Lest We Forget

[I_am_Will]

To keep the memory of the dedication of the allied soldiers in 1944 alive and to show the next generation that freedom is not to be taken for granted and that thousands of young soldiers have paid for our freedom with their lives.

The people in our neighborhood commemorate mid September the commitment and dedication of the allied soldiers, while trying to shorten the war with operation “Market – Garden”. It is a homage to the courage and perseverance during the battle of Arnhem. During the ceremonies we respectfully honour the veterans, their fallen comrades and their relatives.

Gives me goosebumps every time....

Thank you veterans! Dziękuję weteranów!

 

[KermitGKona88]

Re:

Heroes one and all

 

[The History Man]

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 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.

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

 

[makster]

Re:

One of my collegues took part in that jump at the weekend.
He's an ex Para and gets involved with a lot of stuff like this.

It was sad to see so few veterans there

 

[roadking]

To keep the memory of the dedication of the allied soldiers in 1944 alive and to show the next generation that freedom is not to be taken for granted and that thousands of young soldiers have paid for our freedom with their lives.

The people in our neighborhood commemorate mid September the commitment and dedication of the allied soldiers, while trying to shorten the war with operation “Market – Garden”. It is a homage to the courage and perseverance during the battle of Arnhem. During the ceremonies we respectfully honour the veterans, their fallen comrades and their relatives.

Gives me goosebumps every time....

Thank you veterans! Dziękuję weteranów!

Sentiment much appreciated Will.

My Great Uncle David (Dave) was with the 1st Airborne Division and captured by the Germans at Arnhem.

He spent the rest of the war - as a POW - in Stalag X1B, at Fallingbostel in Lower Saxony until he and his comrades were liberated by the 8th Hussars on the 16th April 1945.

He was in poor health upon his return to Blighty, and rarely spoke of his experience as a POW, but he did eventually recover some of his health to lead a happy and long life - always though remembering his fallen comrades and the bravery of the Dutch people in the face of the Nazi tyranny.

In special memory of those men and special thanks to RSM John Lord.

Roadking.

 

[sparkiegaz]

We owe them a lot, such a shame so many aren't really grateful for the freedoms they have and the right to be herd. Wasn't just parachute think most landed in flimsy gliders...

 

[dalecooper]

Re:

Nicely spoken! Thanks to those veterans we live in freedom now. The plane on the pic i've seen it several times fly by!

 

[rosstheboss]

And thanks to the Netherlands for remembering them.

Where I grew up in Storrington, West Sussex, there is an RAFA care home for ex RAF personnel amongst others. Every year until relatively recently a small number of aircraft would fly over from Holland and drop whole cheeses on parachutes into the back garden in thanks for the RAF crews who helped save the Dutch from starvation when they were still occupied by a German army in decline. The RAF crews had to trust Dutch resistance who had tried to negotiate a ceasefire with German AA batteries to drop food into occupied Europe, as it turned out they had succeeded and many Dutch lives were saved.

The Spitfire and Hurricane flypasts always seemed to be about 100ft of the deck too, brilliant, awe inspiring stuff

Never ever forget.

 

[M-Power]

Re:

Been watching the World at War series in colour for the first time recently and to say its be educational, is an understatement. History repeats and it is so true that many people don't respect the heavy price paid for our freedom and democracy in the UK.

 

[sparkiegaz]

Re: Re:

Been watching the World at War series in colour for the first time recently and to say its be educational, is an understatement. History repeats and it is so true that many people don't respect the heavy price paid for our freedom and democracy in the UK.

Great program,, personally think I would have shite myself if I was there. Does hit you seeing the old films war seemed more personal back then,today it's just press a button and whoosh off goes another rocket to take a building out 500 miles away...