11/11/11 Lest we forget.

[brian1951]

[Roger O]

A very nice photo Brian but I suspect the artist in the family took it.
Roger

[Walkingthedog]

Lovely picture Brian.


These come up in a field near us every year.




I find it difficult to drive past without welling up.

[glencairn]

I remember going to Dunkirk with Mrs Glencairn. Just before entering the War Cemetery there, the noise of the traffic passing was almost deafening.

Once past the entrance gate the silence was beyond amazing.

Remembering seeing the grave of an unknown Canadian soldier between graves of two named Canadian soldiers. Poignant!
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We will remember them.

Glencairn

[Gareth 73]

While in France for the dday 75th celebrations I managed a few poppy pics but I quite like this 1 while waiting to take part in the parade at port en Bessin the AEC matador in the middle had just completed a 4.5 year restoration the day of been put on a lorry to Portsmouth then did about 750 miles round France. Her owner has named her "Remberance"

[Postman Prat]

Most poignant to me are the headstones marked 'An unknown soldier.... etc'.

Many years ago I recall reading part of a German naval hymn - On a Sailors Grave no roses grow. I don't know any more, I don't even recall if I saw any more of it. However, it has stayed in my mind for all these years.

I always think of the 12 sailors from HMS Fittleton who died when she sank following a collision with HMS Mermaid in the North Sea. This was during an exercise when a number of sweepers (with RNR crews, doing their 14 days annual training). I knew a lot of the crew and the navy tried to persuade me to join her for my training. (Fortunately as it turned out, my boss wouldn't release me for that period.

PP

[Mr Bones]

I remember HMS Fittleton well, she used to be called HMS Curzon based at Shoreham and was used by the RN Reserves. I had been a cadet there and went to sea on her many times. We were all shocked when that happened.

The poem you were referring to was a German song (or part of it). They may have been the enemy at the time, but sailors from all nations share the same fate. I remember during the Falklands war, when the captain announced the sinking of the Argentine ship Belgrano. Although it was a major success for us there was no cheering. There was instead a very moving silence throughout the ships company. One unfortunately we experienced to many times.

There are no roses on a sailor’s grave,
No lilies on an ocean wave.
The only tribute is the seagulls’ sweeps,
And the teardrops that a sweetheart weeps.

[Postman Prat]

Hi Mr Bones

Thanks for the correct words for the hymn/prayer.

Sailors have a lot of superstitions etc such as the reaction on your ship, re the sinking of the Belgrano which shore-side people find difficult to understand. The auctioning of the kit of a dead messmate, the proceeds to be gifted to the family. After the Memorial to the crew we adjourned to the mess at HMS President - they had no change so if you paid with paper money you never had any coins, proceeds to the Fittleton Fund!!

RIP lads

[brian1951]

Another year gone Lest we forget.

[RogerB]

You never do Brian. Thank you. R-