Remembrance

[BeestonMick 263]

Hmmm, it takes all sorts and not everyone is up with the poppy thing. Some Irish, as do some of the Welsh and Scots, still have some kind of beef with England and, to be honest, I can see where they're coming from.

It's generally England and the English not Britain they have an issue with with our total smugness and over bearing attitude to everything political. We seem to think we have all the ideas and have the right to run roughshod over anything we can to get what we want. You only have to listen the words of Bud Flanagan's song "who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler" it's all about England with no mention of the millions of other people who were involved, it was a world war, not an just English war.

Living in Wales for so long I hear the moans and groans regularly and they really do hate the English as do many of parts of the world. I think because of all this certain parties paint everything to do with Britain with the same brush as England and it's been dipped in the black pot.

I've lived in many places in the UK and abroad including South Africa, the US and Spain as well as Wales and, trust me, I have had this discussion in every place I've been.

[Coffers77 34]

Never registered the Dad's Army theme re mentioning England throughout. Its a fair point I guess.

Only defence is that it wasn't written in war time as a key anthem. It was written by the Dad's Army writers as a pastiche of the old war time songs just to serve the series. Bud Flanagan was approached to do it to add some historic credibility just before he died in 1968.

If you take that logic forward then the "White Cliffs of Dover" & "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" were wartimes themes with more of an English bias.

To be honest I think they were just innocently written songs.

[benjamin1945 16,139]

Its a long way to Tipperary................Men of Harlech.............there was a soldier a Scottish Soldier...........We'll keep a welcome in the Hillside.........When Irish eyes are Smiling..........

[BeestonMick 263]

Either way, the English aren't the most popular people in the world.

[Bubblewrap 3,815]

And a lot(even more) hate our friends? across the pond

[Michael Booth 7,364]

BeestonMick, your posts, #51 and #54 seem to show where your loyalties lie. As I stood in a supermarket car park at 1100 to observe the 2 minute silence I saw that everyone around me were 'up for the poppy thing' as you described it in #51.

[catfan 14,793]

England's reputation poor ? Blame the football fans !

Everyone else does.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

Footbal fans in England are far better behaved than fans in most countries.

[Coffers77 34]

Perhaps time to close this respectful thread considering it was put on here about Remembrance.

Uncomfortable that we now found ourselves in the football fan territory.

[catfan 14,793]

What's the problem with that ? There are some very respectful football fans.

They may have a bad reputation abroad, wrongly in my opinion but I know who I would want on my side.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

But posts that denigrate England are ok then, Coffers77.

[katyjay 5,090]

Just getting back on track. Today I went to a veterans memorial, which was very unusual in its design. Each column represents a branch of the armed forces, Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. At precisely 11.11am on November 11th, the sun hits all the holes at the right angle and lights up the Seal of the United States on the ground. The world and his brother were there so had to fight my way to the front and get the best pic I could.

[Coffers77 34]

#60 - I stand aside Catfan steer us through the next phase of this forum thread under the theme of Remembrance and weave in your football fan observations as you see fit.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

I've never heard of that before, katyjay but it's impressive to see. Looking at the photo, you did well to get to the front of the crowd to take your photo. Below is a report of how it went in Nottingham.

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Mourners-gather-Old-Market-Square-Armistice-Day/story-28157412-detail/story.html

[Coffers77 34]

#61 Michael no! I just thought in an original post about remembrance that it should stay as just that and not creep into ideas about nationhood.

Sorry guys I do not connect very well with you as a group I am off and will be closing down my account,

Best Wishes and take care now.

Coffers.

[Michael Booth 7,364]

Thanks for your best wishes, Coffers77. I'm sorry that you should feel this way and hope that you'll reconsider your decision.

Sleep on it and, hopefully, things will be different tomorrow. You state that you don't connect with us as a group but you've received

33 Likes from 107 posts which makes you a very popular chap within the group.

[Guest]

Yes we all in this house paused for the past heroes..and the sun shone!!

Coffers you ain't walking.,we had enough today with one bailing out!!!

Your wit is great.

[DJ360 6,721]

FWIW, 'The White Cliffs of Dover' is an American song.

Col

[Trevor S 2,003]

col....Did Johnny Mercer write the song???

[mercurydancer 1,104]

For any one of you who paid respects, by either standing still in silence, wearing a poppy, going to a service, or anything, thank you.

We must remember.

There will be many soldiers, sailors and air force who will risk their lives over the next few years. Some of them will die. The dignity of the remembrance is important.

[carni 10,094]

To True, we need them more and more the way the world is going.

[mercurydancer 1,104]

Thanks Carni.

Remembrance is a subject close to my heart. One day I would like to write a book about ordinary Nottingham soldiers, of every era and not necessarily decorated heroes, but those who grew up in the areas we know. I want to know every step they took.

I know lots about my uncles, my grandfather, but that is family, They were with other soldiers, from all over the country, with them and that is interesting to know.

[carni 10,094]

So many lives ruined with the horrors these men and women have witnessed and still to witness. I can't imagine myself in their place. Dad was in the Navy and just reading an account of one of the battles his ship was in, terrifies me. We just have no idea what it must feel like in the situations our people in the forces have had and still have to face.

[mercurydancer 1,104]

Carni

A long time ago I was a young officer in the army. We were sent to Arnhem on 17 September, the anniversary of the Market Garden operation. We were there to escort the veterans and also to be guided ourselves by the veterans. I was a medic, and outside of a hotel, which was very pleasant, we met many Royal Army Medical Corps veterans. It was the site of a RAMC field ambulance/aid post at the time. The role of the medical officer has not changed much in a century. One of them asked me how many casualties I could handle per hour in the field ambulance reception post. I said, about 60. He said that he handled nearly 200 per hour. I was astounded, but more astounded by what he said next. He said, simply, "If the time comes, you will do it too." At that point I matured quite a lot. It has never left me. The old soldier's wisdom and tradition remain strong. We neglect that tradition at our peril.

[carni 10,094]

No one knows what the future holds, but I fear that we will need the bravery of the forces more and more to try to keep us safe. I have so much respect for these people who heaven knows where we would be without them.