General Chat

Bumping for the day crew. Deb

Although we never knew them: Alfred Leary, died of wounds recd in WW1, aged 20 Robert Laird, of Canada, died WW1, a young man Isaac Farrington, died in WW2, aged 26 John Seddon Laird, of Canada, died WW2, aged 21 Remembered with pride. God bless you all, you're in our thoughts. xxxx

My cousin, who I never knew, Tommy Stevens, Lancaster rear gunner 467 Squadron RAF, shot down 11/5/44, buried with his crew in Louvain.

John Longman Royal Naval Reserve 1.5.1916 GG GF

WW1 Joseph Proctor aged 37 South Staffordshire Regiment. Varennes Military Cemetery Somme France. On April 17th 1917. My Grandad. RIP. Gill

Remembered with gratitude and pride Sergeant Michael Mcdonough 28yrs WW1 Third Radio Officer John Boulter 18 yrs WW2 We will remember them

Gt.Uncle Percy Wyllie Craswell B.London 1879. Emigrated NZ 1900. Joined Auckland Reg.NZEF 1st Bat. Died 4th.Oct.1917 .Buried Dochy Farm Belgium. Especially Remembering all the Merchant Seamen who have 'No Graves but the Sea'

My Grandfather Private Alfred Richard Barker/ labour corps, previously The Northampton Regt------march 1918 age 46 Grandad was sent home from France in Dec 1917 & died just three months later from TB Vivienne

Forgot this earlier:- All relatives, however they are connected to me, who fought, died and returned in WW2. My deepest and most sincere thanks. Though I do not have any names as yet, you will be in my thoughts.

My Uncle Sapper Aubrey Sidney Owen, Royal Engineers. Lost at sea following D Day invasion between 10th to 12th June 1944 whilst constructing the 'Mullbery Harbour'. No known grave but commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial and on his parents grave. My Father never got over the loss of his nearest brother but dedicated himself to fundraising and recruiting members for the Royal British Legion. Now reunited - Bless you both.

My Grandads cousins James William Bindley, Driver in the Royal Engineers, Died in England 31/5/1944 age 20 and his brother Alfred John Bindley, Royal Norfolk Regiment, Killed in France 8/8/1944 age 22 Still remembered among the family. We sell poppies where i work and i feel i'm doing my bit for them. Mum & I will put poppies on their memorial on sunday.

WW1. My dad's uncle who was killed on the last day in Le Somme. France. Alexander Kerr. Private 1641 6th Bn., Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). We salute & remember everyone who fought in all the wars for our freedom. We will never forget. Hilary x

Great Grandfather Edward Thomas Joseph Colyer,
killed in action, 1st August 1917 Ypres.

We Will Remember Them...

Chris

Pte William Robert Fletcher 13th Bn Kings Liverpool Regiment - died of wounds 7 Nov 1916 aged 20. Also in Varennes Military Cemetery. 'When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today'

In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Written by John McCrae Canadian Army Physician

In Rememberence of; Charles Johnson;; was a prisoner of war. died 13/1/1983 Will never be forgotten also Charles Stroyd Royal Artilery died 13/02/1987

In Remembrance of Richard (Dick) Bennett (my Grt Uncle) who died WWII on Japanese Prisoner of warship!! 1944. It is only since talking to distant relatives about my genealogy have I learnt the truth about his death kept from his close relatives for all these years! RIP Kaz

Could you guys keep your fingers crossed for my daughter who has been asked to perform the last post for the school radio!!! She is massively shy and terrified!!! This could be just what she needs!! Karen

My G Uncle. Henry ( Harry) Meadows. Died in action aged 19 Belgium 1917.

My father's cousins who he waved off to war when he was a child -

John Edward Brittain - Lance Corporal. 43152 7th Bn Suffolk Regiment died October 12, 1916 commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and in Lowestoft Parish Church

Charles Alfred Brittain - Private 43167 11th Btn Suffolk Regiment, cyclists died March 22, 1918, commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais and in Lowestoft Parish Church

Green Fields of France - Eric Bogle

Well, how do you do young Willie McBride?
Do you mind if I sit hear down by your graveside,
And rest for a while neath the warm summer sun.
I've been working all day and I'm nearly done.
I can see by your gravestone you were only nineteen
when you joined the great fallen in nineteen sixteen.
Well I hope you died quick, and I hope you died clean,
Oh Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene?

Chorus:
Did they beat the drum slowly, did they play the fife lowly,
did they sound the death march, as they lowered you down?
Did the bands play the last post and chorus?
Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

And did you leave a wife or sweetheart behind
In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined,
Although you died back in nineteen sixteen
In some faithful heart are you forever nineteen?
Or are you a stranger without even a name
Enclosed now forever behind a glass frame
In an old photograph torn, battered and stained
And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame.

Chorus:
Did they beat the drum slowly, did they play the fife lowly,
did they sound the death march, as they lowered you down?
Did the bands play the last post and chorus?
Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?
:

Now see how the sun shines o'er the green field of France
There's a warm summer breeze makes the red poppies dance,
And see how the sun shines from under the clouds
There's no gas or barbed wire, there's 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 difference to his fellow man
To a whole generation who were butchered and damned.

Chorus:
Did they beat the drum slowly, did they play the fife lowly,
did they sound the death march, as they lowered you down?
Did the bands play the last post and chorus?
Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

Now young Willie McBride, I can't help wonder why
Do all those who lie here know why did they die.
And did they believe when they answered the call
Did they really believe that this war would end wars.
Well the sorrow, the suffering, the glory the pain,
The killing, the dying they were all done in vain
For young Willie McBride it all happened again
And again and again and again and again.

Chorus:
Did they beat the drum slowly, did they play the fife lowly,
did they sound the death march, as they lowered you down?
Did the bands play the last post and chorus?
Did the pipes play the flowers of the forest?

Gwynne