Remembering the Fallen

[Didache]

Hi all

Some of you might remember that I did something similar last year at this time. I went to the Field of Remembrance which is always done at Westminster Abbey around Armistice Day. A little cross is put in the grass for every British soldier/sailor/airman killed in action since the First World War. As last year, I make no apologies for posting four pictures - to me it is so important to remember those who paid the greatest price for the freedoms we take for granted.

The first image is just some of the crosses - so many, and each representing a life.

The second is one person in particular which caught my eye. Rifleman Albert French who was killed on June 15, 1916. Albert was only 16 years old.

The third is an old soldier in grief for fallen friends.

The fourth is a much decorated old soldier selling poppies on behalf of wounded servicemen and women.

Although these are British, we all lost the cream of our youth, whether British, Canadian, American, or whereever. Spare them a kind thought this weekend, a prayer if that is your way. None are more deserving.

Mike

[another view]

Here, here! The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month...

Thank you to all of the veterans!

[threelions usa]

i really think that we should have a salute emoticon which we could use for quality posts and of course none grater than this one..always reminds me of my grandad who although having medals never ever talked about the experience.

i salute you sir....

i will be thinking of the wreath laying ceremony at the cenotaph on sunday ~ always raises goose bumps.


wonder why we don't sell poppies here in the states..

it's sadly missing and one all of my british pals wonder about.

we miss our poppies.. (an the lifeboat appeals too !!)

[JSPhoto]

Very nice Mike! A week ago the paper sent me to shoot some photos at a film called Lest They Be Forgotten and this was from the beginning and the band was playing until the film started. There were a number of Veterans there who were active at Normandy on June 6th 1944 as well as Veterans from Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts.

JS

[ciddog91]

Mike,
As Veterans Day approaches, I find that the pictures you posted as well as the others above are some of the most moving I have seen in a while. As a former soldier my self who is from a long line of military family members I cannot help but to stop and think about our freedoms here (USA) and elsewhere in the world and Honor those who provided it to me and my family. They stood the line and told us "everything will be ok, we will ensure it".

Thanks you for the post.

God Bless ALL Soldiers who preserve freedom.
Phil

[Didache]

Thanks guys for your comments, but especially for looking. While I was there I chatted to both an Australian and an American, both elderly and both of whom had been soldiers. I was quite moved by their attitude - unlike so many "armchair generals", those who actually knew what it was to fight clearly have a great sense of kinship with all those who have served, even those from a different nation than their own. Both of them were as respectful and as reverent as they would have been for their own nation's dead. Maybe you need to have been a serviceman to understand why that might be so.

threelions - tell you what - if we are both still around next year I will get a pile of poppies to you, in aid of whatever service charity you choose

One more picture .. this is a wider view of part of the Field of Remembrance in the shadow of Westminster Abbey.

Mike

[AmberC]

Good thread.

My grandfather and uncle are retired Navy. My other uncle is reitred Army. My Father is retired Marines. My Father-in-law is retired Navy (was in Afganistan for a bit). My husband and cousin are Navy currently.

I have been lucky to not have to loose anyone to war or even have to come too close to it as of yet.

I can definitely relate though, to those that have. I understand fully what service members have to go thru, and their families and I support them fully. My country or not.

That looks like a wonderful ceremony Mike and I'm in tears now.
Amber

[JSPhoto]

Mike,

Well the photo of Westminster Abby is certainly appropriate. One of the photos that sticks in my mind is of Westminster Abby covered in smoke from fires and an RAF fighter flying through the smoke. Just one of those images that sticks in your mind.

JS

[WesternGuy]

Mike, when I told my wife about the little crosses, she wanted to know who does all the work of putting the crosses out. Any insight? Thanks.

WesternGuy

[Frog]

Thankyou, Mike and by the way they are selling poppies around here so don't know why they aren't where 3 lions is.

[SmartWombat]

Families and friends, the Royal British Legion, the regimental associations, they were also available from the veterans selling the poppies today. I wondered for a moment why they had mallets tucked in their belts until I saw the crosses in the tray along with the poppies.

[threelions usa]

Families and friends, the Royal British Legion, the regimental associations, they were also available from the veterans selling the poppies today. I wondered for a moment why they had mallets tucked in their belts until I saw the crosses in the tray along with the poppies.

that's for the cheap bastards who don't contribute..



no we definitely don't have ANY poppies here at all.

as i said my british mates always remark upon how they miss their poppies...

has anyone every heard the pogues "waltzing matilda ?" such a moving song about the fighting at gallipolli ??

speaking of which there was a fantastic film i think with mel gibson (very old) called galipolli... very moving...

and as for sending us poppies i can guarantee that we will send a bunch of money back in exchange for the poppies mate..thank you so much for the offer....

i sincerely hope but mostly fear that the memorial day will fade more and more as each year passes. i think that "we should NEVER forget" and hope that we never will.

while coaching my girls team at a tournament we were getting some quick grub between games and were in a super market. there were some (obviously just coffee guys) sitting around shooting the bull. they had baseball caps on with "omaha beach" etc.

one of my coaches asked the girls to go over and shake hands and tell these guys thank you. he explined that you hardly ever see survivors and on top of that these guys gave you what you have today.

the girls (under 12's) understood and were very respectfully and were genuinely in awe of these guys.

the guys in general were so very humble BUT to the most point so happy that someone came over and understood what they had done. i don't think that the kids really understood but every parent did. and they stood in awe of these men who had offered up everything that they had to give. and i think that they understood the significance of the parents asking their kids to go and offer a big thanks,. several parents went over later and had a conversation with these vets.

it was a very moving 5-10 minutes.

and truly gave significance to the term:

lest we forget.


thanks again my friend..

i will not only remember those who gave their lives tomorrow but those who lived,.

who knows what anguish they have felt over being a survivor..

sometimes it is harder to survive i think...


to 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

i also post on a west ham untied (my home team) and everyone changes their avatars to a poppy for tomorrow and wherever they ask for everyone NOT to post for that 1 minute at 11:00, wherever it is that you live.


silly perhaps, but a nice gesture.

perhaps we could also ask that of our members.

wherever you are i the world tomorrow, please don't post at 11:00

thanks ..

sorry if i have overstepped by bounds..

[MJS]

Beautiul shots Mike. My hat is off and my heart, prayers and Thank you goes out to all who have and are serving and who gave their lives so that we may remain free.

[Didache]

Thanks once again guys for looking.

Being a minister, I will be leading my congregation in an act of Remembrance. At 11.00am this morning I will ask them to stand and turn to face a memorial plaque we have for church members who have died in the service of their country. I will read the names (26 of them) and then we shall observe two minutes silence, finishing with the traditional words:

"They shall not grow 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."

Mike

[Alison]

Mike this is such a heart wrenching post. A 16 year old Soldier that is soooo sad and that third image really touches me and brings home to me how the familes and friends of lost ones must have felt and still feel.
Very moving images.

[SmartWombat]

that's for the cheap bastards who don't contribute.

The organised regimental remembrances brought their own mallets ...
Remembrance
I tried hard not to duplicate Mike's shots.

[ddkphotos]

These are very touching! Thanks so much for sharing. I posted mine from the Montreal commemoration here:
Remembrance

[Old Timer]

Wonderful thread with great photos.

Thanks to all our Vets and to those that serve today.

[readingr]

Lovely photo's Mike.

I have recently been researching my ancestry and found out that my Grandfather volunteered and was accepted into the army for the first world war when he was only fifteen and was gassed in the trenches in France when he was seventeen.

He was forced to change to a labour regiment due to ill health for the rest of the war. Still trying to find out what that regiment did.

I just realised I owe him more than just my life, I owe him and his kind the freedom I take for granted. Thanks to all who serve for keeping me free and safe.

Roger