Armistice 100/ Victory 100
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I shall remember my step-uncle who died a Serjeant at 21 years old on March 21 1918. I've often reflected on how he must have thought he was going to make it after being in from the start.
I for one will be at the local Memorial proudly watching my two boys marching in uniform with the Army Cadets. (I tried to steer them towards the Air Cadets like me, but kids are so stubborn...) As a family we will remember one Grandfather who as a Chief Engine Room Artificer just missed being torpedoed in Scapa Flow because he missed his train, and another who served in Portsmouth City Police during the Pompey Blitz. Both luckily survived to old age. (Looks like I'll be the only Airman in the whole family at this rate...)
(I landed in Basra for the first time in Feb 2008, a couple of days after Baz Bazwood was sadly killed. The MT section was very subdued but cracked on with the task. Per Ardua.)
I will be at the ceremony in my village in the Corrèze. Always well attended and the schoolchildren are there to, hopefully, learn and see it never happens again. So many names on the memorial are those of people still living in the village.
The local history society has created a superb display in our village hall, which lists and honours all those who died. Over 500 went to war, 88 died. Each of the dead has a separate sheet of paper with his age, married or not, occupation and how they died. There are also many memories and relics lent by families. I was very pleased to be asked to create a small display about the history of the poppy, as I sell them locally for the RBL.
I try to give out any I have left to the children on the 11th. The French are much more conscious of the poppy since the Tower of London display. I will also be remembering my own father who was killed by terrorists in Cyprus.
The local history society has created a superb display in our village hall, which lists and honours all those who died. Over 500 went to war, 88 died. Each of the dead has a separate sheet of paper with his age, married or not, occupation and how they died. There are also many memories and relics lent by families. I was very pleased to be asked to create a small display about the history of the poppy, as I sell them locally for the RBL.
I try to give out any I have left to the children on the 11th. The French are much more conscious of the poppy since the Tower of London display. I will also be remembering my own father who was killed by terrorists in Cyprus.
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Inland of the RAF Donna Nook "air weapons range" is the Village of North Somercotes where my Great Uncle's War Grave is in the Village Cemetery. Pte Hallett died in Louth Red Cross Hospital on Armistice day. His family had been to the hospital earlier in the day and the nurses explained that he had been told the War was over and that he wouldn't have to go back. That evening, at peace, he died. His death wasn't certified until the following day as there was no doctor at the hospital overnight. As the guns fell silent and the nation was celebrating, the atmosphere in Bishopthorpe Lodge, Tetney, will have been somber.
100 years later Bertie's family will be at the North Somercotes War memorial for the village's memorial service and will then lay crosses/wreaths on Bertie's war grave. I'm sure many of you have overflown the North Somercotes Parish Cemetery (or been very close). If you use RAF Donna Nook, remember Bertie who is now At Rest
100 years later Bertie's family will be at the North Somercotes War memorial for the village's memorial service and will then lay crosses/wreaths on Bertie's war grave. I'm sure many of you have overflown the North Somercotes Parish Cemetery (or been very close). If you use RAF Donna Nook, remember Bertie who is now At Rest
Just off to the Sleaford Ceremony in the Market Square. On the way back I will pop in to the small Sleaford Museum (built in a converted public toilet) to see their Armistice displays ( and eat a bit of Trench Cake!).
My filthy cold and I crawled into town to buy more Lemsip, Strepsils and Kleenex, before coming home to watch the Cenotaph ceremony on TV. But the turn out in Witney was most impressive - the cadets in particular looked very smart in their 21st Century cabbage kit. Many veterans and relatives also in attendance.
From about 10.40am today there will be a parade and service at the war memorial on Church Green and a service afterwards at St Mary’s Church.
I was at RAFC Cranwell in 1968 and do not recall a major commemoration on the 50th anniversary, when many WW1 veterans would still have been alive. It seems that as the Armed Forces become ever smaller, the recognition of service from others increases?
From about 10.40am today there will be a parade and service at the war memorial on Church Green and a service afterwards at St Mary’s Church.
I was at RAFC Cranwell in 1968 and do not recall a major commemoration on the 50th anniversary, when many WW1 veterans would still have been alive. It seems that as the Armed Forces become ever smaller, the recognition of service from others increases?
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Watching on TV, for which I apologise.
Appalled to see that Corbyn person wearing his best dark anorak.
Appalled to see that Corbyn person wearing his best dark anorak.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I will remember two, both R.N., both survived WWII and are now Resting in Peace.
One my uncle.
The second, a neighbour who had been a POW of the Japanese and appeared when I was about 2 years old having spent some time recuperating from the treatment he suffered. Obviously it was some time before I had an idea what that may have entailed.
My thoughts will also be with those who also served in Aden and now rest in Silent Valley.
They shall grow not old.
One my uncle.
The second, a neighbour who had been a POW of the Japanese and appeared when I was about 2 years old having spent some time recuperating from the treatment he suffered. Obviously it was some time before I had an idea what that may have entailed.
My thoughts will also be with those who also served in Aden and now rest in Silent Valley.
They shall grow not old.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
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At the well-attended service at the Garden of Remembrance in Port St Mary, wearing my GSM w/c NI as I always do. I was accosted by a lady, the widow of a chap blown up in NI in 1971. He survived but never fully recovered. She was SO pleased and really touched that someone was attending wearing that medal. Not half as pleased and touched as I was by her reaction and that I was wearing it - for him and for so many others.
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Played the organ for the morning service at the kirk (preceded by service & 2 minute silence at the war memorial).
The kirk had a magnificent poppy display
and other relevant items
The kirk had a magnificent poppy display
and other relevant items
Join Date: Jul 2018
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... I wondered who the 'train spotter' was! In fairness, he probably genuinely thought he was smart, even with the big puffy hood on the back. It was nearly black and at least he didn't wear his best pumps and had finished with his Starrbucks coffee cup. Someone could have advised him better? Shops are open Sundays.
I find every ceremony a very dignified way to reflect on the sacrifice of those who have served and suffered and for people today to remember that freedom does not come freely. There are still many threats today, in one form or another; we should not be complacent about what we have and what we were given by those that lived and died in the two world wars and others.
My mother was in the army at 17 an anti-aircraft gun aimer in WWII. Some Nazi bombers never did it again thanks to my mum and one V-1 never found its target. Her youngest brother was killed by a U-Boat; he was a merchant seaman. He had a heart problem and paid a quack doctor to pass him as healthy; a tragic story among millions of tragic stories of war.
My mum hated the Nazis with a passion but at the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, she happily shared a table with the German Naval attache and both enjoyed the day in each others company, which is how it should be. She has a lot of compassion for all suffering having seen so much of it herself.
WWII was essentially about regime change and should be a lesson remembered by everyone today; when you look at some powerful countries today the parallels are frightening. What happened in Germany in 1930's could happen anywhere today. I lived in Germany and they were a lesson in how to remember that war in particular; with sombre clarity, respect and understanding; they grieved so much for other countries but their personal grief is held in private. The civilian devastation was phenomenal.
I was glad to see the German prime minister today. I personally hope that Germans will be allowed to grieve with us and us with them; it would be a fitting ultimate act of bringing back together countries that the Nazi's sought to keep apart.
I find every ceremony a very dignified way to reflect on the sacrifice of those who have served and suffered and for people today to remember that freedom does not come freely. There are still many threats today, in one form or another; we should not be complacent about what we have and what we were given by those that lived and died in the two world wars and others.
My mother was in the army at 17 an anti-aircraft gun aimer in WWII. Some Nazi bombers never did it again thanks to my mum and one V-1 never found its target. Her youngest brother was killed by a U-Boat; he was a merchant seaman. He had a heart problem and paid a quack doctor to pass him as healthy; a tragic story among millions of tragic stories of war.
My mum hated the Nazis with a passion but at the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, she happily shared a table with the German Naval attache and both enjoyed the day in each others company, which is how it should be. She has a lot of compassion for all suffering having seen so much of it herself.
WWII was essentially about regime change and should be a lesson remembered by everyone today; when you look at some powerful countries today the parallels are frightening. What happened in Germany in 1930's could happen anywhere today. I lived in Germany and they were a lesson in how to remember that war in particular; with sombre clarity, respect and understanding; they grieved so much for other countries but their personal grief is held in private. The civilian devastation was phenomenal.
I was glad to see the German prime minister today. I personally hope that Germans will be allowed to grieve with us and us with them; it would be a fitting ultimate act of bringing back together countries that the Nazi's sought to keep apart.
Observed the two minutes' silence at Harry Patch's grave in St Michael's churchyard in Monkton Combe in Somerset, with the exact timing and Last Post provided discreetly from Radio 4 on my mobile, and subsequently proud to lay a floral tribute on his simple yet dignified grave, which could perhaps be called the Tomb of the Known Warrior.
Jack
Jack
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Little Baston church in very south Lincs seats 200 at a pinch. Thus 350+ was a trifle cosy. Medals on many right breasts, a MBE BEM LSG group caught my eye, a Single bell tolled before service [me], all six ringing joyfully afterwards, a childrens' choir, Last Post , " I vow to thee my country" .............. and a good display to commemorate 100 years of the RAF in the mix.
A fabulous day, and equally fabulous to be a tiny part of a massive commemoration.
A fabulous day, and equally fabulous to be a tiny part of a massive commemoration.
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Possibly the most humbling Remembrance Sunday I will ever attend anywhere in my lifetime. Horse Guards was full for the form up, I got to meet many members of the association I am now a member of, including the oldest surviving WWII drivers, the aircrew and engineers from that time to now and swap stories. I saw many old friends from other tours and places. Marching out onto Whitehall gave an idea what I was going to see and hear. The acts of remembrance, the hearing of many people that would not normally sing do so on the tops of their voices. The march past, cheering the Pensioners, applauding the other associations as they marched off, Marching off and the Eyes left salute. The thousands applauding you from the side. The return to Horse Guards. The most humbling events of the day. Waiting in the Foyer of the RAF Club before going to Horse Guards, seeing another Granby veteran. We say hello and ask where we were. I mention what I was and the what I did as an engineer, his reply was alas he didn’t know much first hand as he had been shot down and not treated very nicely. Robbie Stewart. The other happened to myself and another ex Sqn engineer that had served out in Iraq with them 14 years before I was born. We were walking back to the RAF club via the Mall and the peoples march was waiting to march off. We were the only veterans around on that stretch for some reason and sections of the march were applauding us. Very humbling. I replied back by applauding them, I was in awe of them. None of us were there to celebrate Victory.
