As we all wait for next weekend to kick off our season I think a few minutes of reflection about the start of 1st World War should not pass us by. I count myself extremely fortunate never to have been involved in any conflict. I was born in '49,so also missed National Service and had no inclination to join any of our Forces. No doubt if I had been required "to enlist" I would like to think I would have done my duty. Of course that's easy to say,but the men and boys in 1914 had no option. My sincere thanks to all our Armed Forces who have given me freedom and a good life.
I have to say I was listening to radio 5 driving home from hospital this morning. The readings, anecdotes, diaries etc really moved me. To hear a story of a captain who was shot in the back, he was 34 years old. Really choked me up listening to it all.
My Grandfather fought in the trenches and was one of the fortunate few that returned home safely. Dad has told me in the past that he would never talk about it when asked. We really owe a huge debt to those that put their lives on the line for our freedom and it makes my blood boil when War Memorials are defaced or worse. RIP The true heroes
I think the older you are the more poignant days like today are. When I was young my generation was brought up by grandparents who had fought and sometimes been killed in WW1 and parents who had done the same in WW2 so it was talked about all the time. I had a step grandfather because my real Grandfather had been killed at the Somme - this Step grandfather was an Air Raid Warden in WW2. When I was born, at the end of WW2, my father was still away on active service. My Nanny had lost 2 fingers in a munitions factory in WW1 but still worked alongside my Mum in an aircraft factory in WW2. All of this was normal conversation to me growing up although I really wish that I had asked a lot more questions before they all died. All my Grandchildren know about the Great Wars is what they read in books. I always remember my Grandad telling me that the worst bit of being in the frontline was being picked for stretcher bearer duties. You had to crawl out amongst the falling artillery shells and machine gun bullets to bring back casualties. When I suggested that he should have refused to go he said ' we were the only hope of survival the wounded had so you had to do your duty and go.' Of such stern stuff were these heroes made - God Bless 'em all - RIP.
Amazing the sacrifice given by so many. I'm planning loads of teaching on it in the autumn. Those who gave up their lives deserve to be remembered.
Don't forget 'Lights out' between 10 and 11pm tonight and I'm sure even us men can light a candle in memory of all those who lost their lives during this horrendous conflict. Link here - http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/ww1-centenary/lights-out
............... and there's the rub 1950, if he had refused he would have in all probabilty been Court Marshalled and shot by the Red Caps !
How many of you have visited the National Memorial Arboretum - http://www.thenma.org.uk/?? Very moving.
