armistice day

armistice day is here again and for many they will stop and hold a respectful 2 minutes silence at 11am to be followed the following day this year by remembrance sunday.
It has become fashionable in some circles to ridicule the sacrifice that soldiers have made in all wars and many wish to no longer remember that sacrifice, in fact in newspeak the poppy has become the symbol of the racist and the war monger. It is neither of those things it is a symbol of remembrance for the fallen from all wars. the money raised from the sale of poppies goes towards veterans .the money raised for the white poppies does not, it goes into the pockets of the business's selling them and some goes to further the propaganda of their agenda.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/30/britains-oldest-poppy-seller-survived-auschwitz-says-will-never/

I am not sure if this means anything to americans, but they do have veterans day which I presume is similar.

The Devil, You Know wrote:armistice day is here again and for many they will stop and hold a respectful 2 minutes silence at 11am to be followed the following day this year by remembrance sunday.
It has become fashionable in some circles to ridicule the sacrifice that soldiers have made in all wars and many wish to no longer remember that sacrifice, in fact in newspeak the poppy has become the symbol of the racist and the war monger. It is neither of those things it is a symbol of remembrance for the fallen from all wars. the money raised from the sale of poppies goes towards veterans .the money raised for the white poppies does not, it goes into the pockets of the business's selling them and some goes to further the propaganda of their agenda.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/30/britains-oldest-poppy-seller-survived-auschwitz-says-will-never/

I am not sure if this means anything to americans, but they do have veterans day which I presume is similar.

I believe they do. I have just received a Facebook message containing the image of a poppy from an American contact.

Today, the Royal British Legion supports not only the dwindling number of servicemen and women from WW2 but the increasing number of mentally and physically injured servicemen and women who were involved in every conflict from Korea to Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, etc.

The traditional red poppy is manufactured by people such as disabled ex-service personnel and raises the money that we (I am proud to be an RBL officeholder and collector) desperately need in order to continue our work.

As you say the white poppy simply puts money into the pockets of the parasites that manufacture them and the funds of propagandists including, I am sorry to say, some teachers.

It is beneath my dignity publicly to criticise what these people are doing; I prefer simply to carry on with what I do for so long as I am physically able.

I always buy and wear a poppy and no fucker is gonna make me feel guilty!

Veterans Day is different to Remembrance/Armistice Day. Here it is about celebrating those who served and thanking them.

Memorial Day at the end of May is akin to November 11th. A time to reflect on those who didn’t come home or who have died since.

Interestingly, the American Legion has started selling poppies here. I’ve still got one from 2007 which was our last in the UK, so I’ll be wearing that.

I’ll be taking my veteran out to breakfast tomorrow morning and for dinner later on. We will open a bottle of wine and toast those 10 friends we lost in Iraq and Afghanistan and from PTSD, and remember our grandfathers and those who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as their families.

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.

With wearying predictability, the annual arguments about poppies have begun in earnest. Yesterday, it was Nicole Scherzinger who was to be branded “disrespectful” for not wearing one during the X-Factor.

Celebrities being shamed for daring to appear in public without a poppy at this time of year is nothing new, but it is grim nonetheless. There is something ugly and demeaning about it all that seems a long way away from the commemoration it is supposed to represent.
Yet in recent years there seems to be a growing pushback against this. Liberals and left-wingers seem increasingly keen to declare the poppy as a symbol of “war-hungry nationalism”, or as being “co-opted by current or former politicians to justify our folly in Iraq, our morally dubious war on terror and our elimination of one’s right to privacy”. Goodness. Privacy too, huh. Who knew.

This is complete drivel, but more importantly, it is another instance of supposedly progressive people finding themselves in completely the wrong place over culture and identity.

Just like the St George’s cross, the poppy is part of our shared culture, our heritage, and our history, and it is important to defend our common ownership of it. Symbols matter, and we must not relinquish them to the worst kinds of people; they belong to all of us and we should assert this. They are ours too.

Instead, the left/liberal instinct seems to be to cede the entire argument to the right, and then try and claim the whole enterprise is racist. Wrong, wrong, wrong. These things only become racist if you allow racists to own them. Yet liberals keep falling into this same trap, which is as counterproductive as it is foolish.
The poppy, and the act of remembrance, rightly means a great deal to a great many people in this country, the vast majority of whom are not fascists. Armistice Day is one of the times when, as a nation, we ought to be able to reach across divides and share in something bigger than ourselves. And many of us do.

Every year, I buy a poppy, but don’t wear it. For me, remembrance is a personal thing, and I don’t feel I should have to display my commitment. I won’t be told by the right that I must wear a poppy out of respect. But I also won’t be told by the left that if I choose to wear one, I’m a fascist.

http://hurryupharry.org/2017/11/07/poppies/

in associated news
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5071527/Padre-s-crusade-ensure-soldiers-NEVER-forgotten.html

Cass wrote:Veterans Day is different to Remembrance/Armistice Day. Here it is about celebrating those who served and thanking them.

Memorial Day at the end of May is akin to November 11th. A time to reflect on those who didn’t come home or who have died since.

Interestingly, the American Legion has started selling poppies here. I’ve still got one from 2007 which was our last in the UK,  so I’ll be wearing that.

I’ll be taking my veteran out to breakfast tomorrow morning and for dinner later on. We will open a bottle of wine and toast those 10 friends we lost in Iraq and Afghanistan and from PTSD, and remember our grandfathers and those who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as their families.

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.

Those are the words that I will be reciting at the village war memorial at about two minutes to eleven this morning, after which will follow the bugle call "The Last Post" and the traditional two minutes' silence before the laying of poppies and wreaths.

It's also my privilege formally to close the proceedings with what is perhaps the lesser known and deeply moving Kohima Epitaph that commemorates "the forgotten war" in the Far East and is taken from the memorial to the 2nd British Division in the cemetery at Kohima in North East India:

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

Traditionally, the Epitaph was used by the Burma Star Association, but because so few veterans are left it has been incorporated into Royal British Legion ceremonial.

I have to confess that the first time that I recited it to close the Remembrance service a few years ago, I broke down in tears and finished only with great difficulty.

You see, my favourite and very young uncle served in the "forgotten war" and I still remember him as my hero, wearing his uniform with such pride as he went off to do his bit.

He never came back.

Some organisations have a one-minute silence, which isn't long enough. By the time you've got people to shut up, the silence is over. Why can't people just remember the day and the time so they're prepared to shut their mouths and stand still for a short time?

there was a time when most of the country would have come to a standstill at 11am

The Devil, You Know wrote:there was a time when most of the country would have come to a standstill at 11am

I think a lot of people still try to do that, but there's always someone yapping away all the time. You can't say anything to them because you're supposed to be silent!

Raggamuffin wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:there was a time when most of the country would have come to a standstill at 11am

I think a lot of people still try to do that, but there's always someone yapping away all the time. You can't say anything to them because you're supposed to be silent!

well it is a personal choice of course, but it also shows respect, or lack there of when talking over those who do honour it.

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

I think a lot of people still try to do that, but there's always someone yapping away all the time. You can't say anything to them because you're supposed to be silent!

well it is a personal choice of course, but it also shows respect, or lack there of when talking over those who do honour it.

It certainly does show disrespect. It's not much to ask that people just stop yapping and laughing for a minute or two, especially if they're in a shop or out in public. They can talk as much as they like in their own house.

Raggamuffin wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:
well it is a personal choice of course, but it also shows respect, or lack there of when talking over those who do honour it.

It certainly does show disrespect. It's not much to ask that people just stop yapping and laughing for a minute or two, especially if they're in a shop or out in public. They can talk as much as they like in their own house.

it's not really their fault, they have not been taught about respect or why remembrance happens. It's down to the education system

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It certainly does show disrespect. It's not much to ask that people just stop yapping and laughing for a minute or two, especially if they're in a shop or out in public. They can talk as much as they like in their own house.

it's not really their fault, they have not been taught about respect or why remembrance happens. It's down to the education system

It's common sense. If people around you are respecting the silence, it's not difficult to notice that. Of course it's their own fault - they should be pulled up for it.

Raggamuffin wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:
it's not really their fault, they have not been taught about respect or why remembrance happens. It's down to the education system

It's common sense. If people around you are respecting the silence, it's not difficult to notice that. Of course it's their own fault - they should be pulled up for it.

if they have no idea what it means then they cannot understand what it means to those of us who do.

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

It's common sense. If people around you are respecting the silence, it's not difficult to notice that. Of course it's their own fault - they should be pulled up for it.

if they have no idea what it means then they cannot understand what it means to those of us who do.

How can they not know what it means? If they're so stupid, they shouldn't be out in public in the first place.

Raggamuffin wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:
if they have no idea what it means then they cannot understand what it means to those of us who do.

How can they not know what it means? If they're so stupid, they shouldn't be out in public in the first place.

because for years they either haven't been taught about it or have been taught that it's all about warmongering blood lust.

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

How can they not know what it means? If they're so stupid, they shouldn't be out in public in the first place.

because for years they either haven't been taught about it or have been taught that it's all about warmongering blood lust.

Carry on defending them if you like. I just think they're ignorant and rude.

Raggamuffin wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:
because for years they either haven't been taught about it or have been taught that it's all about warmongering blood lust.

Carry on defending them if you like. I just think they're ignorant and rude.

I'm not defending them, I am pointing out why they don't understand the significance

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Carry on defending them if you like. I just think they're ignorant and rude.

I'm not defending them, I am pointing out why they don't understand the significance

If someone is in a public place and there is an announcement for a silence, it's not that they don't "understand" the signficance. Even if they don't, it's rude and ignorant to ignore that announcement.

Had the 2 mins silence at 11am at our local Sainsbury's.
Totally respected by kids, teens and most adults.

EXCEPT for 3 old biddies and two very old men, none of whom were wearing poppies.
Before slaughtering  the youngsters  on here, perhaps the geriatrics need tolook at their own disrespectful generation.

Angry Andy wrote:Had the 2 mins silence at 11am at our local Sainsbury's.
Totally respected by kids, teens and most adults.

EXCEPT for 3 old biddies and two very old men, none of whom were wearing poppies.
Before slaughtering  the youngsters  on here, perhaps the geriatrics need tolook at their own disrespectful generation.

was one of the old farts you??

i cant imagine you supporting the forces or respecting the poppy, unless its the white poppy

Angry Andy wrote:Had the 2 mins silence at 11am at our local Sainsbury's.
Totally respected by kids, teens and most adults.

EXCEPT for 3 old biddies and two very old men, none of whom were wearing poppies.
Before slaughtering  the youngsters  on here, perhaps the geriatrics need tolook at their own disrespectful generation.

I didn't mention youngsters Andy. I'm very well aware that people of all ages ignore the silence. Not many do, but just one is enough to spoil it and annoy people.

Couple of young lads and girls in uniforms, Air cadets I  think, were holding hands and holding back the tears. There was absolute silence apart from the sound of 3 or4 trollies trundling around being pushed by senile old buzzards who.are usually the 1st to admonish the younger generation.

Angry Andy wrote:Couple of young lads and girls in uniforms, Air cadets I  think, were holding hands and holding back the tears. There was absolute silence apart from the sound of 3 or4 trollies trundling around being pushed by senile old buzzards who.are usually the 1st to admonish the younger generation.

It also annoys me if people aren't talking but carry on with what they were doing - shopping, walking around, etc. You'd think they could stop shopping for a minute or two. They should stand still and just shut up. It could be anyone of any age though.

Angry Andy wrote:Had the 2 mins silence at 11am at our local Sainsbury's.
Totally respected by kids, teens and most adults.

EXCEPT for 3 old biddies and two very old men, none of whom were wearing poppies.
Before slaughtering  the youngsters  on here, perhaps the geriatrics need tolook at their own disrespectful generation.

I suppose you haven't even had the decency to consider that if they were as old as you say they were, they may not even have been able to recognise the event or to have contributed to the poppy appeal.

Don't forget that but for that "disrespectful generation" you so clearly loathe you would not even be here.

Angry Andy wrote:Couple of young lads and girls in uniforms, Air cadets I  think, were holding hands and holding back the tears. There was absolute silence apart from the sound of 3 or4 trollies trundling around being pushed by senile old buzzards who.are usually the 1st to admonish the younger generation.

I suggest that you fervently hope that in a few years' time that disgusting observation does not come back to haunt you, and that you're not one of the "senile old buzzards" pushing a trolley.

Angry Andy wrote:Couple of young lads and girls in uniforms, Air cadets I  think, were holding hands and holding back the tears. There was absolute silence apart from the sound of 3 or4 trollies trundling around being pushed by senile old buzzards who.are usually the 1st to admonish the younger generation.

yes air, sea and army cadets are the very best examples of todays youth. Each branch instils a sense of purpose and pride in those who join. I was lucky enough to be at cranwell for the 75th anniversary parade for the air cadets last year. Hundreds of young men and women there for the parade.



My friends son was involved in the parade as a member of the 93rd air cadets.
It turned his life around, before joining he just spent all his time playing video games. Now he is in college in the US intent on joining the USAF.

The Devil, You Know wrote:there was a time when most of the country would have come to a standstill at 11am

One of the things that most impressed me earlier this morning was that while we were observing the two minute silence the local bus stopped in the lane until the Reveille was sounded. I waved my thanks to the driver who was a young looking Asian bloke. Much impressed by his show of consideration and respect.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:there was a time when most of the country would have come to a standstill at 11am

One of the things that most impressed me earlier this morning was that while we were observing the two minute silence the local bus stopped in the lane until the Reveille was sounded. I waved my thanks to the driver who was a young looking Asian bloke. Much impressed by his show of consideration and respect.

That's lovely Fred. Obviously, it wouldn't be practical to stop all the traffic, but that driver sounds really nice.

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Angry Andy wrote:Couple of young lads and girls in uniforms, Air cadets I  think, were holding hands and holding back the tears. There was absolute silence apart from the sound of 3 or4 trollies trundling around being pushed by senile old buzzards who.are usually the 1st to admonish the younger generation.

yes air, sea and army cadets are the very best examples of todays youth. Each branch instils a sense of purpose and pride in those who join. I was lucky enough to be at cranwell for the 75th anniversary parade for the air cadets last year. Hundreds of young men and women there for the parade.



My friends son was involved in the parade as a member of the 93rd air cadets.
It turned his life around, before joining he just spent all his time playing video games. Now he is in college in the US intent on joining the USAF.

I was an Air Training Corps cadet in the 1950s and was the squadron's Flight Sergeant when I moved on to the RAF. The cadet forces for all the services do fantastic work for young people and provide them with opportunities and experiences that they could probably get nowhere else, particularly at no cost to them or their parents.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

One of the things that most impressed me earlier this morning was that while we were observing the two minute silence the local bus stopped in the lane until the Reveille was sounded. I waved my thanks to the driver who was a young looking Asian bloke. Much impressed by his show of consideration and respect.

That's lovely Fred. Obviously, it wouldn't be practical to stop all the traffic, but that driver sounds really nice.

It's a fairly narrow street through the village and he held up traffic in both directions until the bugle call. I didn't see any hostility or patience from any of the car drivers, I'm pleased to say - just the opposite, in fact. But then, life is much more gentle in villages where consideration and mutual respect are more generally the norm because most of us tend to know each other.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

The Devil, You Know wrote:
yes air, sea and army cadets are the very best examples of todays youth. Each branch instils a sense of purpose and pride in those who join. I was lucky enough to be at cranwell for the 75th anniversary parade for the air cadets last year. Hundreds of young men and women there for the parade.



My friends son was involved in the parade as a member of the 93rd air cadets.
It turned his life around, before joining he just spent all his time playing video games. Now he is in college in the US intent on joining the USAF.

I was an Air Training Corps cadet in the 1950s and was the squadron's Flight Sergeant when I moved on to the RAF. The cadet forces for all the services do fantastic work for young people and provide them with opportunities and experiences that they could probably get nowhere else, particularly at no cost to them or their parents.

I quite agree, I was in the 93rd as well, I got my first experience of flying, a chipmunk, and my first experience of shooting, a lee enfield .303, hell of a kick. I suggested my friends kid try it to help him get some structure in his life. It certainly changed him

The Devil, You Know wrote:

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

I was an Air Training Corps cadet in the 1950s and was the squadron's Flight Sergeant when I moved on to the RAF. The cadet forces for all the services do fantastic work for young people and provide them with opportunities and experiences that they could probably get nowhere else, particularly at no cost to them or their parents.

I quite agree, I was in the 93rd as well, I got my first experience of flying, a chipmunk, and my first experience of shooting, a lee enfield .303, hell of a kick. I suggested my friends kid try it to help him get some structure in his life. It certainly changed him

Ah, I notched up airtime not only in a Chipmunk, but also an Anson and a Varsity. Great days.

The old mies were mid 70's. Knew exactly what they were doing. Moving freely amongst crowds of static and silent shoppers. If they were of poor mind, a) they shouldn't be allowed to travel alone on the bus or b) god help.us if they drove themselves and c) where were there carers?.
I think they were just old, selfish and disrespectful.

https://twitter.com/hms_pembroke/status/928940809575190528

https://www.facebook.com/skynews/videos/1985868358094418/

I was driving down the motorway at 11 so couldn't really stop.

My nan always cried on Rememberance day as her older brother died just after the guns fell silent, as of course they didn't stop bang on 11.

I think of him, and all the other young boys, men, who were killed in the 1st world war, a war that should never have been. I also think of the men killed in the 2nd war, and of course today, where our men are stationed all around the world.

Bless them all.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Cass wrote:Veterans Day is different to Remembrance/Armistice Day. Here it is about celebrating those who served and thanking them.

Memorial Day at the end of May is akin to November 11th. A time to reflect on those who didn’t come home or who have died since.

Interestingly, the American Legion has started selling poppies here. I’ve still got one from 2007 which was our last in the UK,  so I’ll be wearing that.

I’ll be taking my veteran out to breakfast tomorrow morning and for dinner later on. We will open a bottle of wine and toast those 10 friends we lost in Iraq and Afghanistan and from PTSD, and remember our grandfathers and those who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as their families.

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.

Those are the words that I will be reciting at the village war memorial at about two minutes to eleven this morning, after which will follow the bugle call "The Last Post" and the traditional two minutes' silence before the laying of poppies and wreaths.

It's also my privilege formally to close the proceedings with what is perhaps the lesser known and deeply moving Kohima Epitaph that commemorates "the forgotten war" in the Far East and is taken from the memorial to the 2nd British Division in the cemetery at Kohima in North East India:

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

Traditionally, the Epitaph was used by the Burma Star Association, but because so few veterans are left it has been incorporated into Royal British Legion ceremonial.

I have to confess that the first time that I recited it to close the Remembrance service a few years ago, I broke down in tears and finished only with great difficulty.

You see, my favourite and very young uncle served in the "forgotten war" and I still remember him as my hero, wearing his uniform with such pride as he went off to do his bit.

He never came back.

I quite understand the emotion. I’m that way too. I’m understanding it as The Korean War yes?

Currently my son’s new father in law is retired US Army and is dealing with PTSD. He’s been through hell but hopefully is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. That’s why I’m still involved with Forces charities, to help those like him who came back damaged.

Thanks as ever Lord M x

HoratioTarr wrote:I always buy and wear a poppy and no fucker is gonna make me feel guilty!

Seriously, has anyone ever tried?

I bought an enamel and crystal poppy a couple of years ago from the British legion shop. It was about £25 and I wear it with pride.
I hate the way similar ones are sold cheaper and the seller wont donate anything to the charity....shame on them for making profit out of such a worthy cause.

magica wrote:I was driving down the motorway at 11 so couldn't really stop.

My nan always cried on Rememberance day as her older brother died just after the guns fell silent, as of course they didn't stop bang on 11.  

I think of him, and all the other young boys, men, who were killed in the 1st world war, a war that should never have been.  I also think of the men killed in the 2nd war, and of course today, where our men are stationed all around the world.

Bless them all.

my granddad survived the first world war, and I never recall him talking about it. I found out recently that he was mentioned in despatches during the galipoli campaign. He may even, for all I know have been shooting at my mrs's great granddad who was shooting at us from the turkish side.

Yes that war was horrible. Men treated like cannon fodder, going over the top and walking into machine guns firing at them, just taking them out one after another. Those poor men.

I will always think of them and remember their sacrifices, which is why I have it written in my signature.

Cass wrote:

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Those are the words that I will be reciting at the village war memorial at about two minutes to eleven this morning, after which will follow the bugle call "The Last Post" and the traditional two minutes' silence before the laying of poppies and wreaths.

It's also my privilege formally to close the proceedings with what is perhaps the lesser known and deeply moving Kohima Epitaph that commemorates "the forgotten war" in the Far East and is taken from the memorial to the 2nd British Division in the cemetery at Kohima in North East India:

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

Traditionally, the Epitaph was used by the Burma Star Association, but because so few veterans are left it has been incorporated into Royal British Legion ceremonial.

I have to confess that the first time that I recited it to close the Remembrance service a few years ago, I broke down in tears and finished only with great difficulty.

You see, my favourite and very young uncle served in the "forgotten war" and I still remember him as my hero, wearing his uniform with such pride as he went off to do his bit.

He never came back.

I quite understand the emotion. I’m that way too. I’m understanding it as The Korean War yes?

Currently my son’s new father in law is retired US Army and is dealing with PTSD. He’s been through hell but hopefully is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel now. That’s why I’m still involved with Forces charities, to help those like him who came back damaged.

Thanks as ever Lord M x

No, it was the war against the Japanese, Cass.

I know that the USA bore the brunt,but the British and French, as well as other nations, were there from the start mainly because of our Colonial interests, and had been fighting for some time before the bombing of Pearl Harbour brought your country into the conflict.

We here know it as "the forgotten war" because the main conflict was in Europe and the men who fought in the Far East always felt, with some justification, that as a nation we had simply not recognised their sacrifices and privations in the same way and with the same gratitude and reverence as those on the European, African and Middle Eastern battlefields.

Servicemen and women who fought and died in the Far East were, of course, still doing so for months after we in the UK celebrated "the end of the war" in May 1945.

The Kohima memorial is in India, the "jewel in the crown" of the then British Empire and, of course, is still a leading member of our Commonwealth.

Syl wrote:

HoratioTarr wrote:I always buy and wear a poppy and no fucker is gonna make me feel guilty!

Seriously, has anyone ever tried?

I bought an enamel and crystal poppy a couple of years ago from the British legion shop. It was about £25 and I wear it with pride.
I hate the way similar ones are sold cheaper and the seller wont donate anything to the charity....shame on them for making profit out of such a worthy cause.

Good choice, Syl; my partner has one.

Quite how anyone who watched this morning's BBC News clip of disabled, and in one case formerly destitute, servicemen injured in more recent conflicts recount how the RBL poppy factory has provided them with work, an income and, just as importantly, dignity, and then disrespect the traditional poppy symbol or manufacture tatty copies for profit, I just cannot begin to appreciate or understand.

The Devil, You Know wrote:

magica wrote:I was driving down the motorway at 11 so couldn't really stop.

My nan always cried on Rememberance day as her older brother died just after the guns fell silent, as of course they didn't stop bang on 11.  

I think of him, and all the other young boys, men, who were killed in the 1st world war, a war that should never have been.  I also think of the men killed in the 2nd war, and of course today, where our men are stationed all around the world.

Bless them all.

my granddad survived the first world war, and I never recall him talking about it. I found out recently that he was mentioned in despatches during the galipoli campaign. He may even, for all I know have been shooting at my mrs's great granddad who was shooting at us from the turkish side.

My granddad and dad never talked about the 2 WW they fought in.
When my granddad died he left me lots of his WW1 memorabilia he had collected at the time, plus medals and ribbons, stuff that will be handed down when I die.

A 2 minute silence is the LEAST one can do for all those brave people.

smelly-bandit wrote:

Angry Andy wrote:
Had the 2 mins silence at 11am at our local Sainsbury's.
Totally respected by kids, teens and most adults.

EXCEPT for 3 old biddies and two very old men, none of whom were wearing poppies.
Before slaughtering  the youngsters  on here, perhaps the geriatrics need tolook at their own disrespectful generation.

was one of the old farts you??

i cant imagine you supporting the forces or respecting the poppy, unless its the white poppy

Why hasn't Smelly' been basemented for this incessant trolling ???

That spineless little weasel was deliberately disrepecting this thread..

Fred Moletrousers wrote:

Syl wrote:

Seriously, has anyone ever tried?

I bought an enamel and crystal poppy a couple of years ago from the British legion shop. It was about £25 and I wear it with pride.
I hate the way similar ones are sold cheaper and the seller wont donate anything to the charity....shame on them for making profit out of such a worthy cause.

Good choice, Syl; my partner has one.

Quite how anyone who watched this morning's BBC News clip of disabled, and in one case formerly destitute, servicemen injured in more recent conflicts recount how the RBL poppy factory has provided them with work, an income and, just as importantly, dignity, and then disrespect the traditional poppy symbol  or manufacture  tatty copies for profit, I just cannot begin to appreciate or understand.

I agree Fred.