Eva

And Bangleman & CTFC'S threads have been closed-for 2011,let me begin with this:





I do not know your name

I do not know your name, but I know you died
I do not know from where you came, but I know you died

Your uniform, branch of service, it matters not to me
Whether Volunteer or Conscript, or how it came to be
That politicians' failures, or some power-mad ambition
Brought you too soon to your death, in the name of any nation

You saw, you felt, you knew full well, as friend and foe were taken
By bloody death, that your life too, was forfeit and forsaken
Yet on you went and fought and died, in your close and private hell
For Mate or Pal or Regiment and memories never to tell

It was for each other, through shot and shell, the madness you endured
Side by side, through wound and pain, and comradeship assured
No family ties, or bloodline link, could match that bond of friend
Who shared the horror and kept on going, at last until the end

We cannot know, we were not there, it's beyond our comprehension
To know the toll that battle brings, of resolute intention
To carry on, day by day, for all you loved and hoped for
To live in peace a happy life, away from bloody war

For far too many, no long life ahead, free of struggle and pain and the gun
And we must remember the price that was paid, by each and every one
Regardless of views, opinions aside, no matter how each of us sees it
They were there and I cannot forget, even though I did not live it

I do not know your name, but I know you died
I do not know from where you came, but I know you died.

Kenny Martin
© 2003

(A poem by Kenny Martin written in 2003 following a visit he made in 2002 with his son to Commonwealth War Graves in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek/Nijmegen area of Holland)

commander

137 views to this most likely explains why i don’t post on here anymore. There are brilliant posters on here and they are on my FB.(apart from Eva who is a mystery. Spugsy and Cat...love ya's.)

This time of year i always think of those families who will be feeling empty, lost and i'd wager feeling a little let down by the government and its policies.

Last month marked the occasion when every ship i have ever served on bar one has been decommissioned and now sits at FLJ in Pompey. dis ****ing gusting.

Yes, the poppy appeal is primarily about the 2 world wars, but this year, more than any year marks so much more to me.

My home town has had, and still do have the absolute privilege and honour to house one of the finest fighting forces in the world. This month i think of these men..the survivors who have lost their mates, who live with their mates who now are maimed. The wife's...the children who show more courage than any of us posting on this spoilt brat's website would ever care to imagine. People, Sky news only now report deaths in Afghan...the odd leg or arm or bawsack going awol is not newsworthy anymore...

Afghanistan......why oh why...

My birthday is the 11th and whilst i celebrate it, i always, always remember...

Lieutenant Philip Green, 30, 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm
Lieutenant Antony King, 35, 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm
Lieutenant Marc Lawrence, 26, 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm
Lieutenant Philip West, 32, 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm
Lieutenant James Williams, 28, 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm
Lieutenant Andrew Wilson, 36, 849 Sqn Fleet Air Arm

RIP guys...we could only watch and try to afford you some dignity..

Macca67

Poignant, moving and lest we forget their sacrifice.

Thanks for posting Eva.

commander

yea agreed and i should have mentioned it in my post. Thanks Eva x

kittycat1

Remembrance, remembrance the 11th of November,
The day of peacefulness also filled with sorrow,
Scarlet red poppies show in respect.
As the young mighty soldiers are remembered.

Remembrance, remembrance the 11th of November,
There is silence while the poppies hear the cries of ghosts,
The chuffed bold soldiers enter the field of silence,
As they remember their fellow friends.

Remembrance, remembrance the 11th of November,
As red as blood, poppies are placed in the wreath and silence appears,
Blissful cries are heard in Flanders field
As the brave march on.

Remembrance, remembrance the 11th of November,
Crimson poppies represent their life,
Their confidence to risk their lives,
Remembrance, remembrance the 11th of November.

hnd

Lest we forget

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4NtSqZcT_4

Meow

Commander, just because a person doesn't post on a thread doesn't mean they don't care. Sometimes, there just isn't much to be added.


Good people will never forget.

commander

Yea, your right. Sorry. Was in a shit mood when I noticed the thread...

littlejimmy

Great poem.

Poppies seem to be rarer than ever this year. For me it's always been about rememberance. I tend to ignore people who try and use poppies or lack of them to make any cheap political points.

Norm_uk

Quae caret ora cruore nostro? - Horace

OleJanx

Indeed...

Norm_uk

Thanks for the valid input into a serious thread...

N.

littlejimmy

You're right. Deleted.

Blue Cat

how old are you this year? 40?

lovely poem Eva

scrubbedexpat141

Testing my memory here, spelling will be off too but one of the best poems I read finishes with;

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.