debt you'll forever owe,
Lie in the dark and listen.
Written by Noel Coward
It's clear tonight so they're flying high,
Hundreds of them, thousands perhaps,
Riding the icy,moonlit sky.
Men, machinery, bombs and maps,
Altimeters,guns and charts,
Coffee, sandwiches, fleece-lined boots,
Bones and muscles and minds and hearts,
English saplings with English roots
Deep in the earth they've left below.
Lie in the dark and listen.
Lie in the dark and listen.
They're going over in waves and waves
High above villages, hills and streams,
Country churches and little graves
And little citizens worried dreams;
Very soon they'll have reached the sea
And far below them will lie the bays
And cliffs and sands where they used to be
Taken for summer holidays.
Lie in the dark and let them go;
Theirs is a world we'll never know.
Lie in the dark and listen.
Lie in the dark and listen.
City magnates and steel contractors
Factory workers and politicians
Soft hysterical little actors,
Ballet dancers, reserved musicians
Safe in your warm civilian beds,
Count your profits and count your sheep
Life is passing above your heads,
Just turn over and try to sleep.
Lie in the dark and let them go
There's one debt you'll forever owe,
Lie in the dark and listen.
Written by Noel Coward
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It's that time of year again, and unfortunately we've lost many more young lads and a few young ladies.
Words are never enough, so here's 2007's video - Officially this time, as the Scottish Poppy Appeal Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brDmYnZDUMc
See you again next year!
RFUK.
Words are never enough, so here's 2007's video - Officially this time, as the Scottish Poppy Appeal Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brDmYnZDUMc
See you again next year!
RFUK.
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Why Wear a Poppy
I came across the poem below whilst researching my latest visit to Flanders. It is a response to John McCrae's famous poem.
I think it is important to remember, whatever your political belief, that War is a cheque that is written by committee, but is cashed by individuals. The numbers involved may be much less than 90 years ago, but the impact on the individual families is just as great.
I think it is important to remember, whatever your political belief, that War is a cheque that is written by committee, but is cashed by individuals. The numbers involved may be much less than 90 years ago, but the impact on the individual families is just as great.
Why Wear a Poppy, Donald J. Crawford
Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free —
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man — as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won —
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son — did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded cheek;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought — and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember — and give!
Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free —
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man — as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won —
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son — did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded cheek;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought — and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember — and give!
A really irritating PPRuNer
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At the going down of the sun, and in the morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLaw6lu8png
We will remember them.
Brian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLaw6lu8png
We will remember them.
Brian
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You may have noticed on the streets that a few servicemen in uniform are selling poppys. This practice used to be frowned upon but in todays climate it is accepted. It is also very effective. One soldier has been standing in the centre of a large town in the North West since day one of the apeal and has raised £5000 pounds to date. An incresable effort. The RM and RLC have targeted a large terminus on a nearby city and are dooing just as well. Needless to say not one has had to buy any food or drink during this time!
A Fantastic effort.
A Fantastic effort.
This practice used to be frowned upon
Rememberance
I wondered if those that read this forum wish to remember perhaps just one person no longer with us, or crew or a time and a place and share that moment with us all? For me I wish to remember Sgt Glyn Jones 25th May 1988 aged 22. It will be 20 years ago next year he left us - we promised never to forget him and I never will.
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We MUST Remember Them
May be the Wrong Thread.
But I think that it is Important
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...ile0022A50.jpg
But I think that it is Important
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...ile0022A50.jpg
Last edited by chiglet; 9th Nov 2007 at 23:34. Reason: Edit title
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Remembrance Day Poems
For All who wish to remember:
A poem written by an old friend of mine who served 40-45 (without a break) and promptly went batty as a consequence. He recovered and was an inspiration to all who knew him.
LUCK
I suppose they'll say his last thoughts were of simple things,
Of April back at home, and the late sun on his wings;
Or that he murmured someone's name
As earth reclaimed him sheathed in flame.
Oh God! Let's have no more of empty words,
Lip Service ornamenting death!
The worms don't spare the hero;
Nor can children feed upon resounding praises of his deed.
"He died who loved to live" they'll say,
"Unselfishly so we might have today!"
Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
Flt Lt. Dennis McHarrie, RAF Ret'd.
38 Sqn. MEAF, Barce (near Benghazi) 1942.
A poem written by an old friend of mine who served 40-45 (without a break) and promptly went batty as a consequence. He recovered and was an inspiration to all who knew him.
LUCK
I suppose they'll say his last thoughts were of simple things,
Of April back at home, and the late sun on his wings;
Or that he murmured someone's name
As earth reclaimed him sheathed in flame.
Oh God! Let's have no more of empty words,
Lip Service ornamenting death!
The worms don't spare the hero;
Nor can children feed upon resounding praises of his deed.
"He died who loved to live" they'll say,
"Unselfishly so we might have today!"
Like hell! He fought because he had to fight;
He died that's all. It was his unlucky night.
Flt Lt. Dennis McHarrie, RAF Ret'd.
38 Sqn. MEAF, Barce (near Benghazi) 1942.
Short article in today's Torygraph about the 42 (out of 16000!) villages who did not lose a man in the Great War:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...defence410.xml
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...defence410.xml