General Chat

I am glad to see that Rollo's post which was reported has been restored. Thankyou GR.

I sincerely think that RR'rs should have the courage of their convictions and state WHY they report posts........

Just to be clear. I did not report Rollo's post. I was not even here as I have been out since 11.15.

I don't suppose anyone would like to admit to it??? :-S

Remembering the young farm lad who left his family to fight for his country & died on a muddy French field.

'Our Will'

Killed in action 1st October 1916 aged 20

Also remembering his half brothers who returned from WW2, two with wounds that could be seen, 2 others who had been in prisoner of war camps. All marched proudly wearing their medals, every Remembrance Day till they died.

None chose to be soldiers but all fought for their country & were proud to have done so. They had the knowledge that their country was still there to return to, the best payment they could ask for.

We remember them

I must register an objection, to the reporting of Rollo's comment, which was his opinion given his experience and not meant to be disrespectful to the memory of the war dead OR living I am sure.

It is hard not to be moved in, perhaps,a mawkish and sentimental way, by poetry ( hard to write a 'Remembrance' poem that isn't mawkish!) or by the Cenotaph ceremony and parade, which I have watched since a child and still and always feel mixed emotions about.

The support for returning soldiers is not all it should be, that is clear.

They were/are not all 'heroes fighting for freedom' ( though that may have been what their service has bought), for some they are just doing a job they love with dedication, for others like 'my' Ernest who joined up age 15 WW1, it must have seemed an adventure, I doubt he had great philosophical thoughts of 'fighting for freedom'.

Remembering personally the heroes, and the un-heroic who were 'just doing their job', those who saw a wider perspective, and those who just saw it as 'protecting their family at home' , those who died like 'my' Ernest and those who came back changed.

Remembrance and respect.

No rainbows here, at my age and with a husband who served 12 years in the fleet air arm I have no illusions about war. But I do believe that those who fought in the first world war in particular did, in their eyes, fight for the freedom of others.

I never had a scratch as my GF (a regular soldier within sound of the guns in August 1914.) advised me "There are brave soldiers and old soldiers but no old brave soldiers". His advice stopped me making rash decisions and undoubtedly saved lives.

I dislike the annual markishness of fine words especially from people ( and above all politicians ) who have no idea at all that men at war do not fight for freedom or seek to be heros, they fight for their brothers in arms against the undefeated enemies of the sea, mud, the desert and politicians and bureaucrats.

Fine words heal no wounds neither do they pay the bills of those that survive.
I am truly sorry if that breaks your rainbow.

<3

Thank you Rollo. I realise that you have not had a good experience of help and are therefore very bitter. But I rather liked the poem for this particular day.

Today as we remember all those who who lost their lives in both world wars and in other armed conflicts - we should also remember all those who suffered horrific injuries and who, against all odds, survived.

Ann <3 <3 <3 <3

I WENT into a public 'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, " We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' " Tommy, go away " ;
But it's " Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's " Thank you, Mister Atkins," when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' " Tommy, wait outside ";
But it's " Special train for Atkins " when the trooper's on the tide
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's " Special train for Atkins " when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap.
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an` Tommy, 'ow's yer soul? "
But it's " Thin red line of 'eroes " when the drums begin to roll
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's " Thin red line of 'eroes, " when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an` Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's " Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's " Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an` Chuck him out, the brute! "
But it's " Saviour of 'is country " when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An 'Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Nothing of any importance has changed since this was written.

Fine words cost nothing.

In terms of the support me and my family received, it absolutely was not enough. There were different agencies involved at Selly Oak, but no one had a clue what each one was doing-it was chaos. When I was injured, my Regiment were already struggling to support the families of two officers who had been killed, and they didn't have the capacity to support me properly as well, which made things really hard for us. But they made up for it later. As for the MoD, they have no intention or wish to support anyone-and they have not made up for it since. When a soldier gets injured, it's not only devastating for them personally, but it has huge effects on their family. Often, they'll have to take unpaid time off work to support the wounded guy, meaning they can lose their jobs and be unable to pay the bills.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/remembrance-sunday-a-new-book-about-the-living-whose-battles-go-on-8930919.html

I found this on Facebook and thought how lovely it is.


I do not know your name
Nor for which battle you died.
I do not know your home
Nor the tears that you cried.

I do not know where you rest
Nor the promises broken,
I do not know your uniform
And your fears lay unspoken

But I know your spirit exists,
That your courage is admired
And your sacrifice is honoured
By each soul that is inspired.

And I offer you from my heart
Thank you, to guardians unknown
For offering yourselves for us all
That we may keep freedom.....
Our home.

Bless you

Sherrie Ball.