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[b][This video contains naughty words best not listen at work if your in an open office with speakers - Mod][/b]
"Well it wasn't a GREAT war was it?"
For The Fallen - Laurence Binyon
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 contemn.
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.
Also, remembered watching these when they were on.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/not-forgotten/episode-guide
A poigniant history lesson for us all. It ceratinly gave me food for thought. Not sure if they're available on DVD anywhere.
One of my interests is reading about the 2nd world war, there are some good books out there although many are focused on America's contribution.
I have a great respect for anyone who has fought for their country. To think that the little old guy selling poppies at the tube station this morning may have been charging across some field 60 odd years ago in France getting shot at with explosions going off around him astounds me.
My grandfather fought with the Royal Artillery, and was involved in liberating Bergen. My Mum tells me he was never the same after the war, which she thinks is because of what he saw in Bergen.
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Lest we forget
Can I chat on here during the 2 minute silence?
Can I chat on here during the 2 minute silence?
Depends if you want to spend the 2 minutes remembering those who helped to give the life you now have or occupy your mind with who has the worst neighbours....
Get a grip Yeti, that's downright disrespectful.
TSY - think of it as the '2 minute time for reflection' and make your decision based on that?
TBH I think I'll remember those who've fallen to enusre I didn't have even worse neighbours.
C_G I wouldn't be on here. The sound of clinking keys would serve as a sign of disprespect IMO. Which is why I'll be outside with any colleagues who also want to remember.
A couple of women wondering around the office looking for someone chatting away was a bit annoying, although when the guy on the tannoy announced the end of the 2 mins silence, they both clamped their hands over their mouths and looked a little embarrassed.
I think they'd just come out of the lift and hadn't heard the start of it.
They must have wondered why it was so quiet!
One of my interests is reading about the 2nd world war, there are some good books out there although many are focused on America's contribution.
I would recommend this then...
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=8142
I have read many accounts of the two World Wars, from the Allied, the German and the Jew's perspectives and it is by far the most engrossing read.
Thoroughly recommended.
Another visit on the cards to Ypres etc this coming Summer.
Currently reading 'Forgotten Voices; the Blitz and Battle of Britain'.
A sobering read.
I work in a call center why is it even though there's a 2 minute silence everyone decides to call up? We went from 32 people waiting for a call to 15 waiting in the queue
In 1900 90% of the casuatlies of war were combatants.
In 2000 90% of the casualties of war were civilians.
I remember the fallen because it's the right thing to do and I respect what they did.
I do feel that humanity really has learned nothing about war other than how to wage it more indiscriminatly, though.
@admirable - not all people share the same emotions/concerns in life I guess.
Books. The forsaken army Heinrich Gerlach - about Stalingrad from one of the very few survivors on the German side
The Naked Island - Russell Brandon - the fall of singapore and imprisonment in Changi
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque A germans account of WW1 but with huge resonance for anyone involved in war
All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque A germans account of WW1 but with huge resonance for anyone involved in war
Although that is 'only' a novel, not a true account. I have read it and was disappointed when I realised that.
Important not to forget these people during the rest of the year though. Like for instance when you pick up an Xbox controller for a quick game of Call of Duty.
Like for instance when you pick up an Xbox controller for a quick game of Call of Duty.
They aren't real people though. 😉
This as well..although its about the Vietnam War written by NV soldier..Its one of the few books Ive had to put down whilst reading due to its intensity....
[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bao_Ninh ]Sorrow of War[/url]
Its rather more than "only" a novel MF. The author was a veteran. I found it a very powerful piece of writting
Willi Heinrich's 'Willing flesh' is a good read. If you delve deeper the Authors regiment suffered 700% casualties on the eastern front.
The stories of Legends who were invincible to bullets but then died abruptly aplenty. I also found a website with a rollcall of the Iron Cross/Knights cross receipitants with a brief description against each. One highly decorated 33yr old General had been seriously injured on three occasions.
You never hear about those who lost their wars though do you?
Another interesting (but slightly egotistical) book; Panzer Commander: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck.
Gives you an insight into the communication/deals struck between Germans/English in the desert where missing soldiers were queried between the two and sometimes returned. In addition, he was sent to the interior of Russia, survived and returned. Not many of his rank did.
During one fierce battle after D-Day his Major was captured and given a roll of honour by the Americans for the way the Germany regiment fought them.
They aren't real people though.
It's making a game out of something deadly serious. By all means play the game (no problems with that), but have a bit of a think whilst you do. They once were real people at both ends of the rifle.
Its rather more than "only" a novel MF. The author was a veteran. I found it a very powerful piece of writting
The point being it wasn't a true account, which is why I was disappointed - I was trying to understand the 'enemy's' feelings about what they were going through and found myself reading stuff that was made up (at least I did not know what was made up and what was based on reality).
Only my opinion of course, but I did feel very short-changed.
'Nam by Mark Baker and Despatches by Michael Herr - two books about the reasons people fight in a war, the horror they find there and the pyschological impact it has on them.
Thread hijack - apologies all.
molgrips - did you get my e-mail yesterday?
Walking around a cemetery where everyone died an unnatural death and young was a awful experience.
Why do we do it? Why does man never learn his lessons?
Oh CG I did! Forgot to reply.. will do so now! Sorry!
Shame that so many ignore the 2 minutes silence, we had e-mails about it at work but we have never had the start and end officially signalled, the pc clocks, wall clock and my watch are all different too, did my 2 mins based on my works pc, was a shame I had to listen to multiple conversations etc whilst showing my respect to allpast, present and future involved in conflict
Having known a couple of people lost over the years, as a matter of principle I always get up and leave the office a few minutes before, grab a coffee and go outside to reflect peacefully on my own - no phones, no keyboards tapping. Unfortunately somewhat spoiled by the traffic.
How we've lost the original ethic:
“To All my People.Tuesday next, November 11th, is the first anniversary of the Armistice, which stayed the world wide carnage of the four preceding years, and marked the victory of Right and Freedom. I believe that my people in every part of the Empire fervently wish to perpetuate the memory of that Great Deliverance, and of those who laid down their lives to achieve it. To afford an opportunity for the universal expression of this feeling, it is my desire and hope that at the hour when the Armistice came into force, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, there may be, for the brief space of two minutes, a complete suspension of all our normal activities.[b] During that time, except in the rare cases where this may be impracticable, all work, all sound, and all locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the Glorious Dead. [/B]No elaborate organisation appears to be necessary. At a given signal, which can easily be arranged to suit the circumstances of each locality, I believe that we shall all gladly interrupt our business and pleasure, whatever it may be, and unite in this simple service of Silence and Remembrance.George R.I"
Personally, I think we should take a leaf from the French book, who are on bank holiday today, and commemorate on armistice day itself rather than Sunday.