General Chat

A nudge for all our people who have or are dedicating their lives to others, either at home or abroad.
It is so easy to forget that athey are all showing true grit, courage, and an amazing care attitude. i can only add those famous words, " lest we forget"

good night everyone

Bridget

Some of us read but don't feel the need to comment. It doesn't mean we don't care. We do.

Just read this....

jude x

Rest in peace all those servicemen and women and others losing their lives in these dreadful wars.

Lizx

A gentle and respectful nudge

Thank you
xx

I don't think I told you before - though I'm not sure!

I found the London Gazette reference quite recently just by typing his name into Google as recommended by someone on here for all names!

Hi Elizabeth, did you tell me about this before?
If this is new information, I will try it.
I cannot believe that they can have it on his records, and I cannot find the act for which he was honoured.
Thanks Elizabeth... I will look.
Deanna X

I don't think it is about not being interested, or not caring, Liz. I have a thread running on chat, and lots of lovely caring people have answered it.... if they, and I, haven't responded to your thread, it is sooooo not because we don't care or are not interested.
(edit, when I first read this, there was a comment about *not caring* which is what I answered as well. It has gone now, but it was written, and lots of people will have read it, so I will leave my response to it in place)

Deanna - have you tried the National Archives? My father was also mentioned in despatches (a survivor of HMS Repulse) and they sent me the file of the correspondence recommending him and his colleagues for awards. It was also listed in the London Gazette.

I have been away to Army sons' wedding and came back at lunch time so have just read this very poignant thread, we must keep it going so hope that others respond as well

Bridget

n

Obviously it's as this poor chap said, some efforts are ignored. Thanks to those who nudged this thread.

Shame it's not interested many others.

Lizx

Another nudge, cause I can't believe true heroes are being ignored.

Nudge too.... because it is important.


In 1944 my dad was Mentioned in Dispatches WW11, and when I looked it up, I found that he was not there.
I have his army records (and the oak leaf which is added to the combat medal) so I can prove the honour.
It seems that the records may have been deleted.....
ALL our young men SHOULD be remembered, and THANKED.
Deanna X

Another nudge, this is getting too low down on the list.

Gentle nudge please

Thank you
xx

Solider's poignant message
(I HAVE WRITTEN TO COMPLAIN ABOUT INCORRECT SPELLING BEING DISRESPECTFUL, IT HAPPENS SO OFTEN WITH OUR ONLINE NEWSPAPER- apologies for shouting but wanted to differentiate my words from report.

Last updated: 22/07/2010 17:00:00

A former Norfolk soldier killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq had penned a poignant message highlighting the unsung bravery of fellow civilian workers.

Nic Crouch, 29, was a private security guard protecting United States Army engineers building a hospital in the city of Mosul when his convoy came under attack.

A car packed with explosives was triggered by a suicide bomber, killing Mr Crouch and wounding three of his colleagues and five Iraqi civilians on Monday morning.

In a moving letter written to his family he says many other former British soldiers doing security work in the Middle East had died with “little or no acknowledgement of their bravery”.

Mr Crouch, who went beyond the call of duty to help local casualties when serving in Afghanistan, admits he also returned to the Middle East for the money but stressed “we are not mercenaries”, adding “we were here out of disillusionment and to try to provide a better future for our families not available in our own regiments.” His parents at Trimingham near Cromer have paid tribute to the popular ex-paratrooper as a caring conscientious man who overcame dyslexia to become an army officer in the Parachute Regiment and later switched to a civilian job specialising in close protection duties.

They revealed that it was Nic's final wish, spelled out in his will, that if he died the bravery of former soldiers private security work should be recognised.

He said: “If I should be killed in Afghanistan or Iraq and the media is interested I would like them to knoww how I and all the other former soldiers contributed to the Great Game.

“I seek no personal glory, but many good Paras and other ex-servicemen have died supporting these operations with little or no acknowledgement of their bravery. It is widely accepted that without us the British and US forces couldn't operate.”

The former Gresham's schoolboy said while civilian security workers were better paid than soldiers, they did not have the air, firepower and medical back up.

And he adds: “If you're reading this I bought it. I pray you are comforted and understand that we all die some day and however premature my death I lived a full and passionate life.”

Parents Clive and Barbara Crouch said Nic, who would be sorely missed by his family, colleagues and friends, was a popular and dedicated soldier, who always found time to help and support his men. One of men in the platoon he commanded was Cromer man Cpl Stephen Bolger, who was killed, aged 30, in an explosion in Afghanistan in June 2009.

Mr Crouch, a former RAF flying instructor who later ran the Jaguar jet simulator at RAF Coltishall in a civilian role, said his son won an Army sixth form scholarship before graduating from Sandhurst in 2000.

His initial attempt to join the Paras was turned down, but Nic wrote to the commanding officer urging a rethink, and got in - showing his determination.

He was a basic training instructor, and did spells in Northern Ireland including tackling terrorism and smuggling on the border.

Arrangements are still being made for his funeral which is likely to be in early August at Trimingham church where has asked to be buried in his Hugo Boss suit, but with his army jungle boots, combat dress and Para beret with him.

___________

It's sad that this message had to be from a man who has lost his life, we should remember that it's not just currently serving soldiers etc who are risking their lives.

Lizx