Lest we forget

How awful for your granddad gilly. That wouldn’t happen today (I hope).
I watched the whole cenotaph parade on telly and found it extremely moving.

If we forget them, it’s almost as if we are saying their lives and their sacrifice were not worthwhile. We have to remember them.

My paternal grandfather fought in the first world war and survived, his one brother-in-law did not. My grandmother, his elder sister, only mentioned him as a child, but his twin brother who was my father's favourite uncle and my dear great-uncle talked of his brother when his own bronchitis, a direct result of the mustard gas that had killed his brother was bad.

Here in the south of Denmark, we have been specially remembering the 5000 men from this part of the country, who fought in the German Army, as all of the north of Schleswig belonged to Germany at that time. One of the direct results of the Great War was that the northern part of Schleswig came back to Denmark after the plebiscite of 1920, so we have centenary celebrations coming up the year after next.

We were in Verdun in 2015 and in Belgium the year before that, both world wars feel very close there.

Lest we forget, indeed.

Read this letter about War Pensions, in the Guardian yesterday. 10/11 Criminal.

A century on, lessons have not been learned
As the nation prepares to acknowledge the fallen in military conflicts, the British government is threatening the survival of disabled war pensioners.

A war pension is not a benefit, it is a military pension, awarded until 2008 to profoundly disabled members of British military forces for their sacrifice and service to the nation. Until 2008 any application for a pension review was acknowledged by the Veterans Agency with a medical examination, conducted by a former military doctor, who provided a detailed medical report on the deteriorating health of the disabled veteran. Any identified increase in failing health or disability saw an increase in the war pension.

In October 2008 the fatally flawed work capability assessment (WCA) was introduced to assess all claimants of disability benefit, and to resist providing funding to as many as possible as the WCA disregards diagnosis and prognosis. As a consequence, war pensioners applying for a reassessment are confronted by a staff member from a corporate giant, who has no comprehension of military service. Most pensioners are refused any increase in their war pensions, and are warned not to apply again for future reassessment, which will not be considered regardless of failing health.

As the nation’s leaders lay their wreaths at the Cenotaph, war pensioners will be wondering why their generation of disabled veterans are treated with such disregard and total contempt.
Mo Stewart
War pensioner, former (W)RAF medical service, Wisbech

Remembering my Dad who died 20 years ago aged 75.

He fought in the Second World War, and was shot through the neck, but fortunately survived. He never spoke of his experiences, the little I know, my Mum told me.

His Dad fought in the First World War, and saw horrific injuries.

Our family is so lucky they survived when many didn't, when will the human race realise the futility of war?

My father seved for six years in the Second World War. My DH, DMum and Ddad all went to France a few years ago to see what we could find. It was a wonderful experience. We found a small cemetery dedicated to the regiment my father had been in. I saw my father cry then for the first time. He was also very moved when given free entrance to the war exhibitions, museums etc. A very moving experience for us all.

My grandfather died in October 1918, because of a faulty gas mask, leaving two children including my mum aged 9. She was brought up by her stepmother, as her natural mother had died when mum was a baby.

The futility of war.......

I usually attend a service, but for some reason this year it all feels a bit too raw. Our town had a huge service on Friday, but I crept along afterwards on my own to place my poppies and today the RBL is having a service outside the church where the garden of crosses will be planted. I shall go along later when no-one else is about and plant mine. I can't stop crying thinking that ten years ago at this time I was at my daughter's wedding. My little grandson has a special poppy; on the button in the middle it says, 'For my dad' and this year he asked to wear an ordinary poppy instead because he wanted to just be a 'normal' boy at the services. When I think about the thousands and thousands of other little boys at the end of WWI whose daddies didn't come home the weight of grief is just too much.

I feel a sadness today as well as a feeling of gratitude. I keep thinking of my grandfather who fought during World War 1. I really miss him today. Precious memories.

I woke at 5:57 and went into the garden to hear the lament that was played in so many places across the country this morning. The sound drifed over the woods, it was very moving.

If always think of my dad in this day he fought in the second world war and was a very private man. Gone but never forgotten so man never came back so very proud of my dad and the years he had after for which he was so grateful . ( poppy)

Watching the service. So moving. May we find ways to build peace.

Remembering all the men from Ireland and Ulster who fought in WW1. Including my great grandfather and grandfather, who both survived but my grandfather was blinded by mustard gas. Remembering especially the 3,775 of my countrymen who died at the Somme and have no known grave. They lie unmarked but are not forgotten.

My eldest granddaughter is writing a piece on him for a school project and she was very upset to think a mother could do this but I agree probably quite common in desperate times . He was never formally adopted Mollypop just given away as “surplus to requirements” My grandad (who was the model of his late father) had 13 step brothers and sisters .

Remembering my late Father.

My mother was 8 years old when her eldest brother was killed at Epres. He joined up aged 15 yrs old.

He was home on leave and preparing to return when he unpacked his equipment for polishing his buttons. My mum grabbed his brush and ran out of the house thinking that he couldn't go back without it but of course, when she returned, he had gone and she never saw him again. It affected her her whole life and she couldn't talk about it without getting upset. I totally understand why. ❤❤

That is so sad gillybob and very common in those days

My great grandfather fought in the Great War . He died very young in a military hospital as a direct result of injuries sustained . Following the death of his father my grandads mother remarried very quickly and the new husband wasn’t prepared to bring up another mans son so my grandfather was given away to strangers aged 6 .

An eminent news editor from Reuters said on Andrew Marr this morning that it’s also important to remember why and what caused the wars in the first place. He said it’s not enough just to honour the dead. Fair point.

Margaret I understand the argument about promoting war. But for many individuals , me included, today is a time to remember the dreadful impact of war on ordinary people. And the terrible wars still impacting on people who just want to live peacefully.

My grandfather fought in WW1 and my father in WW2.
I shall remember them, and millions of others, today.
I've been re- reading some of the war poetry which is so moving.
I don't agree that we should forget; quite the opposite.
It's vital that we remember their sacrifice, and hopefully learn something from it.

I heard Simon Jenkins on The Moral Maze last night and profoundly disagreed with him at almost every level.

These poor men did not give their lives, their lives were taken from them. They died like sheep going to be slaughtered.
There was a man speaking on Moral Maze last night who said it should now all be forgotten as keeping it alive keeps the idea of war alive and actually there are enough wars as it is.
If you grew up wihout a father - or heaven forbid a great uncle then its time to lay them to rest .

Life must go on.

My AS is on duty in the Channel Islands today, he has been part of their remembrance service for several years now. He and and the his fellow soldiers feel very proud to be part of the service.

AD, partner and GS have just gone to our parade and remembrance service our local church.