I hope you all remeber tomorrow 6th June 1944 ,when all those brave men went accross the channel to start the liberation of Europe
Hi Emmerson, Yes, the Menin Gate is something else- I admit I have shed many tears there. 3 of my 4 kids were in the ATC and played in the Market Harborough ATC Band at the gate. 3 years on the trot and I never got used to it. A more powerful cocktail of emotions I cannot imagine-watching your kids play at a place that has known so much pain and sacrifice in its history. The last post is awe inspiring and very potent!Merve, you've touched a nerve with that mention of Ypres etc.A couple of years ago we visited Ypres. The atmosphere as we entered the town was almost uncanny, but the best or worst point was at 8pm in thr Menin Gate when the local Firemen played The Last Post.This needs to be experienced to be believed. There were grown men and women with tears streaming down their cheeks, and I'm proud to say that I was one of them. This tradition has been ongoing since 1919, with the exception of WW2, and apparently the younger people of the town are just as fiercely proud of it as their older generations, so it looks a though it will continue for the foreseeable future. If you haven't experienced it, do so asap. It should be made compulsory for everyone under 40
For those umfamiliar with Ypres, the Menin Gate is a monument to WW1 soldiers who were known to have fought there, but whose bodies were never recovered.There are over 50,000 names on this monument alone..........
God bless him!My grandfather was at Flanders and Ypres, he like many others went to war at 14 having faked his age.
As a child I missed the end of many a telly programme, as soon as there was a loud bang or a gun shot the program was changed as he couldn't bear such noise. He had medals and mention in despatches for acts of bravery for volunteering to cross the trenches under fire.
He to was trained to was trained to kill, but after his experiences he was a very quiet thoughtful man!
His friend cried descibing how his friends were blown apart as they ran all for cover, body parts landing in different places!
He would never return to France or Belgium ! Who could blame him.