Ah, so he really did just do a runner... I thought you'd said in an earlier post that what he had done took courage. Without meaning undue disrespect to your grandfather, the really courageous pacifists were those who actively declared their pacifism and were strong enough in their convictions to defend their position against family and neighbours, rather than run away from a call-up notice. Many served with distinction in civilian roles, from firemen and ambulance crews to farmers and civil servants, helping to allay the results of war without participating in the war itself.

Remembrance day is not selective. It is also about reconciliation. Many lost their lives in the course of what they saw as duty, sure we remember them. Atrocities were committed, forget no, do we remember or forgive, that is an individual decision to make.

In the military there is not the luxury of choosing which causes are more noble than others, which 'job' is acceptable, there is a job to do. No time to debate the merits of each conflict or assault and see if everyone agrees. If a commander gives and order, that's what you do. Each service is subject to military law, which lays out duties, obligations & consequences.

Fortunately today's military is volunteer, if this is not acceptable to an individual they have a choice before joining.

I think they were after him because of the kind of material he was helping circulate.

This is very true of many conventions and rituals in every day life, so many simply accept without question.
Good on you for having the guts to ask the question.
We only learn through inquiry...naming calling does not aid the pursuit of knowledge.

Thankyou,at least one person on here respects freedom of speach and opinion. I love you Will you marry me

My maternal Grandfather was a Prisoner of War of the Japanese in the Shamshupio Camp in Hong Kong, for three years, he was thrown out on the "scrap heap" of his dead colleagues four times and was rescued by his friends who discovered faint movements in his skeletal frame. When he came home from the war he weighed 4 stone!
He never spoke of the war and my mother and I have found out where he was kept prisoner and a lot of other devastating facts through a lot of research and the help of COFEPOW (Children and Families of Far Eastern Prisoners of War).

I wear my Poppy with pride in his memory and for those who fought and never returned.

Also in NI we Remember our loved ones murdered in "The Troubles" although some sections of our community claim it as a war -it wasn't, but they are remembered at the cenotaphs here as well. In our town we have services at both memorials as our wee town took heavy casualities during the troubles too.

This is the COFEPOW Remembrance verse:

We that are left grow old with the years
Remembering the heartache , the pain and the tears,
Hoping and praying that never again
Man will sink to such sorrow and shame
The price that was paid we will always remember
Every day, every month, not just in November
We Shall Remember Them.

I too wear my poppy with pride. My grandfather was also a pacifist, but rather than run to the hills he worked as a medic, just refused to carry a weapon. Luckily for me, because I wouldn't be here, he survived.

IMHO there is a place in society for most of us, whom ether we are.

Lets just remember all of them, boys, girls, men, women, who give their lives, limbs or sanity for the rest of us, In which ever war or conflict they fought in.

Well i bought my poppy,i hope the money will be well spent..!!!!!

But now having read through all these posts,not just the ones that personly attacked me,but all the others where some one had a different point of view aswell. And can quite openly say i am ashamed to be British.
Did those brave men and women die so that some of you holyier than holy can attack another mans opinion and point of view regarding war,call him names and be down right rude. I think most of those dead soldiers(of which are both my grandfarthers,11uncle's,3 aunts,3 of my best chums(Falklands) and half a dozen other pals since) would turn in their graves if they could here some of you talk and fighting .
Respect another mans point of view,argue the point by allmeans but dont pick a fight and be rude.

Don't worry about it Gremmie,
I have heard a lot of things about what happens to the money from the sale of poppys, some good some not so good!! but thats the way of the world.

thanks Surrey Expat for the video
beautiful
vee

Keeping it at the top

Thread bumping is a capitol offence....i know cos Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiink told me of once for doing it

Thanks for a lovely post!

But this is in a good cause, so maybe we (I) will be forgiven until Sunday!

I'm in.