For Rememberance Sunday

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2491760/Harry-Drinkwaters-lost-diary-Great-War.html

A brief glimpse into why buying a Poppy and being quiet for a minute is no trouble at all.

 

The conditions were unimaginable and you're right it gives people a insight into what our former soldiers suffered. The Royal British Legion do a fantastic job and everybody should support them and the Poppy appeal.

 

<img src ="http://img-cloud.gonetoosoon.org/file/scale__600x500/15594d35a87987dbfbfe16973800b3af/143758_1226221183.jpg">
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 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 uncounted;
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 of 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.

 

just a reminder that whatever colour the politicians are that call for war, it's always the 'lower orders' that have to deal with the reality. Right up to the present day.

 

Lions led by donkeys.

 

Absolutely. And Rememberance Sunday for me is about paying respect to people of all countries that have died in war.

 

This always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Written by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, about the death of his father.
And lets not forget that the social revolution that bettered the lot of the working classes was kick started by the survivors of these horrendous battles, when, after arriving home they found that nothing had changed, poor housing, health, wages, working conditions etc, thats why our " illustrious " war leader was defeated at the next election. Working with some of these survivors and listening to their stories of before, during and after the war probably help shape my unashamed left leaning politics.

"When The Tigers Broke Free"

It was just before dawn
One miserable morning in black 'forty four.
When the forward commander
Was told to sit tight
When he asked that his men be withdrawn.
And the Generals gave thanks
As the other ranks held back
The enemy tanks for a while.
And the Anzio bridgehead
Was held for the price
Of a few hundred ordinary lives.

And kind old King George
Sent Mother a note
When he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall,
In the form of a scroll,
With gold leaf and all.
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away.
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
His Majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp.

It was dark all around.
There was frost in the ground
When the tigers broke free.
And no one survived
From the Royal Fusiliers Company Z.
They were all left behind,
Most of them dead,
The rest of them dying.
And that's how the High Command
Took my daddy from me.

 

Where from?

 

If respect is cool then in my opinion, yes, it would be cool to wear it all year round.

 

Wear it with pride all year just don't forget to buy a new one next year (or stick another tenner in the tin).

 

When The Tigers Broke Free is a very powerful and emotional song; dare I say one of Pink Floyds best songs and there were quite a few.

 

Mine from 2011 is a fixture on my desk.

2012 is at home in my momento box

2013 is a fixture on my jumpers for work etc.