Remembrance Day

TobyC

TobyC

Patriot
Smiffy said:
In remembrance of people who have given their lives in the armed forces, for all men and women but, in this case, my story is about the loss of a father.

The story is about a town in England called Wooten Bassett, an RAF base which accepted service personnel who had died on active duty, the town, its people and all involved took their responsibility very seriously and appointed one senior officer who had the role of organising the proceedings for the return of deceased military personnel from overseas service into the UK.

The officer was once asked in an interview if he was ever affected by the great sadness of it all. He said that he accepted that for many people these occasions were understandably difficult because they were a very sad experience. It was his job to make sure that the military did all it could to support the family and to recognize and honour the individual, he had no choice but to take it all in his stride as it was his job and all part of his training.. His role was to set the standard, to be an example for the many who would be taking part, the bandsmen, the coffin bearers, the other officers, the townspeople and everyone else involved.

More than anyone else, he owed the day to the bereaved family.

That was until the 105th burial proceedings. The organising officer made an exception and on this occasion his training failed him, he broke down.

An English soldier had been killed in battle in Afghanistan, his body was to be returned from the battlefield to Wooten Bassett by army plane. Tragically, the soldier had left behind a wife and four very young daughters, all of them under 10 years old.

A few days before the plane was due the officer went to see the family to make sure that they were aware as to what was going to happen on the day, where they would be standing and what would be expected of them. He explained that a car would be sent for them and they would be taken to the airfield. Soon after, the plane would arrive, the soldiers and everyone there would salute as the coffin was unloaded and a hearse would take the body to the cemetery. He explained that there would be silence from the time that the plane landed apart from a single bugler playing The Last Post, no one would speak.

The officer talked to the four daughters, he said how sorry he was and that the Army would do everything that they could, he suggested that the girls all wore their best clothes and to be as brave as possible. The youngest was three years old, the next just 5, the other two were 8 and 9, Mum had said to her children. ‘be strong girls, do this for your father’.

The plane was already on approach as the family arrived, the army band started playing, quite quietly, rows of officers stood waiting, all at attention.

Mum and the girls lined up as the plane taxied towards them and came to a halt. The band stopped playing, the soldiers all saluted, maintaining their composure. As the coffin was lowered to the ground, there was silence, that was until the little 5 year old girl dropped to the floor on her knees and said 'Daddy'.

Everyone on that airfield broke down. This was the reality of a man lost to War, not procedure, not protocol, not maintaining dignity. A child lost a father who cannot be replaced.
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You broke me with that one.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
Afghanistan was the first war that the fallen were returned to Canada for burial and the arrival ceremony was broadcast as well as the funeral procession down what became known and officially named "The Highway of Heroes". Canadians are not generally militaristic and tend not dwell on our military and its proud history. The people lining the route on The Highway of Heroes was not officially organised and was a spontaneous action on their part. I think we did well in honouring our returned fallen.

Bob

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Js07j8nqw
 
Holyzeus

Holyzeus

Forum GOD!
R181 said:
As the title says I was a little disappointed that there was not a thread on the forum yesterday regarding Remembrance Day. Is it now too political a subject for this forum or just overall lack of interest?

Bob
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At work we shut the bays at 10.35 so no loading could take place during the silence. Something our company do not do unless necessary. Just because it’s not posted here doesn’t mean a member isn’t being respectful in their own way
 
TheChrisC

TheChrisC

Forum GOD!
chris.hale said:
I agree with @Holyzeus I took some time yesterday to think about what we owe to those who serve their country but I did it privately.

With my mod hat on no one’s going to object to a thread about Remembrance Day.
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I did the same. My Dad was in the army, I had family involved in WW2 as well. I don’t always express private thoughts online, sometimes it’s nice to remember folks your own way.
 
TheChrisC

TheChrisC

Forum GOD!
R181 said:
Certainly, many mark the day in their own private way. I now watch the national ceremony from home on TV. I do not recall ever pausing at the place I worked for 34 years to mark the occasion though.

Bob
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I think it speaks highly of you as a person that you wish there was a thread about it. Shows a level of respect that should never be lost.
 
R

Rufusdog

Forum GOD!
I always make a point of observing 11/11, by reading In Flanders Fields. My paternal grandfather served on the Western Front, but died from the Spanish Flu in October 2018 after returning home in September 2018. My father volunteered for active service and served in the armoured corps in Western Europe from September 1939 to October 1945 and then went to Hong Kong to help clean up the mess there. I was fortunate enough to inherit all their military honours, campaign medals and decorations, which I store in my bank safety deposit box only bringing them out for 11/11.
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
TheChrisC said:
I think it speaks highly of you as a person that you wish there was a thread about it. Shows a level of respect that should never be lost.
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Thanks but no I did not wish for there to be a thread but just curious as to why I had not seen one ever on here.

Bob
 
R

R181

Grumpy old man
I have a bit different perspective on Remembrance day. My paternal and maternal sides of the family both fought in 2 world wars but on opposite sides. I am proud of the military history of my native country, Canada, and served as a Naval Reservist for about 20 years when younger. That said, I recognise a commonality of those who served in the military of different countries both friend and foe. The hurt endured by the loss of a brother in arms and the hurt endured by family are the same.

Bob
 
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