Poppy guest and Katy P

[Boris Bear]

We have the Perspex outlines of soldiers from there but not there dotted around our village with details of soldiers who died. Some of them were only 20 which I assume is about the same age as the students who want clapping banned because it’s distressing. It make you think.

 

[boffy]

I hate war its a terrible way for one person to die much less millions. breaks my heart

 

[Twilight]

We have the Perspex outlines of soldiers from there but not there dotted around our village with details of soldiers who died. Some of them were only 20 which I assume is about the same age as the students who want clapping banned because it’s distressing. It make you think.

Manchester University Students Union 'officials' are exceedingly precious.

 

[KimP]

Did anyone visit the Tower of London in 2014 to see the poppies display commemorating the start of WW1 ? It was one of the most moving sights I've ever seen, made even more emotional by the crowds of people looking on in silence.

I'm going again next month to see the lighting of 'torches' in the moat after dark. More tears.

Yes, it was fantastic. I went in the November when it was nearly complete and it was one of those experiences you never forget. It was the same day as the Lord Mayors show so after viewing the poppies, had some lunch and then back to the Thames to see the procession of boats. I am not going to be there for the torches but I am sure it will be incredibly moving.

 

[Lemonpop]

Our market has a huge display of knitted poppies.

 

[ERICS MUM]

I didn’t see the poppies but I’ve got a ticket to go into the Tower grounds to see the torches on 9th November.

I go on the 8th. Taking lots of tissues with me !

 

[Twilight]

This is a very interesting thread. Thank you to everyone who has added their stories & thoughts, I have read every one, found them very moving & they have given me something elae to think about during a difficult week.

 

[shopperholic]

The husband was in the army, The Signals as an engineer, I'll never forget going down to Catterick to watch his Passing Out Parade with his mum and dad, I was only 19, he looked so handsome and smart I thought my heart was going to burst, made even more poignant that my birthdate is 11.11.65 Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) it's on the Sunday this year. Yes it's a special time of year for reflection.

 

[shopperholic]

I hate war its a terrible way for one person to die much less millions. breaks my heart

Yes, I agree.

 

[boffy]

I watched film about the assassination of Himmler and the brave men and women involved with killing this evil man. all were hunted down and killed or sent to concentration camps and died. even children that helped were hunted down. war is something I really hate with a passion. its not just soldiers that die its civilians to.

 

[AndiK]

I have been catching up with the forum and only just looked at this thread. I started reading the first posts with longer personal accounts and remembrances as the song “Lost Without You” by Freya Ridings came on the radio and I’m afraid the combination of the two was emotional overload for me so I haven’t made it to page 2 yet. Sobering as the stories are, there’s something uplifting about the sharing of them so thank you for taking the time to tell us your memories and about the experiences of brave family members.

 

[Lemonpop]

On my earlier thread I had forgotten about my grandfather. He was in the Hussars and was sent to America just before WW1 to teach the US Cavalry how to charge, so my dad told me. My grandfather died in 1936, long before I was born and I have 1 picture of him on a horse, my gran threw away everything that related to him when he died, very sad. Dad said he was mentioned in dispatches on his return from America but we have not been able to verify if it is correct or not.

 

[Loveinamist]

On my earlier thread I had forgotten about my grandfather. He was in the Hussars and was sent to America just before WW1 to teach the US Cavalry how to charge, so my dad told me. My grandfather died in 1936, long before I was born and I have 1 picture of him on a horse, my gran threw away everything that related to him when he died, very sad. Dad said he was mentioned in dispatches on his return from America but we have not been able to verify if it is correct or not.

I hope you trace him Lemonpop.
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/research-mention-despatches/

 

[Toril]

My parents were both in the Army Medical Corp and both went on to work in the NHS. After the war,Mum was a nursing sister and dad was a Leading Consultant Physician specialising in infectious diseases. He also lectured in the teaching hospitals in London and wrote several published articles in The Lancet and other medical journals. He worked until his early death, at 56, from cancer.

In the war, mum was an Queen Alexandra's Nurse and was one of the nurses who went over on D-Day to help the wounded servicemen. She was also sent into Belsen concentration camp to nurse the ill and injured prisoners. That's the one part of her work which she never talked about other than to say that, while she was there, she saw things that she would never forget.

Both my parents gained medals for their service.

When mum died she'd left a donation to the British Legion and I've also got the same request in my Will. As well as donating money to the British Legion regularly, I also bought one of the poppies that were on display at the Tower.

So many have given their lives in the service of our country and so many are still serving in the forces to ensure that we keep our freedom.

They, and those to come, should never be forgotten.

 

[boffy]

imagine working in a concentration camp.....its just too awful to even try to comprehend. your mum should never be forgotten for being so brave and strong

 

[Vienna]

When I was out in Hawaii I visited Pearl Harbour and took the launch out to the US Arizona which is a War Grave. You step out of the launch onto the memorial which bridges over the Arizona. Her funnel still stands above the water and her outline is clearly visible, there is oil still leaking from her even after all these years. The bridge memorial has the names of everybody lost that day and when you enter Pearl Harbour on the back of your entrance ticket there`s a potted history of someone who died that day. Mine was of a nurse who tried to help the injured but was killed when a bomb exploded nearby.
I visited in 2007 and was told they regularly had requests from families who`se elderly loved one had survived the bombings but had now passed away and their last wish had been to have their ashes scattered alongside their old comrades.
It`s a very touching place to visit and you see actual news reel of the bombings and it brings home that so many people from so many Countries lost their lives in War.

 

[candycane]

When I was out in Hawaii I visited Pearl Harbour and took the launch out to the US Arizona which is a War Grave. You step out of the launch onto the memorial which bridges over the Arizona. Her funnel still stands above the water and her outline is clearly visible, there is oil still leaking from her even after all these years. The bridge memorial has the names of everybody lost that day and when you enter Pearl Harbour on the back of your entrance ticket there`s a potted history of someone who died that day. Mine was of a nurse who tried to help the injured but was killed when a bomb exploded nearby.
I visited in 2007 and was told they regularly had requests from families who`se elderly loved one had survived the bombings but had now passed away and their last wish had been to have their ashes scattered alongside their old comrades.
It`s a very touching place to visit and you see actual news reel of the bombings and it brings home that so many people from so many Countries lost their lives in War.

I would love to go on that trip and I know Mr CC would. Something to save for.

CC

 

[Twilight]

My parents were both in the Army Medical Corp and both went on to work in the NHS. After the war,Mum was a nursing sister and dad was a Leading Consultant Physician specialising in infectious diseases. He also lectured in the teaching hospitals in London and wrote several published articles in The Lancet and other medical journals. He worked until his early death, at 56, from cancer.

In the war, mum was an Queen Alexandra's Nurse and was one of the nurses who went over on D-Day to help the wounded servicemen. She was also sent into Belsen concentration camp to nurse the ill and injured prisoners. That's the one part of her work which she never talked about other than to say that, while she was there, she saw things that she would never forget.

Both my parents gained medals for their service.

When mum died she'd left a donation to the British Legion and I've also got the same request in my Will. As well as donating money to the British Legion regularly, I also bought one of the poppies that were on display at the Tower.

So many have given their lives in the service of our country and so many are still serving in the forces to ensure that we keep our freedom.

They, and those to come, should never be forgotten.

Beautiful words. My maternal grandparents were asylum seekers; Polish Jews who left everything behind to save their lives. They must have spent the whole of WW2 dreading an invasion that would have found them. The decisions we make can be analysed later & my grandad's decision not to stay in Amsterdam, their first choice because of his trade as a jeweller, but to travel on to the UK obviously was the right one. He loved England & was accepted by his colleagues very quickly. My grandmother must have found life very lonely, she had two young children & had to adapt to a new life, language & culture without any support. My husband visited Auschwitz last summer & said that all he could think about was that my mum would have been sent to her death immediately if she had still been in Poland.

 

[Twilight]

On my earlier thread I had forgotten about my grandfather. He was in the Hussars and was sent to America just before WW1 to teach the US Cavalry how to charge, so my dad told me. My grandfather died in 1936, long before I was born and I have 1 picture of him on a horse, my gran threw away everything that related to him when he died, very sad. Dad said he was mentioned in dispatches on his return from America but we have not been able to verify if it is correct or not.

There's something very special about the word Hussar & he sounds wonderful.

 

[Twilight]

The husband was in the army, The Signals as an engineer, I'll never forget going down to Catterick to watch his Passing Out Parade with his mum and dad, I was only 19, he looked so handsome and smart I thought my heart was going to burst, made even more poignant that my birthdate is 11.11.65 Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) it's on the Sunday this year. Yes it's a special time of year for reflection.

How lovely to have you back, Shopps. I have missed you, please stay. I can imagine your pride at his parade, he sounds something special then & obviously is now. What a birth date, it's such a moving time of the year & even the weather appears to be quieter at that time in November. It was my 60th last Saturday, I ended up in the local Urgent Care Centre & was given massive anti biotics, on my way home I had my nose pierced (love it) & then on Tuesday my younger daughter was rushed in for emergency surgery so I'm looking after her & baby granddaughter. Bit of a week all round, so you see I need you back on here, with those who also like a giggle, because the Dyson thingy is about to be launched & your comments are required.