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Topic: Lest we forget.... (Read 3401 times) |
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clarkster
Junior Member
Dear Santa, could I have a plasma cutter, please?
  
Posts: 57
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #1 on: Nov 3rd, 2006, 7:27pm » |
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boots and medals polished, No2 Uniform back from the dry cleaners, new beret and I have even found my braces!
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cossieguy
Full Member
1996 Cosworth Ultima saloon
Posts: 550
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #2 on: Nov 4th, 2006, 7:56am » |
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on Nov 3rd, 2006, 7:27pm, clarkster wrote:| boots and medals polished, No2 Uniform back from the dry cleaners, new beret and I have even found my braces! |
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Ditto, have dug my medals out and my No.1's(RAF) will be on parade Sunday in Norwich with the local Air Training Corps Squadron that I help out. Strangely my unit isn't parading  Though we are only a small station.
Guy.
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julie_quaife
Full Member
'97 2.3 16v ultima estate blue azura
Posts: 134
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #3 on: Nov 4th, 2006, 9:42pm » |
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i will always wear my poppy with pride!!
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Spannerdemon
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We should never forget those brave souls who laid down the ultimate sacrifice for us all in the two World Wars.
R.I.P. All of you.
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Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #5 on: Nov 7th, 2006, 10:16am » |
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And then there are those who don't come back or return crippled or mentally wrecked by the conflicts we are involved in now.
Lions led by political donkeys
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The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
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TiberiuS
Senior Member
Ex. 1996 2.3 Ultima - RIP P789 KHJ
Posts: 2257
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #6 on: Nov 7th, 2006, 4:08pm » |
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on Nov 7th, 2006, 10:16am, Geoff_W wrote:And then there are those who don't come back or return crippled or mentally wrecked by the conflicts we are involved in now.
Lions led by political donkeys |
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True, my father (and Grandfather) served in the RAF in the likes of Borneo and Saudi, always kept a lot of things about it to himself and it ruined his life in many ways too.
Got mine pinned on my jacket 
Bruce.
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Bruce - '07 Jaguar XKR coupe, '95 Jaguar XJ Sport 4.0, '82 Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia, '15 Honda Civic (sloooooww..)
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mr._floppy
Junior Member
Posts: 100
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #7 on: Nov 7th, 2006, 5:36pm » |
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Indeed, there can't be many 1914-18 veterans left and even ww2 combatants are into their eighties now.
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dh_dove
Full Member
There's no substitute for cubic capacity.
Posts: 148
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #8 on: Nov 7th, 2006, 6:16pm » |
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My Dad served 01/09/39 to 02 /46 in the RAFVR then RAF (got stuck in the middle east awaiting transport home). He was in 111 MU (maintenance unit) they repaired and overhauled Merlin engines amongst other things. They had three engine test beds running 24 hours a day seven days a week on camp. He says that if they were ever all turned off "the silence was deafening"............
My Uncle Sid was killed in April 1941 whilst serving as a pilot in 21 Squadron from RAF Watton (Blenheims.....................short term job............  )
Wear your Poppy with pride
DH Dove
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cossieguy
Full Member
1996 Cosworth Ultima saloon
Posts: 550
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #9 on: Nov 7th, 2006, 10:15pm » |
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on Nov 7th, 2006, 10:16am, Geoff_W wrote:And then there are those who don't come back or return crippled or mentally wrecked by the conflicts we are involved in now.
Lions led by political donkeys
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As a serving member of the RAF for the last 17 years I couldn't agree more  It's a disgrace when it takes pressure from the press to give the "Troops" what they need(i.e decent equipment and allowances). Did you know some soldiers claim income support as their basic pay is so low? Good enough to die for your country just not worth paying. I've been to Iraq and believe me I can't understand for the life of me why our boys are dying in that hell hole.
As always, history will see the dead as heroes and the politicians that sent them as murderers, QUITE RIGHT IN THE CASE OF IRAQ 
Not forgetting the estimated 250,000 Iraqi civilians that instead of liberation got a hole in the ground. RIP.
Guy.
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clarkster
Junior Member
Dear Santa, could I have a plasma cutter, please?
Posts: 57
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #10 on: Nov 9th, 2006, 8:50pm » |
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Was at a meeting yesterday and the procurement of new armoured vehicles for us to use in Iraq/Afghan was raised. We have put a bid in for some of the aging (1960s) AFV 432, now called bulldog. This is for the RLC bomb disposal teams that are currently using soft skinned trucks.
The bid has been turned down as too much was spent on the soft skinned trucks!!! So much for Blair saying that all we need to do is ask for the kit.
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taliban aka Cheekyboy2
Senior Member
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 1552
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #11 on: Nov 9th, 2006, 10:18pm » |
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my dad's brother was killed in ww2, he was a tail gunner, apparently one of the worst positions to be in, didnt get shot but was killed when his plane crashed in the yorkshire dales returning from a night raid. dont think my dad has really got over it especially as he wasnt allowed to serve due to him working in research depts. he then went on to become a MOD metallurgist helping develop alloys, gun barrels etc, in the 70's he played a major role developing depleted uranium as armour shell casing for piercing tanks etc. him and many others like him with brilliant scientific minds were paid a pittance by consecutive governments.....
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wayne
Full Member
2l 16v Ultima
Posts: 106
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #12 on: Nov 11th, 2006, 11:09am » |
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mr._floppy
Junior Member
Posts: 100
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #15 on: Nov 10th, 2007, 1:15am » |
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I'm ashamed to say I can't find one person, from my family's past, who took part in any sort of combat, was injured or was killed in action.
My Dad was called up in 1944 but never got nearer to serious action than chucking out time in Buxton on a Saturday night. 
However, to be brutally honest, even as a keen student of modern military history, I find myself being drawn to the idea that we should begin to let history be just that, History, and allow it, to recede into the distant past.
Not to forget, you understand, how can we ? but allow us to move on and look to the future.
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #16 on: Nov 10th, 2007, 3:27am » |
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Mr Floppy.... have you tried looking here ?.....
.......http://www.cwgc.org/
I found my Great Grandad on there, who died in France during WW1 
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Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #17 on: Nov 11th, 2007, 4:30pm » |
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I guess there are two components to this, one is remembering the debt that we owe to past generations for the sacrifice and commitment that they made, regardless of whether they were killed or gave their lives in conflict, returned physically or mentally injured or returned changed in some way.
Thats where the remembrance comes from and Jonnycabs link to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission may help people to learn more about where some of their ancestors ended up.
However we also have people serving now who whether regulars or reservists may have to put their lives in jeopardy in our "interests".
That is a different dimension and also needs thought and I am supporting the Royal British Legion's campaign to honour the covenant.
Have a look at http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/index.cfm?asset_id=516704
I accept Floppy's point that we should move on but I suspect he and I may have different views on the how.
Geoff
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The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #18 on: Nov 12th, 2007, 12:57am » |
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Geoff_W wrote... "However we also have people serving now who whether regulars or reservists may have to put their lives in jeopardy in our "interests"."
Not sure whether anyone will consider me out of line for saying this...but I'm gonna say it anyway....
......The armed forces nowadays are totally voluntary...there is no national service or compulsory conscription.......so anyone that signs up for battle do so at their own will & they are aware of the possible situations that they may have to confront.
WW1 & WW2 relied not only on the armed forces, but any able bodied man could be called up to fight for their country. Many didn't want to, but they couldn't refuse, as they had no choice 
My Great Grandfather died in the field in WW1....he was 38 years old & still only a private ....so was obviously called up to fight, even though he had no combat training
'Cannon fodder' & 'Over the top or shot at dawn'....nice
But once put in that situation, they had no alternative but to fight for their lives & country....& I salute them
Thank god we don't still have the same system today.
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Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
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Re: Lest we forget....
« Reply #19 on: Nov 12th, 2007, 10:37am » |
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Agreed, thank goodness we live in different times.
But Jonny I repeat my point which is that in addition to remembering the sacrifices that millions made, either voluntarily or as conscripts, we should also still acknowledge our own responsibility to hold people to account to see that our serving forces personnel get the resources and support that they need.
People talk about the quality of training that our forces receive to help them in combat situations, however there are issues that need attention. Whether we are talking about enough body armour of jamming devices to reduce the risk of roadside bombs or on a more mundane level, family housing that meets todays standards of public housing or the right types of facilities and health care.
Government applies itself when faced with appropriate levels of pressure to do so.
And that for what it is worth is why I am supporting the British Legion campaign.
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The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
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