Remembrance Day

At risk of thread creep (and early revival of a Zombie!), Pete, are you aware that the Braintree Old Contemptible’s Association standard was paraded at Ypres this year?

I can provide a link if anyone is interested, but I suspect you’ll need to register if you are not already a member of the Great War Forum.

Adrian

Its nice to think that so many remember although for most it seems that one day a year is enough- it would be nice to think that some would show concern over those lads coming home in one form or other from the current conflict coz sure as hell our politicians don’t. Betrayal of the military covenent anyone? You shut the military hospitals and the NHS can have the money but all you brave lads can have priority treatment etc. From personal experience it doesn’t work.

And No I don’t do religion- causes too many wars so today at 11 o’clock I stopped what I was doing and thought of all those I had served with in more than 20 years in the RAF.

Absent Friends

Remembrance is one of the topics covered in Citizenship as part of the National Curriculum and many museums like Newark have received grant funding from the MLA and DCMS to develop education resources for both World War I and II. A few more details of Newark’s activities can be found on the links below:

http://www.newarkairmuseum.org/education.htm

http://www.learnwithmuseums.org.uk/museums/newark_air_museum/teaching_packages/index.html

Totally agree that the parents should be passing down family history, but the planting of the ‘seed’ for the urge to find out more should come from the schools. Teach them the history, tell them to find out if their family has a story to tell. Fire their imagination, not plant in it events from 1000 years ago or spend time teaching them about other nations religions!
But kids just go home and sit in front of games consoles destroying monsters or aliens…
Kids don’t play British and Jerries anymore – bet if you asked them what it is they’d suggest some cartoon characters off the telly!!!

And not all schools ignore modern history – I enjoy seeing school kids at Duxford on school trips learning about the World Wars. Some even went to the extent of dressing up as evacuees complete with cardboard gasmask boxes and labels. Well done that school!!! (even if it does mess up my lunch break 😉 )

OK, ranted enough on the subject – back on topic…

A few years ago, my son was ready to start school and we are lucky enough to be in “dual catchment” so we could have some element of choice. One is state run, one church. During a visit to the Church run school, there was some history project work posted out for all to see. I paraphrase now, but the course work was along the lines of “WW2 was wrong and should never have been fought” – this was being taught as fact, not opinion.

My son has just covered WW1 & 2 in history now at the age of 8. They cover some causes (too complex at that age in depth) and elements to make it more accessable to the children. Evacuees, life in a shelter, propaganda etc.

what a difference…..

It was sad to see the item on the BBC News last night (pt II tonight) of the two teenagers who didn’t know what the wearing of the Poppy represented, what the Armistice was or anything about WWI (“when did WWI start?” – “Ummm, err, eighteen err nineteen?”).
They didn’t even know that their great grandfather had died in WWI or that his name was on the village memorial where he grew up. Shockingly they didn’t even know his surname.
As they sat and listened to his daughter tell his story they said that reading books isn’t the same as hearing the stories told by people who lived through it.

Tonight they travel to France to see where he fell – should be interesting to see their ‘education’…

While on one hand it is good to see so many young taking an active part in ceremonies at this time of the year, it is shameful that schools seem to be ignoring a part of our history that is so recent, that there are 3 survivors able to be present at the Cenotaph on the 11th day of the 11th month.

A disgraceful indictment of the education system today…

I don’t think you can entirely blame the education system,what about the parents,the grandparents this information should have been handed down from generation to generation.
These youths did’nt even know the family name and where to look on the memorial,let alone what armistice day is.
It is sad that both the family throughout the generations have failed to remember their loved ones and keep the memories alive but also t5he education system for not teaching the basics.
Regarding the post about the air cadet in the “wrong ” jumper,oh for gods sake did the millions of others know or care,at least the lad was’nt mugging someone whilst taking drugs.Maybe his family can’t afford to keep up with the newest up to date uniform – – perhaps his officers in his squad should be criticised NOT the cadet:rolleyes:

These days, on most trips to the battlefields, I do tend to see a good few British school outings.

It seems not all the schools are ignoring this period.

Moggy

I never realised it was every night – but yes, very moving at the time and even if I recall it now it makes me stop on my tracks. I was 15 at the time, at the bratty age (no Nintendo in those days but was still “that age”) and it made a lasting impression, we did a 5 day stay and tour as part of “O” level history.

It was sad to see the item on the BBC News last night (pt II tonight) of the two teenagers who didn’t know what the wearing of the Poppy represented, what the Armistice was or anything about WWI (“when did WWI start?” – “Ummm, err, eighteen err nineteen?”).
They didn’t even know that their great grandfather had died in WWI or that his name was on the village memorial where he grew up. Shockingly they didn’t even know his surname.
As they sat and listened to his daughter tell his story they said that reading books isn’t the same as hearing the stories told by people who lived through it.

Tonight they travel to France to see where he fell – should be interesting to see their ‘education’…

While on one hand it is good to see so many young taking an active part in ceremonies at this time of the year, it is shameful that schools seem to be ignoring a part of our history that is so recent, that there are 3 survivors able to be present at the Cenotaph on the 11th day of the 11th month.

A disgraceful indictment of the education system today…

I never realised it was every night – but yes, very moving at the time and even if I recall it now it makes me stop on my tracks. I was 15 at the time, at the bratty age (no Nintendo in those days but was still “that age”) and it made a lasting impression, we did a 5 day stay and tour as part of “O” level history.

In 1996 and 1997 I went on a WW1 battlefields day trip whilst in the sixth form to The Somme and seeing the many thousands of graves, the preserved battlefields and the Lochnagar Crater certainly left a lasting impression on me. What the soldiers serving on both sides went through in the trenches leaves me filled with such admiration for the courage they must have had!

Your recollection is just a little faulty.

It is just so moving.

Moggy

I never realised it was every night – but yes, very moving at the time and even if I recall it now it makes me stop on my tracks. I was 15 at the time, at the bratty age (no Nintendo in those days but was still “that age”) and it made a lasting impression, we did a 5 day stay and tour as part of “O” level history.

Hill 62, just outside Ypres

Moggy

The Eighth Army fought from beginning to end in North Africa, these are some of the Regiments/Divisions badges/crests from around the World that were once on the old Railway Station at Tobruk

This is a view from a mates flat overlooking my flat at Tobruk top left hand side is the German ‘Castle’ Cemetery on an escarpment, all the German Soldiers and Airmen that died there are buried within the 15′ thick walls

This is the view from the German ‘Castle’ from the wadi looking back towards Tobruk and the Harbour, this is what they fought and died for, the cemeteries are beautifully kept by the CWGC with lawns, flowering shrubs and rows of limestone

Your recollection is just a little faulty.

They sound the Last Post every night and have done since the gate was built / rebuilt between the wars.

There has only ever been one break. Apparently the men in field grey didn’t approve, so the bugles weren’t heard during the occupation.

Astonishingly, the very moment it was possible to resume, they did, with the background sound of the continuing fighting as Allied troops forced the Germans back, further away from the town.

It is just so moving.

Moggy

I was there – 1981 I think

School history trip – we went to the battlefields, Ypres, the Somme etc. Very moving at the time, made me grow up and think, very quickly.

IIRC the local fire brigade sound the last post once weekly at the gate?

My contribution. The scene at the Menin Gate at Ypres, 11th November (2007) just before 11 o’clock.

This year I attended the little ceremony in our village. Nothing like as impressive, but every bit as poignant.

Moggy

Thank you Kev, I may well take you up on your offer. I was fortunate to be one of the (sadly) many guests at the AFM Dedication Ceremony last October which was one of the most moving events of my life.
Kind regards,
Bill

Thanks Kev, I hope that somehow this site becomes a ‘memorial wall’ to those who never made it back. Yesterday when we were beside The AirSpace Lancaster KB889 we got talking to a man and wife, he ex RAF, his wife whose father flew in this particular aircraft whilst with The RCAF were talking about the tail end Charlies, the interesting thing is that we didn’t know these people from ‘Adam’ but such is the power of a get together like this that people remember.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking IWM Duxford for ‘throwing the doors open ‘ on such an occasion, even the ‘road train’ was running this year and I noticed how full these were with people of all ages, it certainly helps.

I shall be attending my own local war memorial ceremony tomorrow, that will not be RAF that will be for all on the 11th day at the 11th hour, I hope everyone can at least afford the two minutes of silence and thoughts.

John.

Here’s a link to a piece I put together which is now on the Aircrew Remembrance Society site.

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/raf1943/Rowson.html

Regards,

kev35

Bill.

My pleasure.

If you’ve not yet had chance to visit then I would be only too happy to go and take photo’s of the Memorial in general and any specific plaques. I’m more than happy to share any of the photographs I have already taken too.

regards,

kev35

Kev – thank you for showing the scene at the Armed Forces Memorial. I can see the tablet where my dear Uncle’s name is inscribed. The lashing rain somehow seems appropriate.
Bill