D
Deleted member 34561
We will remember them.
It's Remembrance Sunday tomorrow here in old Blighty but we always observe a minute's silence on the actual day the guns fell silent on the Western Front of the First World War exactly 100 years ago today.
I would like to ask everyone on this website to join me in thanking our brave service men and women for their courage service heroism and sacrifice, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives so we can all enjoy the freedom we have today, in all the armed conflicts since the First World War, including the Second World War, the Falklands War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Troubles in Northern Ireland and any others I may have overlooked.
This is very close to my heart on a personal level because my maternal grandfather fought in the Second World War and won medals for his bravery. However according to other members of the family he didn't come home the same man as he was before he went off to war because of what we now know to be PTSD. In those days it was called shell shock or battle fatigue.
He had been under hostile fire relentlessly and had witnessed a couple of his comrades being blown to pieces in front of his very eyes. I never met my grandad because he died 2 years before I was born. I suspect he was a child abuser who hurt my mum when he came back from the war (she was only a baby when he was conscripted and she was 6 years old when he returned from serving) but I don't know that for certain. However if he was, perhaps it only happened because of how unhinged he was because of the terrible things he had experienced and seen during the war.
I've heard of this happening with other former service people. Including my father in law who was a Japanese POW in that same conflict. He came home and terrorised his wife and kids for the same reason. I'm not making excuses for either him or my grandad because abuse is wrong which ever way you want to slice it but when you put it into context I for one have more understanding and compassion for those poor tortured men and everyone who suffered because of the deep pain and fear they were taking out on their families after being traumatised themselves in that war.
Because war affects everyone. Whilst I am eternally grateful for my grandad and father in law for their part in stopping Hitler and the Nazi's from imposing their particular brand of extremism on everyone 70 years ago I can't help but wonder how different all our lives would have turned out if not for the knock on effect that war has had on all the generations since. And sadly it's still going on today in regards to the war against IS and their extremism also. They bomb us, and rape our women and children, and we do it right back. Where's it all going to end? Actual physical combat in my opinion should be avoided at all costs wherever possible. It really should only be the absolute last resort to resolving conflict. I'm no bleeding heart or artist or pacifist or even a conscientious objector but I favour negotiation and diplomacy and sanctions over death bloodshed and trauma. And when that fails what have you got left?
I will end this with a short extract from my favourite Wilfred Owen poem. He was a soldier in the Great War.
They shall not weary
Nor age condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
With gratitude but also deep sorrow
Crazydiamond47
It's Remembrance Sunday tomorrow here in old Blighty but we always observe a minute's silence on the actual day the guns fell silent on the Western Front of the First World War exactly 100 years ago today.
I would like to ask everyone on this website to join me in thanking our brave service men and women for their courage service heroism and sacrifice, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives so we can all enjoy the freedom we have today, in all the armed conflicts since the First World War, including the Second World War, the Falklands War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Troubles in Northern Ireland and any others I may have overlooked.
This is very close to my heart on a personal level because my maternal grandfather fought in the Second World War and won medals for his bravery. However according to other members of the family he didn't come home the same man as he was before he went off to war because of what we now know to be PTSD. In those days it was called shell shock or battle fatigue.
He had been under hostile fire relentlessly and had witnessed a couple of his comrades being blown to pieces in front of his very eyes. I never met my grandad because he died 2 years before I was born. I suspect he was a child abuser who hurt my mum when he came back from the war (she was only a baby when he was conscripted and she was 6 years old when he returned from serving) but I don't know that for certain. However if he was, perhaps it only happened because of how unhinged he was because of the terrible things he had experienced and seen during the war.
I've heard of this happening with other former service people. Including my father in law who was a Japanese POW in that same conflict. He came home and terrorised his wife and kids for the same reason. I'm not making excuses for either him or my grandad because abuse is wrong which ever way you want to slice it but when you put it into context I for one have more understanding and compassion for those poor tortured men and everyone who suffered because of the deep pain and fear they were taking out on their families after being traumatised themselves in that war.
Because war affects everyone. Whilst I am eternally grateful for my grandad and father in law for their part in stopping Hitler and the Nazi's from imposing their particular brand of extremism on everyone 70 years ago I can't help but wonder how different all our lives would have turned out if not for the knock on effect that war has had on all the generations since. And sadly it's still going on today in regards to the war against IS and their extremism also. They bomb us, and rape our women and children, and we do it right back. Where's it all going to end? Actual physical combat in my opinion should be avoided at all costs wherever possible. It really should only be the absolute last resort to resolving conflict. I'm no bleeding heart or artist or pacifist or even a conscientious objector but I favour negotiation and diplomacy and sanctions over death bloodshed and trauma. And when that fails what have you got left?
I will end this with a short extract from my favourite Wilfred Owen poem. He was a soldier in the Great War.
They shall not weary
Nor age condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
With gratitude but also deep sorrow
Crazydiamond47