Remebrance Thread

[KingOfLaughter]

I say we remember those that fought for us in the great wars. Those that fought for us in hidden wars. Those that fought for us in current wars, and those that will fight for us.

For the time leading upto November 11th I say we all post our remembrance and any stories we know of friends and family that served (or if your yourself have served).

In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

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.

[Jokasti]

I had trouble with the title until I read the post.
Both of my grandfathers were in the Air Force, but I can't fly (glasses), so mostly we just honor them by visiting air shows or going to military/flight museums. One of my uncle's is obsessed with Civil War history, specifically Gettysburg, and I have a couple ancestors who fought in that.

[KingOfLaughter]

My Great grandfather on my moms side fought in both World Wars. Got shot a few times. Managed to live past it all and died around 80. We honor him by doing the remembrance day basics. Aswell as I'm joining the Forces after high School.

[The Vorpal Tribble]

So far my uncle is the only one to serve in my family history, but he was only out of basic for about a year before he was discharged (honorably). Were doing some parachute drills when his didn't open. Landed in a field, knees first. Broke about everything, including his neck.

Lived through it, though has had pretty bad medical problems ever since.

Had considered joining a military college, but still healing from soccer injuries.


I appreciate all that they've done for us however.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

My drama class is putting on a piece for our Remembrance Ceremony at school. It's pretty darn good.

Quite a number of my family was in the wars. My great-great-grandfather on my mum's dad's side served in the Canadian Army in WWI, which was lucky for him, as Ukrainians were persecuted in Canada at that time (they were seen as sympathetic to the Germans) and was almost gassed, but wasn't. He moved the rest of his family out of the Ukraine after the war was over.

My grandpa on my dad's side fought as a mechanic in WWII. He has all sorts of interesting knick-knacks left over from the war. Army newspapers and such. Very interesting.

One of my great-uncles was a rear-gunner in a Lancaster bomber. He was shot down in the war.

And another great-uncle was a medic, landed 3rd day of Normandy landings. He never talked about the war, at all.

My Grandma was a CWAC in the home front. I just realised that CWAC was a Canadian term, not a general term. Stands for Canadian Women's Army Corp.

I think that's it... There's probably a few of my grandma's brothers who served, but I don't know much about them at all. There's so many of them, it's hard to remember!



Also, one of my cousins is in the army right now, and my sister is in Cadet's, gunning to be in the army.

[KingOfLaughter]

I can't wait. I'm already really skilled with firearms, and I'm a great shot. I'm going for Anti Armor cause I like to blow **** up!

[Morty]

Well, the only member of my family who fought in a war was my grandfather's uncle who died at Monte Cassino. Other than that, I remember my grandmother talking about her brother who escaped from a German train... there might be more such stories out there.

[Spiryt]

My Grandpa's uncle had fallen at Monte Casino.

That's the bit of heroic stuff I can recall, the rest of the in recent memory guys in the family just were in army.... Because they had to, and that's it. :smallwink:



Well, the only member of my family who fought in a war was my grandfather's uncle who died at Monte Cassino.

Argh... And the conspiracy is broken!

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Well, the only member of my family who fought in a war was my grandfather's uncle who died at Monte Cassino. Other than that, I remember my grandmother talking about her brother who escaped from a German train... there might be more such stories out there.

I think my Grandpa's box has pictures from Monte Cassino. What a nightmare...

Ortona was more of a nightmare for the Canadians though. It was like Stalingrad-lite. The pictures... the town is just a mess! Street by street, house by house, and for no real strategic reason, other than the fact that it became a bit of a morale thing for the Canadians.

[Morty]

I think my Grandpa's box has pictures from Monte Cassino. What a nightmare...

Ortona was more of a nightmare for the Canadians though. It was like Stalingrad-lite. The pictures... the town is just a mess! Street by street, house by house, and for no real strategic reason, other than the fact that it became a bit of a morale thing for the Canadians.

Monte Cassino was indeed a bloodbath.
I haven't heard about Ortona befoe, but I'm not well-versed in WWII history.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

Ortona is completely unknown outside of Canada, because only Canadian (and Polish, I think) fought on the allied side. Apparently it actually was strategically important, cause it was one of the few deep-water ports on the east coast.

But yeah, it was practically Stalingrad-lite. It took 8 days to clear the town, and 1,375 Canadian deaths; that's over a quarter of ALL Canadian deaths in the Italy campaign. In one little town, peacetime population of 10,000.

[KingOfLaughter]

I'm not a scholar on WWII (due to my being a grunt :D) Probably the best thing that us Canadians did was the fact that we took our beach and more in one day.

We actually managed to get all the way to our objective and were forced to pull back becuase the troops that got to the objective had no support.

[Eldan]

Hmm. On my father's side, my entire family consists of happy cowards who managed to smuggle themselves out of military duty for many generations now. My grandfather on my mother's side was in the bicycle dragoons during WWII, but the Swiss army never had much action then.

[Elm11]

Both of my parents have served with the Australian military, my mother in medical and my father as the tactical officer of a battalion. Before that, my Grandfather and his brother both served in the second world war, with the previous training pilots (it had a higher death rate than those flying combat ops over New Guinea) where he lost a kidney in an accident, and the other working in supplies. I lost my Great great uncle and both his siblings, as well as many other relatives, in the Great war (he landed in Gallipoli on the first day of the battle, April 25th, and survived until 1918 where he was killed by a sniper in the town of Villers-Bretonneux during the battle where the tide was turned on the German offensive.

One of my friend's great great Grandfather was the youngest Australian ever to receive the Victoria cross in the Boer war.

One of my brother's Friend's grandfather fought as an infantryman with the Germans in world war 2, first in Africa and then in Europe as the tide turned. He was eventually captured by Allied soldiers after his unit fended off an armoured infantry group near Belgium for nearly 2 days.

This is all off the top of my head, so apologies if i make any mistakes.

Either way, my family has a history of military service, one i intend to continue if i can ever get myself physically fit.

[Elfin]

Hm...it's always bugged me how many memorial events there are that celebrate people who fight in wars, and yet not a single one which celebrates people who fight against wars.

Seriously.

But let me see - I had a grandfather who fought (and died :smallfrown:) in World War II, but I think that's basically it as far as recent history goes.

[KingOfLaughter]

(I don't mean to sound like an ass when I say this)

Wars a remembered because they're required, every major human advancement has been through war.

Also I can trace my family heritage back to Bandits and Pirates (On my mums side)

[Elfin]

Erm...I don't want to get political, but I have trouble seeing war as anything but terrible and destructive.

I also can't think of much that war or violence in general has achieved, besides more efficient (by which I mean bloody) war and violence. Honestly, I think just the opposite: without war, human advancement would be much quicker. And there would be a whole heck of a lot less murder, torture, death, slaughter, genocide, etc.

[KingOfLaughter]

It is bloody and violent.

But think we invented planes because of WWI, we invented Jets because of WWII we invented the nuke which lead to nuclear power. Almost every civilian piece of tech is based off military tech. It's sad but true that humans are a race based solely on killing each other.

[SMEE]

The Rainbow Mod: Just a small nudge to remind you guys to stay away from real world politics on this thread.

[KingOfLaughter]

The Rainbow Mod: Just a small nudge to remind you guys to stay away from real world politics on this thread.

Sorry, just FYI i respect and see where it is he's coming from.

[Elfin]

And the same from my side.

[Mr. Moon]

Completely disagree with you, KoL. But I'm not getting into that. This thread shouldn't get into an argument over whether or not war is right or not. This should be a thread for remembrance.

For example, my grand-uncle on my father's side was a peacekeeper with the Canadian army. I can't remember when or where, but there's a famous story in my family about him keeping peace in a small village by handing out doughnuts. For every day there was no fighting, everyone got a doughnut. It worked really, really well. :smallbiggrin:

[KingOfLaughter]

Completely disagree with you, KoL. But I'm not getting into that. This thread shouldn't get into an argument over whether or not war is right or not. This should be a thread for remembrance.

For example, my grand-uncle on my father's side was a peacekeeper with the Canadian army. I can't remember when or where, but there's a famous story in my family about him keeping peace in a small village by handing out doughnuts. For every day there was no fighting, everyone got a doughnut. It worked really, really well. :smallbiggrin:

I WANT DOUGHNUTS! lmao I can see how that would work, tempted to try it...

[GrlumpTheElder]

I had an ancestor fall in Belgium during WWI and we have visited his grave in the cemetary he is in (can't remember which one off the top of my head). It really is poignent to stand there and just look over the rows of graves...

Fortunatly my Grandad survived WWII (otherwise I wouldn't be here) but he doesn't like talking about his experieces during it.

It's almost a shame that 11/11 is only one day to remember and honour those who have fallen in conflict...

[Dvil]

I don't know of any relatives who were in major wars, but I'm sure there were some. However, I'm in brass bands, so we turn out to the cenotaph every remembrance Sunday and take part in the ceremony. I may even be playing the Last Post this year but I'm not sure (I know I will at school, on the Thursday).

[Evil DM Mark3]

My Grandfather and his brother both fought in the Second World war. Grandad was involved in covering Dunkurk and the shamed Norway landings before seeing action in Italy where he lost several friends (he was too young to enlist at the start of the war). All my family came home from that war and the other two people involved in the military in my family never saw intense conflict. I remember those who where not as luck as I and who never met the heroes in their family.

[Elm11]

I had an ancestor fall in Belgium during WWI and we have visited his grave in the cemetary he is in (can't remember which one off the top of my head). It really is poignent to stand there and just look over the rows of graves...

Fortunatly my Grandad survived WWII (otherwise I wouldn't be here) but he doesn't like talking about his experieces during it.

It's almost a shame that 11/11 is only one day to remember and honour those who have fallen in conflict...

Is it possible that would be Tyne Cot cemetery? it holds the graves of more than 10,000 soldiers and the names of all those others who fought and died near Ypres but were never identified.

[ForzaFiori]

Not sure on the exact relations, but I'm pretty sure my mother's and step-father's family probably had family in every major american war (Revolution, 1812, Civil (for the Confederacy), WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and the various Arabian fights), though the only ones I KNOW of for certain is my great-uncle fought in Vietnam and lived through it, and my grandfather was an MP during WWII, and lived through it as well.

[GrlumpTheElder]

Is it possible that would be Tyne Cot cemetery? it holds the graves of more than 10,000 soldiers and the names of all those others who fought and died near Ypres but were never identified.

No, it wasn't Tyne Cot, although I have visited there and it is big...

[Boo]

My grandad got out of the war because he didn't like being clean shaven. He took a metal comb and scratched at his cheeks and chin to cause a rash. I think he was honourably discharged... I think.

Yep. My family is just full of fighters.

That's the only family war story I've ever heard, but I'm sure many of my relatives have fought for freedom.

My old buddy from way back when joined the army and was stationed in Afghanistan for a while. He made it back great.

As for me? I have... opinions.

[Kobold-Bard]

Completely disagree with you, KoL. But I'm not getting into that. This thread shouldn't get into an argument over whether or not war is right or not. This should be a thread for remembrance.

For example, my grand-uncle on my father's side was a peacekeeper with the Canadian army. I can't remember when or where, but there's a famous story in my family about him keeping peace in a small village by handing out doughnuts. For every day there was no fighting, everyone got a doughnut. It worked really, really well. :smallbiggrin:

You're grand-uncle rocked/rocks :smallbiggrin:

[Evil DM Mark3]

Just a heads up, there is a board/site issues thread about whether or not this thread is forum appropriate or not.

[Asta Kask]

My one grandfather fought against the Russians in WWII and the other swept mines. I never knew either of them - they died in 1955 and 1956.

[Serpentine]

Remembrance has an extra M >.<

My mum's dad was in WW2, but never talked about it. My sister got a bunch of his army stuff after our Gramma died. She loaned her son's school some of the clothing, and they bloody chopped it up :smallannoyed:
My dad's dad was a Padre in the Vietnam War. He was forced to carry a gun around when he left the compound - if he didn't have a gun, he didn't leave; if he didn't leave, he couldn't preach. He never had any intent at all of ever firing it at anyone in any circumstances, so he never took any bullets.

Australia has ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, and it's acknowledged at various other events.

[Evil DM Mark3]

My fiancée's mother is Dutch and her mother was lost a child during the occupation of the Netherlands because she could not get any milk for him, for all I have to remember their war was a lot worse than anything my realtives went through.

During the second world war my great Grandfather worked as an ARP warden and became somewhat famous in the local area because he whistled while on his rounds if there where no aircraft overhead. Particularly during the early blitz the all clear often went early and it was unclear if you where safe or not, but when people heard my great granded they know it was safe because it meant that a person out there had looked and seen that there where no more planes, which people in shelters could not do (this was before the switch to night time raids).

[Fifty-Eyed Fred]

I'm glad someone posted this thread. It doesn't feel right that I won't be attending some sort of Remembrance Service this year unless I can find one (University, eh?). I'll be sure to find one somewhere though. I've bought my poppy for this year at least (I buy every year out of principle, supporting the Royal British Legion).

Twice in the past century almost every man of fighting age in this country risked their lives to preserve our freedom, and we must honour them alongside those who lived and died through all wars.

[DaMidget]

My grandfather served in WW2, was an infantryman and carried a BAR. Was wounded in Italy while serving with the 10th mountain division. Lost his sight in one eye, and hearing in one ear.

Had two uncles in Vietnam, one infantry and one communications. Neither injured.

I am a Sergeant with 4 years in, and recently signed for another 4 years.

And picture time!

My grandfather.
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/5530/grandfather.jpghttp://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9739/grandfather2p.jpg

And me, although it is a very old one.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8763/blahx.jpg

[puppyavenger]

Twice in the past century almost every man of fighting age in this country risked their lives to preserve our freedom, and we must honour them alongside those who lived and died through all wars.

WW2 and the Falkland crisis?

Anyway, all four of my grandparents served in some capacity during WWII, both my grandfathers were air force officers, one of my grandmothers was a nurse the other other was..something to do with logistics, never really got the chance to talk about it with her. Besides that my brother-in-law's a naval officer on leave at the moment.

Other then that, my family's not exactly the most glorious in the world. I'm pretty sure one of my great-grandparents fought in the Somme but thats about it.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

WW2 and the Falkland crisis?

The world wars? WWI's less than a century ago, still. Getting close, but not quite there.

[puppyavenger]

The world wars? WWI's less than a century ago, still. Getting close, but not quite there.

...I've never actually heard WWI refereed to as a "struggle to preserve freedom" before honestly. Mostly the reasons I've heard have been (depending on the company) "breakdown of the Victorian balance of power","A war based on imperialism and flag-waving" or "the result of the French revanchist sentiment combined the German General Staff's paranoia with regard to Russian investment in railway networks"

but this is getting a little close to politics so I'm just going to drop the line of discussion.

[Fifty-Eyed Fred]

I was referring to WWI. Without going into politics, once we were at war Britain had to put everything it had into fighting Germany and couldn't afford to stop. Those who fought on both sides and the sacrifices they made for their countries should never be forgotten.

Though the Falklands War was nevertheless a war and remembering those who fought there is equally valid.

[Gwyn chan 'r Gwyll]

...I've never actually heard WWI refereed to as a "struggle to preserve freedom" before honestly. Mostly the reasons I've heard have been (depending on the company) "breakdown of the Victorian balance of power","A war based on imperialism and flag-waving" or "the result of the French revanchist sentiment combined the German General Staff's paranoia with regard to Russian investment in railway networks"

You're right, my bad. I didn't read the full sentence. But yeah. Remembrance.

My drama class's performance for remembrance day is gonna be peach though. We're a damn good class. :smallcool:

[puppyavenger]

I was referring to WWI. Without going into politics, once we were at war Britain had to put everything it had into fighting Germany and couldn't afford to stop.

I have to disagree with this part, but yes of course those poor souls who fought in WWI deserve to be remembered.