General Chat

Thankyou Lil, I have always watched and been intensely moved by the rememberance parade but this year it is more real, more roar, I have cried many times today and so much for the Mum in my town whose beautiful 27 year old boy was lost this year . his regiment are visiting today to raise funds and show their respect, To all who have ever suffered the worry for loved ones and those who have paid the ultimate price I give my humblest and heartfelt thanks, Caz xxxxxx

Oh Caz how are you? thinking of u and yours and Hubby and are Troops,, (((((((((((Hugs to you all))))))xxx Lilx

Thankyou Ronald, I like many have found today and the beautiful verses on here overwhelming, Flights of angels sing you men to your rest, xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

People across the UK have been remembering Britain's war dead, as a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day began a weekend of events. Streets, shops and public transport came to a halt at 1100 GMT as people privately paid their respects. Thousands of UK troops serving abroad, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, held services to remember past and present colleagues who have died. The Queen and Tony Blair also attended a service for New Zealand's war dead. Many members of the Royal Family were also at the event in London's Hyde Park. The country's prime minister, Helen Clark, who also attended the dedication, said the day was a special one for her country. At the British Air Services Memorial in St Omer, northern France, the UK's oldest war veteran, 110-year-old Henry Allingham, laid a wreath. In Baghdad, coalition troops gathered in the heavily fortified American Embassy where they were addressed by Lieutenant Mike Marley of the Royal Australian Army. In Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, where the majority of British forces are based, some 1,200 servicemen and women turned out to pay their respects. Among them was Andy Mason, a Royal Marine, who said: 'It's good to commemorate our dead, past and present. And being out here, it's quite a tough job to do - it brings it all home to you.' Back in the UK, an event in Trafalgar Square called Silence in the Square was hosted by GMTV presenter Ben Shephard, with live performances by the All-Angels and Charterhouse School Choir. Rebecca Sullivan, 13, from Enfield, north London, recited a poem, There Lie Forgotten Men, which she wrote for a homework assignment and which was chosen by the Legion to be read during the commemoration. At the Cenotaph on Saturday afternoon, a piper accompanied relatives of British soldiers killed in Iraq to a memorial service organised by the National Military Families Against the War Campaign. The names of British service personnel and some of the Iraqi civilians who have died in the conflict was read out at the Whitehall memorial. In Liverpool, former servicemen gathered on the steps of St George's Hall for a remembrance service. And a lone piper played at the Imperial War Museum North, in Manchester, while veterans gathered at George Square in Glasgow to lay wreaths and crosses. Later, the Queen joined the Duke of Edinburgh and other members of the Royal Family for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall. On Remembrance Sunday, she will lay the first wreath at the Cenotaph in London.

As a young student, I had a holiday job at the B.L.E.S.M.A. home for limbless ex service men in Southsea. Knowing those wonderful elderly gentlemen, whose lives had been changed forever by the horror of war was very humbling. My Dad, thankfully returned from Dunkirk and in later years I was born. He never talked to me about the war, but as children he always requested that we stopped what we were doing and came and sat in silence for the 2 minutes quiet Remembrance. I will remember all of them, especially at the Service of Remembrance at the town memorial tomorrow. My grandson chooses to be there too. I hope he never has to face the terrible events of war. Gwyn

For The Fallen With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres. There is a music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncountered: They fell with their faces to the foe. 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. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables at home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end they remain. -- Laurence Binyon

Since starting our Family Trees and tracing various relatives sacrificed in both Wars, wearing a poppy has more meaning for hubby and myself. We visited my Great Uncle Alfie's war grave in Belgium earlier this year; would love to go again. R.I.P. Alfie, Isaac, Robbie and John. All our love, Bob and Glen xxxx

Thank you all for visiting this thread and for your comments and other verses. Like you all, I too wish for the safe return of all our forces in trouble spots all over the world.

nudge

I suggest you look at this site............. www.greatwar.nl

We shall keep the faith Oh! You who sleep in Flanders' Fields Sleep sweet - to rise anew; We caught the torch you threw, And holding high we kept The faith with those who died. We cherish, too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led. It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies. But lends a lustre to the red On the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders' fields. And now the torch and Poppy red Wear in honour of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught: We've learned the lesson that ye taught In Flanders' fields.

In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. In Flanders Fields starting with the text of the original poem, followed by In Flanders fields the poppies grow, We've left our soldiers, row by row Far and away, on distant lands Where they fought bravely And made their stands. For king, country and the cross, Paid with lives, but what of the cost. We cannot erase what we have done War... there are only losers, winners none. If we could all but learn from the past, Then surely THAT war would have been the last. Speaking for the ones that had to go, Though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

We must always remember them,those who died, those who were maimed,we must never forget the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces wherever it was and what it was made for. Also ensure that those in Power now and in the Future do not Dishonour their memory,or their sacrifice would have been in vain. Hal.

Let's also remember all those who somehow managed to continue with everyday life despite the horror of the bombings and terrible hardships. During the May'41 bombings my late aunt's diaries tell of the family's fear that their last had come, such was the intensity of the raids, night after night.

my 16 year old son will parade through Colchester on sunday with the army cadets, in memory of my grandfather, and great grandfather,we're hoping that he will be able to wear their medals for the parade, i will be so proud of him as he marches in memory of them. We will remember them. xxIzzyxx

The War Memorial A war memorial, standing straight And proud against the sky Issues this challenge, demanding still Of those who pass it by Do you recall men went to war? These bodies that I guard? Did you learn the lesson that they left? Or legacy discard? Most men fought and some men died Some wounded, some remain By ignoring that, you're not saving lives You're killing them again! They suffered long-in trench and pit For principles they believed - That sacrifice prevents repeat - And were they all deceived? I am not here to glorify war Or justify it's right; I am just here because men believed Their death could make your future bright S J Robinson

Thank you Ronald for putting this poem on here very touching To all the lads and lassie's that gave there all and the ones that are still suffering God Bless them for all our serving members of the forces come home safely to your loved ones xxxxxHowie

For our today, they gave their tomorrows. We will remember them. Gwyn

I have tears in my eye's from reading all your heart felt words lot's of them i will keep with me forever. Sleep soundly and well, All you that have fallen, Forever in our hearts and minds. As we will are forever in debt for your sacrifices. God bless Bubbles

We Shall Keep the Faith Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet - to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died. We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields. And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields. by Moina Michael PRAYER OF A SOLDIER'S MOTHER O, Mother of Perpetual Help, To thee I send my plea, Look down upon my soldier son, Take care of him for me. And when he's blue and sick at heart, Discouraged and oppressed, Give him the will to carry on, In heavenly grace to rest. Show unto him a Mother's love, As Thou hast shown to me. Bring comfort to his lonely heart, Is mine, his mother's plea. Unknown Lest we forget