Going over there in August, where as I love everything to do with WWII. I do not agree with war. . .pointless waste.
Was watching the old guy doing the parachute drop at 89, then you think that at19 he was sent off to maybe lay his life down, saw the unlucky ones of his mates do just that, puts things in perspective eh?
Thought the same . we don't know how lucky we are and we should remember what these "ordinary" people gave up for us to be free
Dont agree with war, but know it is a nessessary evil to stop tyrants for imposing their will on others. As Edmund Burke said 'All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing'... And these men stood up when we needed them, and did something. Lest we forget lads, lest we forget. Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk
On a trip to US couple of years ago met a couple of vets of D-day, one from 101st airborne (Band of Brothers) and an infantryman. The para was about 6'2'' and the other about 5'6'. The little one had been a glider pilot on the second wave, had a bronze star and four purple hearts, the para had also dropped into Arnhem where he had been wounded and said that one the finest acts of bravery he had ever seen was the RAF pilot of the medevac Dakota who landed on a road, sat in German cross fire and then took off with the wounded on board. Great men who all pulled together just to rid the world of evil.
I couldn't have more respect for all those involved .... happily me dad was nowhere near, stuck in the desert fighting Rommel.
In the north African desert???? Well that couldn't have been no picnic either! The dire conditions that they had to endure was happily interrupted by the fighting, by some accounts!
For those who fought for the freedom I have today thank you. I will always be grateful and I will always remember and this will be passed on to my children.
We spend a lot of time debating great players and great managers on here, but these guys are real heroes. A generation of people who gave everything and expected nothing in return, I won't ever forget them.
Sometimes it's difficult to put feelings into words but you have nailed it that sentence. D Day, as well as many other acts of heroism shown by the rank and file in our unified services, should never be forgotten.
Unfortunately there's a large demographic from the generation today that are an exact contrast to giving everything and expecting nothing in return.
My Dad was a regular with the 1st Battalion the DLI and was shot and wounded in the raid on Fort Capuzzo in the North Africa in 1941. He was born in Happyland, near to your neck of the woods and brought up in Leadgate.
Happyland? Is that the village that doesn't exist anymore? Between Stony Heap & Greencroft! I'm from up the road in Annfield Plain! I'm right into my local history, hence possibly knowing where Happyland is, off the top of my head!
Yes that's the place, I am originally from Catchgate, I used to go mushrooming at Stony Heap, it's a small world.
I used to live in Catchgate! Across the road from the library! Same street as the Smiths Arms! The Smiths Arms is closed and falling to bits it the minute! Someone was planning on turning it into a restaurant, were halfway through doing it, then lost planning permission! Its a right eyesore now!
I lived there all of my early life, the first house I bought when I got married was in Low Church Street behind the library, I moved away to work when RHP closed down. You must have lived near Gillingham's shop. The Smiths and the Ex were my local watering places along with the Coach in Annfield Plain
Yep! Gillinghams shop is closed now I think, but the buses still run behind it! The Ex is closed now as well! The crown and thistle is now a restaurant! The Coach in the Plain is still open. The Demi is still going strong! The Queens Head has now more of a nightclubby theme. The Railway Inn/Smugglers/Corner House is now empty, and the Plainsman bornt doon 2 years ago! Nothing left of it! Things are pretty grim pub wise around the Plain now!
