REMEMBRANCE DAY 2011
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Sitting at a table strewn with poppies in cellophane packets, people for the wearing of, took over UKP90 in less than two hours last Tuesday afternoon. This is in a suburban shopping mall in a small town almost as far South as one can go on mainland Australia.
Customers predominantly older men and women, and a good sprinkling of younger girls. Males up to the age of approx 45 yrs - no chance. They tended to look away as they approached - obviously feeling guilty. I would stare at them, and if they looked my way I would give them a big smile, and offer them a free one from some I had available. Old dears would almost always buy a $2.00 one.
Will be at a larger shopping mall in town Thursday afternoon the 10th, doing same again.
Customers predominantly older men and women, and a good sprinkling of younger girls. Males up to the age of approx 45 yrs - no chance. They tended to look away as they approached - obviously feeling guilty. I would stare at them, and if they looked my way I would give them a big smile, and offer them a free one from some I had available. Old dears would almost always buy a $2.00 one.
Will be at a larger shopping mall in town Thursday afternoon the 10th, doing same again.
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Flt Lt Arthur Wyn Idwal-Jones (#102593) - 218 Sqn - KIA May 1942
Sgt David Vincent Idwal Jones (#1430702) - 619 Sqn - KIA Aug 1943
For both my great uncles, and all the others who gave their tomorrows for my today,
I will remember them.
Sgt David Vincent Idwal Jones (#1430702) - 619 Sqn - KIA Aug 1943
For both my great uncles, and all the others who gave their tomorrows for my today,
I will remember them.
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Light Me a Candle
Light me a candle in your window, sweet,
And let it burn as brightly as our love;
However thick your curtains and complete
Your blackout, I shall see it from above.
Though high the space and long the distance stretch
Between myself and that far flickering light,
Its flame shall be my lodestar and will fetch
Me homewards through a century of night.
I'll set my course upon your lonely bed
And on your heartbeats my direction steer,
While like a star will shine above my head
That glow of faith, that challenge to your fear.
Keep warm your arms, and when the invading ice
Licks at our leading edge it will recall
Only their warmth and that rich benefice
To which I am inducted after all.
Sleep long, sleep sound, and dream while I am gone
Of happiness past and yet to be
When this moon-crazy interlude is done
And we can live and love at liberty.
But if one morning when you awake you see
The flame has died like dreams that fall apart,
Light me a candle for my memory
And let it burn for ever in your heart.
Flt Lt O. Chaves
Who did not return in 1943.
maxburner - your picture is interesting as it obviously shows one of the American war cemeteries in Normandy which are easily distinguished from the Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries by the fact that crosses, not headstones, are used to mark the graves.
The original graves of British & Commonwealth war dead were marked by crosses, but these were gradually replaced by the familiar headstone from the 1920s. There is an interesting article on this here:
Hellfire Corner - The Great War - Battlefield Crosses - War Graves
The engraving on the headstone of course incorporates a cross, Star of David or other religious symbol, as appropriate, and the American cemeteries certainly mark Jewish graves with the star. How either's cemeteries arrange for the burial of Muslims whose graves should be aligned to Mecca (I believe) I am not sure.
If you have never visited a war cemetery you should do so if possible - it is a sobering and humbling experience.
The original graves of British & Commonwealth war dead were marked by crosses, but these were gradually replaced by the familiar headstone from the 1920s. There is an interesting article on this here:
Hellfire Corner - The Great War - Battlefield Crosses - War Graves
The engraving on the headstone of course incorporates a cross, Star of David or other religious symbol, as appropriate, and the American cemeteries certainly mark Jewish graves with the star. How either's cemeteries arrange for the burial of Muslims whose graves should be aligned to Mecca (I believe) I am not sure.
If you have never visited a war cemetery you should do so if possible - it is a sobering and humbling experience.
TTN,
I fully concur with your last sentence. Last year we took our two boys to the Normandy beaches, Cafe Gondree at Pegasus Bridge and the British and Commonwealth War Cemeteries at Ranville and Bayeux.
For two typical teenagers (Kevins!) they were visibly moved and very interested in learning about that period of history. If we don't continue to pass this on to our youngsters then there is danger that in the future the acts of remembrance will fade away.
I fully concur with your last sentence. Last year we took our two boys to the Normandy beaches, Cafe Gondree at Pegasus Bridge and the British and Commonwealth War Cemeteries at Ranville and Bayeux.
For two typical teenagers (Kevins!) they were visibly moved and very interested in learning about that period of history. If we don't continue to pass this on to our youngsters then there is danger that in the future the acts of remembrance will fade away.
Last edited by 1.3VStall; 11th Nov 2011 at 11:14.
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Military Cemeteries
Based as I am, in the central area of mainland NW Europe, I have had the on-going privilege of visiting many of these places. The spectrum is extremely broad; from the American Cemeteries, which are beautifully arranged & almost manicured, to the German Cemeteries, which are dark places, filled with abject sorrow. In the midst of this range sits the British Cemeteries, which, as one would expect, are dignified & modest in their ambience.
I visited Luxembourg American Cemetery - General George Patton buried here, also 22 pairs of brothers buried side-by-side (40 pairs at Margraten US Cemetery in Holland). As with all such US places, it is beautiful; a place of celebration & respect, in fact. As I was leaving, the bell tower chimed the hour, then commenced to play a medley of WW2-era tunes; the hairs on the back of my neck stood up at the sound of this. An 82nd Airborne veteran was walking out at the same time, having taken his children/grandchildren etc there; we talked for a moment, & I mentioned my RAF service; he said that the RAF had bombed him several times, but he was happy that their accuracy was less than good on those occasions.
At the other end of this spectrum is the German Cemetery at Lommel (Belgium), close to the Dutch/Belgian border, NW of Liege. It is situated in a vast forest clearing; as I walked through the entrance gate, I was stunned at the scale of the place. Small crosses filled this huge space, and closer inspection revealed that often x4 men were buried at each cross (x2 each side of a cross). A total of some 39,000 German troops are buried there; a heavy air of immense waste & futility pervades the place - on that cold, damp autumn day, I did not linger too long.
As I sit here in my German office, my colleagues are handing out lollipops to celebrate the first day of the German Carnival season today, 11 November. I have declined; they have no understanding of the significance of this day.
As the clock moves inexorably towards 1100 (GMT), I shall sit in quiet reflection, remembering absent friends & those unknown to me, who gave their all.
Per Ardua ad Astra
HB
I visited Luxembourg American Cemetery - General George Patton buried here, also 22 pairs of brothers buried side-by-side (40 pairs at Margraten US Cemetery in Holland). As with all such US places, it is beautiful; a place of celebration & respect, in fact. As I was leaving, the bell tower chimed the hour, then commenced to play a medley of WW2-era tunes; the hairs on the back of my neck stood up at the sound of this. An 82nd Airborne veteran was walking out at the same time, having taken his children/grandchildren etc there; we talked for a moment, & I mentioned my RAF service; he said that the RAF had bombed him several times, but he was happy that their accuracy was less than good on those occasions.
At the other end of this spectrum is the German Cemetery at Lommel (Belgium), close to the Dutch/Belgian border, NW of Liege. It is situated in a vast forest clearing; as I walked through the entrance gate, I was stunned at the scale of the place. Small crosses filled this huge space, and closer inspection revealed that often x4 men were buried at each cross (x2 each side of a cross). A total of some 39,000 German troops are buried there; a heavy air of immense waste & futility pervades the place - on that cold, damp autumn day, I did not linger too long.
As I sit here in my German office, my colleagues are handing out lollipops to celebrate the first day of the German Carnival season today, 11 November. I have declined; they have no understanding of the significance of this day.
As the clock moves inexorably towards 1100 (GMT), I shall sit in quiet reflection, remembering absent friends & those unknown to me, who gave their all.
Per Ardua ad Astra
HB
Last edited by Halton Brat; 11th Nov 2011 at 15:04. Reason: spelling........
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Dusty this morning, here in East Yorks at least.
Particularily poignant here as my eldest daughter has just finished her nursing degree, and has signed up to the QARANCs to do her bit.
God watch over them all, please.
Particularily poignant here as my eldest daughter has just finished her nursing degree, and has signed up to the QARANCs to do her bit.
God watch over them all, please.
This morning at Saintes in Southern France, 6 of us from RAFA Sud Ouest France attended a Drapeu (Standard) presentation to the FAF Training School at Saintes, followed by a simple ceremony of wreath laying at the war memorial. The primary school children sang La Marseaillaise - not a dry eye in the house - and then the orchestra played the haunting melody that commemorates the French resistance. In a restaurant in Saintes last night a young French woman approached Mrs W and I to ask about our poppies - so we explained "In Flanders field the poppies grow, row on row...", and Earl Haig and the Royal British Legion. She went back to her table and the conversation for the next several minutes was centred on what I had told her. So hope we have spread the word a little.
Just another erk
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There have been lots of Army Cadets in the Border towns going round the main streets with collection tins, but I would like to point out the Air Cadets in Galashiels today, who were very smartly turned out, and for the short period I was in Gala, were doing a brisk trade in Poppies. Well done and nice to see the air side of things being represented in the Borders 
Fat Albert
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I have just watched the Royal British Legion Festival Of Remembrance.
Once again it was a wholly fitting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve their country in these troubled times.
I have a huge respect for the widows and families of those bereaved during recent ops. They carry themselves with great dignity.
Some excellent performances tonight from some of the countries greats.
It is good to see the continuing participation of our youth in these events.
It is very dusty in here this evening
Once again it was a wholly fitting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to serve their country in these troubled times.
I have a huge respect for the widows and families of those bereaved during recent ops. They carry themselves with great dignity.
Some excellent performances tonight from some of the countries greats.
It is good to see the continuing participation of our youth in these events.
It is very dusty in here this evening
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Her Majesty the Queen on Parade
Nice to see that at the Cenotaph today, her Majesty the Queen at the young age of 85 and The Duke of Edinburgh, age 90, stood for approx 40 mins in front of the Cenotaph. An example to us all and slightly better than the 44 military and civilian personnel who either walked off or fainted during the Armistace Parade at Camp Bastion on Friday Morning! After all, we must have been stood at attention for all of 10 mins!
One wonders what the modern military (not all I might add) youngster is made of these days!
One wonders what the modern military (not all I might add) youngster is made of these days!
Our town ceremony followed its established pattern with a few variations. The four sentinels with Arms Reversed guarding the War Memorial were this year Sea Cadets rather than Royal Marine ones, and one of them a girl at that. I was going to use the words "slip of" as she seemed too small to carry the full weight of an SA80 in the awkward "Resting on Arms Reversed" position, but she did so with a Guard like steadiness. The weapon hardly seems appropriate for such duty, being heavy and short, as compared to the Lee-Enfield .303, on which you did indeed rest your palms on the butt, the muzzle resting in turn on your boots (avoiding the bulled toe-caps of course!). The turn-out, both of cadets and public seems to increase year by year. The band was impressive as well, a Pipes and Drums one from the local ATC Squadron. In short a fitting tribute to the Fallen and a reminder of the enormous debt owed to them.
Remembrance
I went to my local church in No 1s, feeling a bit apprehensive as I didn't really know what the church felt about it. As I went in, one of the elderly gentlemen who gives out the hymn books perked up and whispered "well done" to me, which made me smile and I felt a lot better. All was going well until we got to "Abide with me" when I just couldn't hold the tears back (never can with that hymn) so kept my head down. Amazingly, all around I could hear sniffles and lots of hankies being brought out, and at the end the people beside me wiped their eyes, grabbed my arm and said "we are all so proud of you". More tears from me, sorry.
I was really moved by the warm wishes everyone gave to the Armed Forces, through me, and amazed by the number of people who sidled up to me and said things like "my son is in Afghanistan at the moment". I know the church-goers are a specialist bunch of people but I was really heartened to see the support for the troops from "the general public". Long may it continue.
I was really moved by the warm wishes everyone gave to the Armed Forces, through me, and amazed by the number of people who sidled up to me and said things like "my son is in Afghanistan at the moment". I know the church-goers are a specialist bunch of people but I was really heartened to see the support for the troops from "the general public". Long may it continue.
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ArthurR
That 20th June 67 date always brings back memories of pints of Tiger supped in the Camel Club with the "Geordies". Not forgetting the RCT lads lost on the same day.
Not Forgotten
Raised a glass today to those I knew and also those I did not, a few I knew are here:
Not Forgotten
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Shack37, will never forget that day, its a day (night) every year, I want to spend alone, just me, something to drink, and memories, sad all of them, I still wonder if the official toll of that day was true, rumour at the time had it higher, and the Russian spy was Prime Minister.
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I was in Petersfield on Sunday. An excellent turnout for a parade and memorial service at the War Memorial. Cadets read out the names of the deceased; started with WW1 and I noticed a very unusual surname of whom 4 had died, related presumably. The latest casualty was from 2010. I was very moved to see an old and very wiry Parachute Regiment veteran, smartly turned out, blind and supported by his wife and with his guide dog lying quietly at his feet.
