General Chat

We still get pins with our poppies here where I live, I am in Cambridgeshire. Maybe it differs in areas.

The British Legion say that the "leaf at 11 o'clock" isn't a thing. They were sold without leaves for years. The queen doesn't have her leaf at 11 o'clock most of the time.

OUR REMEMBRANCE DAY A MESSAGE FROM THE FALLEN

Come gather round lads, come one come all,
Its time to answer the bugle’s call,
Look, through the clouds and down below,
There’s hundreds of friends we used to know.

Our special day of the year is here,
When all our comrades gather near,
A promise made, for years to keep,
To honour us, in our endless sleep.

Together we all fought, side by side,
The lucky one’s all march with pride,
Some old and grey and racked with pain,
But still they march, time and again.

Our poppy wreath’s all shining bright,
Oh boys, look at this glorious sight,
In cloud and mist, in sun and wet,
We knew, that they would not forget.

We pick out regiments we all know,
And one by one we watch them go,
We salute all those who came to pray,
For us - on our - remembrance day.

Cal Pearson

I work on the poppy stall for our branch of RBL we have pins, but we are not allowed to pin it on unless the person asks us to. Its health and safety in case either person gets stabbed by the pin lol

The only person likely to get hurt is the one putting the poppy on !

Jan

well I for one am not going to pin a poppy onto my sweat shirt, ouch.
RBL should understand that the current format poppy is unwearable with a lot of modern clothes and offer other options eg adhesive poppies. The French manage it with their equivalent the bleuette.
https://goo.gl/AP6WW3

11 Nov is a public holiday in France except for the schools. In our village like many the children are marched down to the war memorial to which the local fire brigade (and once upon a time the vets) parade the tricolor . There the mayor will read out the name of each and every person on the war memorial ... "Henri Dassault - mort pour la patrie". The kids don't get bored as they mostly have the same family names including Polish and Arabic names. The village has a population of 900 unchanged in a century. There are over 50 names to read out.

After that they all sing "La Marseillaise" and depart for another French tradition a big lunch. Any English, Dutch and son are welcomed.

This is not our village but it will give you an idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCfC6oPvzHI

We picked up our poppies today and, yes, we were offered a pin. Stick on version would have been more appropriate for our water-resistant jackets, but they wouldn't be transferable to another garment.

Although we didn't stand and browse, the stall did have a range of related merchandise on sale. They had a selection of wristbands which ought to appeal to the younger generation.

Remembrance Day in Canada is a Statutory Holiday in all 3 Territories and 6 of the 10 Provinces (it is not a Stat in Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec).

A Bill to make it a Federal Statutory Holiday was before Parliament before it was dissolved this summer and a General Election held on October 19. I think that means the bill will have to be reintroduced.

Every community, no matter how small, holds a service at its War Memorial or Cenotaph

Schools in most places hold special services on the day before, in other places such services are held on the morning of November 11

The most encouraging fact is that attendance at Remembrance Day observances have been climbing in recent years, with more and more young people attending and with families taking their small children

One of the most moving things to see is the Memorial Hall at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa ..........

On Remembrance Day, at exactly 11 a.m., sunlight shines through a single window in the Memorial Hall to frame a headstone that represents Canada’s Unknown Soldier.

The museum issues a limited number of free tickets at 9:30 a.m. on remembrance at the Information Desk. No reservations are permitted.

This moving event it is also broadcast within the Museum, and webcast at www.warmuseum.ca/remember.

The Museum was opened on 8 May 2005, the 60th Anniversary of the end of WW2 in Europe, and is a magnificent place to visit.

FLOWERS GROW IN FIELDS SO GREEN

Flowers grow in fields so green, where in the past war was seen,
Men shot to pieces by machines of fear, loved one’s left to shed a tear.

Children left with desperate mothers, dead are the fathers, sons, and brothers.

Many of them never found, bodies scattered ore the ground,
The soil drew in the streams of blood, and to the flora it did flood,
Flowers grow in fields so green, nourished by mans blood not seen.

Chris Duggan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


IN WATERS DEEP
In ocean wastes no poppies blow,
No crosses stand in ordered row,
Their young hearts sleep... beneath the wave...
The spirited, the good, the brave,
But stars a constant vigil keep,
For them who lie beneath the deep.

'Tis true you cannot kneel in prayer
On certain spot and think. "He's there."
But you can to the ocean go...
See whitecaps marching row on row;
Know one for him will always ride...
In and out... with every tide.

And when your span of life is passed,
He'll meet you at the "Captain's Mast."
And they who mourn on distant shore
For sailors who'll come home no more,
Can dry their tears and pray for these
Who rest beneath the heaving seas...

For stars that shine and winds that blow
And whitecaps marching row on row.
And they can never lonely be
For when they lived... they chose the sea...

Eileen Mahoney

STILL no poppy on site

Why is it every year we have to remind them, then we wait and wait and wait zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
how long does it take for one person on the Techie team to put the poppy on.

It's not even November yet :-S

probably because there is NO technical team .....................

that is the conclusion I have come to after the seeming inability to correct technical problems that have gone on for years.

Maybe we have to wait until one of the technical team on fmp has time to deal with the problems on here

But ......... it IS still only October.


I don't expect to see poppies or people wearing poppies until NOVEMBER 1st

JUST A COMMOM SOLDIER (A SOLDIER DIED TODAY)

He was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past
Of a war that we had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
Of his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbours, his tales became a joke
His Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bert has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He was just a common soldier and his ranks were growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

A. Lawrence Vaincourt

There was only one lady selling poppies today in Oxford Street.

I did expect to see a few more on such a busy street.

TFL has placed huge posters with poppies on them outside most of the larger Tube and Railway stations.

Last year there was a gigantic poppy hanging from the ceiling of Kings Cross station and a small stall manned by army personnel.

I have been looking for a centenary ceramic badge but have not been able to find one yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_LhOO6Q6p8
<3

FOR THE FALLEN
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 not grow old, as we who 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 shall 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.

Laurence Binyon

Poems Written by the Children of Shipston on Stour.
BY JAMIE REYNOLDS
Remember

Every poppy for a life that was given,
Mothers said goodbye to their sons,
Everyone joined together to save our country,
Memorials stand today so we don't forget,
Brave, innocent men who gave their lives,
Each and everyone of them,
Remembered.
.........................
BY BROOKE HARVEY

Remembrance Day
Never again to those who fought and died in the war,
Never again to those who were forced to leave their family,
Never again to those who got shot as a soldier,
Never again to those who fought for our country,
On 11/11 at 11am, we remember those soldiers who fought in all wars.
.........................

BY ELLIOTT LONGSDALE
Have You?
Have you heard
The rattling of the guns?
The booming of the grenades?
The commanding of your chums?
The whining of the air raids?
Have you seen
The planes fly by
Whilst looking at the moonlit sky?
Seen people hold their hands up high
Whilst shouting "the end is nigh"?
Have you smelt
The stinking of the petrol?
The odour of your team mates' sweat?
The smell of blood from the medical tent?
The muddy stench of the trenches?
Have you ever felt sadness overwhelm you in Flanders field?
.........................

BY SAMUEL BOWERS
The Poppy Torch
The silence screams across the fields and tears rolled down his face.
His son followed behind him, he dropped to the ground and pulled out
the poppy torch.
The gunfire surrounded the field.
Son, take the torch to victory, don't let the flame go out, for me don't.
The bravery, the boldness, the hero inside, his last words won the war.
20 years later
The Flanders field again.
He must pass it on as his father did,
With joy, with hope and most of all courage.
The torch led him the way, son follow the poppy's code,
The stem will give you strength and the red will bring you bravery.
Goodbye son.
.........................

BY CHARLOTTE PECKOVER
Don't worry we will remember you,
We will carry the torch on,
Just like you asked,
And win the war.
Don't worry we will remember you,
You were stong willed,
You were brave hearted,
And for this we will remember you.
Don't worry we will remember you
On the day of peace so sorrowful.
We will show our respect on the 11th of November.
Many people come and see you on this special day.
Don't worry we will remember you.
The poppies can hear your whispers
As they are as red as blood.
Don't worry we will remember you.
.........................

BY ALICE DUMELOW
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.
.........................

BY WILLIAM WALLACE
My heart was filled with such delight as I stepped out
and thought my family might have survived.
I couldn't believe the war was over.
I felt like birds in freedom flying, flying out of sight.
I remembered the people that fought with me and to myself I exclaimed
"GOOD ON YOU CHAPS".
As I stepped onto a piece of wood I saw it said "Rest in Peace"
So I shoved it into the ground and said
"We will remember
Always and Forever"
……………………………..

SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES

By Siegfried Sassoon

I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.
In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

THE FOLLOWING POEMS ARE FROM CHILDREN, THERE AGES RANGE FROM 7 to 18 years.

Trench life.

Waiting
Hungry
Cold
Wet

Waiting for something to happen
Writing to loved ones
cleaning my gun
talking with friends
about life back home
Hearing the Sergeant scream
Over the top!

As our team rushes forward
Seeing friends die left and right
While we continue to fight
Hoping to live another day.

Waiting and waiting for the war to end
While I'm trying to survive,
Trench life.
~~~~~~~~~~

THE BATTLE OF MUD

Battle began in a Belgian town
All of the troops never backed down
Also known as the battle of mud
The fields were covered in puddles of blood.

The plan was to break through Flanders
All of the troops depending upon their commanders
Sir Arthur Currie wanted to become involved
While the troops lines slowly dissolved.

The allies fought in the trenches day after day
The soldiers did not have time to stop and play
They gobbled down rations like it was the last food on earth
In the end our grandfathers proved their worth.

There were 100 000 injured or killed
When they won their families were thrilled
They fought the battle and did not fail
That Belgian town was Passchendaele.

Am disgusted, they said on the 27th October the poppy was on its way.

when will they realise out of respect for the fallen, one poppy on this site
is not too much to ask.

Jan x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxkhBvO8_kM

1. Well, how'd you do, Private William Mcbride?
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside?
I'll rest here awhile in the warm summer sun,
I've been walking all day, Lord, and I'm nearly done.

And I see by your gravestone you were only 19
When you joined the glorious fallen in 1916--
Well, I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean,
Or, Willie Mcbride, was it slow and obscene?

Chorus:
Did they beat the drum slowly,
Did they sound the fife lowly,
Did the rifles fire o'er you as they lowered you down?
Did the bugles sing "The Last Post" in chorus?
Did the pipes play "The Flowers of the Forest?"

2. Did you leave a wife or a sweetheart behind?
In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined
And, though you died back in 1916,
To that loyal heart are you always 19?

Or are you a stranger without even a name,
Forever enshrined behind some glass pane,
In an old photograph, torn and tattered and stained,
And fading to yellow in a brown leather frame?

3. The sun's shining down on these green fields of France;
The warm wind blows gently, and the red poppies dance.
The trenches have vanished long under the plough;
No gas and no barbed wire, no guns firing now.

But here in this graveyard it's still No Man's Land
The countless white crosses in mute witness stand
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man.
And a whole generation who were butchered and damned.

4. And I can't help but wonder, now Willie Mcbride,
Do all those who lie here know why they died?
Did you really believe them when they told you 'The Cause? '
Did you really believe that this war would end wars?

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame
The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,
For Willie Mcbride, it all happened again,
And again, and again, and again, and again.