Remembrance 1916 - 2016

Welcome back to A Wartime Life blog. This year for remembrance, I decided that unlike in previous years, I would not post anything until after remembrance weekend, so that I could have my own time to reflect and remember. After all, there are so many other programmes and news pieces, telling the stories of brave men, you didn't need another post. Rather than list the number of casualties for the year, which lets face it, with the Somme drawing to a close 100 years ago, was such a high number, I thought I would just share with you some images that bring home why we remember. 

I was lucky enough to be able to attend in intimate gathering for a remembrance ceremony and I hope you were able to reflect too. These images above certainly make me think, analysing how I tread through life and have it relatively easy compared to some.

A Day To Remember Them

On this day, Remembrance Sunday, it is a time for reflection. A day when millions of people around the world, pay there respects to those who fought for our freedom. Some of whom never came home, were injured mentally and physically as well as all those families affected by war. It is a day to remember the war dead on both sides for they are no longer enemies, to many of them, they were fighting a cause they believed in and for others they were too scared to go against the norm. 

Throughout the years, there have been many conflicts, some of which people thought were unjust. But today isn't about that - it is about all the brave men and women who signed the pledge to fight for Queen and Country what ever the cost may be. 

Therefore on this Remembrance Sunday, I would like to dedicate this post in memory of all those who fought to keep people like me safe and able to do the everyday things I do today. 

I would also like to share with you an unsigned poem that can be found at the Royal British Legion Club in Limassol, Cyprus:

Why wear a poppy?

"Please wear a poppy", the lady said. 
And held one out, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them, there, 
And her face was old and lined with care,
But beneath the lines the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on carefree feet,
"Lady", he said, "Can I have one?"
When she'd pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we were a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in a wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the Poppy there, is the symbol for,
The gallant men who died in war,
And because they did, you and I are free,
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man - as you will too.

He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he seemed to be with us such a short while.
When war broke out he went away:
I still remember his face that day,
When he smiled at me and said, "Goodbye, I'll be back soon Mum, so please don't cry".

But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight
(I see it still in my dreams at night).
With the tanks and guns and the cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

Till at last, at last, the war was won,
"So that's why we were a poppy, son!"
The small boy turned as if to go,
The said, "Thanks lady, I'm glad to know,
That really did sound an awful fight,
But, your son, did he come back alright?"

A tear rolled down the faded cheek;
She shook her head but could not speak. 
I slunk away, feeling sick with shame,
And if you'd been me you'd have done the same.
For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid.

And so when you see a poppy worn,
Try to think of the heavy burden borne
By those, who gave their very all
When asked to respond to their country's call:
That we at home in peace might live.
So wear a Poppy! Remember! Give!

Remember Me

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them.

Listed below are the casualties mentioned so far. At only a few months into the war, the loss on both sides were high. When we remember, we should not only think about the people on our side, but those that at the time were the enemy. No matter what their beliefs, these men and women were somebody's husband, wife, son or daughter. The children that were affected by war were just as innocent as the children on our side. So remember them all...

Women of The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
The Voluntary Aid Detachment
The Woman's Royal Naval Service
The Woman's Auxiliary Army Corps
The Women's Royal Air Force
The soldiers fighting at Luik at the Belgium border on 10th August 1914
The workers & civillians affected by the Silvertown munitions factory explosion on Friday 19th January
The crew of the British cruiser sunk on 9th August 1914
The nine people killed in Liege city by a German Zeppelin
Dennis Patrick Dowd Jr
General Dubail
General De Castelnau
General Leman
The 9,000 soldiers killed at the battle of Cer
Charles De Gaulle
The civillians and soldiers killed in Dinant on 15th August 1914
The 1,300 killed by zeppelin bombs
Sir John French
General Wilson
The 310 soldiers and 400 horses killed at the battle of Halen
The soldiers killed at the battle of Bergen
The 612 inhabitants in Dinant executed on 23rd August 1914 - including 3 week old baby Felix Fivet
The 384 inhabitants of Tamines executed on the 22nd August 1914
The 20,089 killed in the battle of Gumbinnen
The 211 Belgians executed on the 20th August 1914
The 150 Belgians executed on 19th August 1914
And to the many more that I have been unable to mention

WE WILL REMEMBER YOU

When you go home, tell them of us and say:
For your tomorrow we gave our today.