General Chat

O valiant hearts who to your glory came Through dust of conflict and through battle flame; Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved, Your memory hallowed in the land you loved. Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war As who had heard God’s message from afar; All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave, To save mankind—yourselves you scorned to save. Splendid you passed, the great surrender made; Into the light that nevermore shall fade; Deep your contentment in that blest abode, Who wait the last clear trumpet call of God. Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still, Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill, While in the frailty of our human clay, Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self same way. Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this, Like some bright star above the dark abyss; Still, through the veil, the Victor’s pitying eyes Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries. These were His servants, in His steps they trod, Following through death the martyred Son of God: Victor, He rose; victorious too shall rise They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice. O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead, Whose cross has bought them and Whose staff has led, In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land Commits her children to Thy gracious hand. Words: John S. Ark­wright, 1919.

BBC news online: '' 'Smell of death 'stays with you always' Two veterans with an age difference of nearly 80 years are preparing to pay tribute to their fallen comrades at the Cenotaph in London for Remembrance Sunday. Their experiences of war may be divided by decades, but World War I veteran Henry Allingham, and L/Cpl David Hart, who has recently served in Afghanistan, are united on one point - those who gave their lives for their country must never be forgotten. The recent deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq have shown that as annual tribute to the UK's armed forces, Remembrance Day is just as relevant today as ever. When the guns finally fell silent to end the Great War at 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, Mr Allingham had lived through the Battle of Jutland, served in what was to later become the RAF and had survived the Western Front (despite being shot in the arm). The stench of death is sweet, he has previously said, and it stays with you always. One night while recovering aircraft in the Ypres Salient, he fell into a ditch full of rotting rats and body parts. Now aged 109, he has not forgotten such experiences. Henry Allingham enlisted at the age of 19 Mr Allingham, who was in France on Friday to mark Armistice Day, paid tribute to his fallen comrades. 'You can't help but recall them,' he told the BBC. 'The pals who you saw destroyed, it wasn't very nice.' He also plans to be at the Cenotaph in London to mark Remembrance Sunday. While he has always tried to forget the horrors of the Great War, with just nine other British survivors still alive, suddenly it has become important for Mr Allingham, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, to remember. 'By coming here, you recall things you want to forget. I do the best I can. I come here to pay homage to these brave men,' he said in France. 'I dare not think about things too much because I would not be able to control myself. I take a deep breath. L/Cpl Hart was found wandering on fire after the blast in January 2004 'But you and I owe so much to these men who gave all they could have given on my behalf and everyone's behalf. It is so important that we acknowledge them.' For 29-year-old L/Cpl Hart, who was seriously injured in a suicide car bombing in 2004 which killed a comrade, the reality of war is also hard to forget. His wounds are a daily reminder. A former member of the Territorial Army, he has lost the use of his left hand and severe nerve damage has rendered most of his left arm useless. 'Everyday things seem quite trivial now,' he said, 'but then again it's the trivial things that can be quite stressful, like tying my shoe laces.' The soldier, from Tiverton, Devon, was on patrol in a Land Rover in the capital Kabul when a taxi exploded. He was blown into a nearby field and later found wandering and still on fire by locals. To this day, his memory of the event is hazy. This year he has been part of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal campaign. L/Cpl Hart suffered severe head injuries and nerve damage 'I think it is right that we remember people like myself and the friends I have lost, as well as past conflicts,' he said. 'All the focus is on World War I this year, but I think in this day and age we are pretty much involved in some area of conflict almost daily,' he said. 'And there are fundamental ways in which it's the same - we are still upholding people's freedom to live the way the wish.' But even he says what soldiers went through in both World Wars was 'beyond comprehension'. The kind of trauma he suffered, they suffered on an almost daily basis. 'I think what happened to me really brought home the wide-reaching impact that something like that can have,' he said. 'And to remember it for one day a year is not a lot to ask of people.' ''

nudge

They shall grow not old As we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them Nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun And in the morning We will remember them. We will remember them.

My Gt Granddad James Henry Nightingale King's Royal Rifle Corps. Served in the South African Campaign. Re-enlisted in 1914, killed in action 25/09/1915 Loos Memorial France Charles Nightingale (son of JHN) Essex Regiment 2nd Bn 5/10/1914 buried Levallois-Perret France George Frederick Nightingale (Brother of JHN) Royal Fusiliers 36th Trench Mortar Bty missing in action 3/5/1917 Arras Memorial France Bertie Ernest Nightingale (Uncle of JHN) Army service Corps 62 Remounts. died of injuries 15/7/1918 Walthamstow England Frederick john Nightingale (Brother of JHN) Sth Wales Borders 2nd Bn missing in action 13/8/1915 Helles Memorial France Time may heal the heart, but the memory lives on in our children today thanks to genealogy. I’m pleased to say that both of my children have been doing school projects (Junior & College) on the two World Wars, it gives them a better understanding when all the children bring together their family memories to show how vast an impact this was…. Alan

A year since this was last on the boards. The same message though. Deb

bumping for the morning crew

God Bless to all my family that served in the war's. But i would like to say I will be thinking of those that are out there serving active duties this year. This year my lot are haome but have had the last severl years with brother and brother-in -law out in iraq and afgan. So my love to anyone who has anyone there this year and mostly christmas. Thinking of ya all Bubbles

Thanks Debs this year has gone so quick For all those who gave thier lives and the ones who suffered for so long after we are thinking about them God Bless Them love Howiexxx

'Please wear a poppy', the lady said And held one forth, but I shook my head. Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there, And her face was old and lined with care; But beneath the scars the years had made There remained a smile that refused to fade. A boy came whistling down the street, Bouncing along on care-free feet. His smile was full of joy and fun, 'Lady,' said he, 'may I have one?' When she'd pinned it on he turned to say 'Why do we wear a poppy today?' The lady smiled in her wistful way and answered, 'This is Remembrance Day, And the poppy there is the symbol for The gallant men who died in war. And because they did, you and I are free - That's why we wear a poppy, you see.' 'I had a boy about your size, with golden hair and big blue eyes, He loved to play and jump and shout, free as a bird he would race about, as the years went by he learned and grew and became a man - as you will too. He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile but he'd seemed with us such a little while when the war broke out and he went away. I still remember his face that day when he smiled at me and said 'Goodbye, I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry'. But the war went on and he had to stay, and all I could do was wait and pray. His letters told of the awful fight, (I can see it still in my dreams at night) with the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire, and the mines and bullets, and bombs and fire. 'Till at last, at last, the war was won - and that's why we wear a poppy, son'. The small boy turned as if to go, then said, 'Thanks lady, I'm glad to know, that sure did sound like an awful fight, but your son - did he come back all right? A tear rolled down each faded cheek; she shook her head, but didn't speak. I slunk away in a sort of shame, and if you were me you'd feel the same; for our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed, though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid: and so when we see a poppy worn, let us reflect on the burden borne by those who gave their very all when asked to answer their country's call that we at home in peace might live. Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!

Robbie For you mate Stop laughing I remembered you more than once

A message from an old War Hero found in a medel box When you go home. Tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, We gave our today. Well that just about says it all i think. Put on your poppy's with pride

In Remembrance.

Chris

(links below, well worth a look)

http://www.cwgc.org/

http://twgpp.org/the_commonwealth_war_graves_commission.php

http://www.findagrave.com/

http://www.everymanremembered.org/

A timely nudge.

Deb

In memory of William George Newman
P/J 115072 HMS Forester
Leading Seaman Royal Navy
Died on 2nd May 1942
Husband of Amelia father of William
Remembered with Honour and Pride.

My great-uncle.

Rifleman Albert Edward Brown
4087 2nd Bn, Rifle Brigard died aged 22
14th March 1915
Remembered with honour and pride
Le Touret Memorial

My gg uncle

xx

In memory of my grandfather

James William Page who survived Ypres ,but came home a broken man and never fully recovered.

Also his brother Edgar George Page who was gassed in WW1.

and

Robert Stanley Page the youngest brother,.
5th South Wales Borderers.

Remembered with pride.

To all those who didn't come home
To those who serve today
To all who serve in the armed servivces and the emergency services

I salute you all

In memory of the grandfather I never knew:
Sapper Charles George FRANCIS, Royal Engineers.
Killed on 5th June 1915 in front of Croonart Wood, near Whyteshaete, Belgium. Buried in the New Military Cemetery, Poperinghe.

Thanks for giving me my Dad.

Remembering all who gave their lives or were maimed in defence of our country.

WEAR YOUR POPPY WITH PRIDE

bumping for the night crew (or day crew depending on where you live)
Deb

Lest We Forget.