They don't make em like they used to do do.

[Thingy]

They don't make em like they used to do do. And in this case Im talking about people.
On our way down to Cornwall we stopped off for a few days at Exebridge, and the same afternoon we arrived, an elderly gent pulled in next to us, twin axled Buccaneer towed by a Range Rover. To say the chap was struggling to walk would be an understatement. He was having to use a small three legged stool like a zimmer frame, and seeing him struggle of course I offered help. It was politely refused but we got chatting. Turned out this wasnt his normal state of affairs, he had done something to his hip. He pitched his caravan and did all the usual arrival stuff, struggling along. Three days later, his wife said they were going to pop to the nearest hospital just to get it checked out. He had cracked his pelvis.

During our previous chats he told me he lived in Spain, but had taken the caravan to Normandy for the anniversary and to be presented with a medal. Took me a while to drag the story out of him, but the medal was the Legion d'honneur, Chevalier Class. There are five levels of LDH, Chevalier Class usually awarded to the PBI (poor bloody infantry), the higher classes going to Generals and Field Marshals etc. To be awarded this for military action, its similar to a VC and whatever the award was for has to be investigated and verified. I never managed to drag that part of the story out of him, but he had been a junior officer in the RTR (Royal Tank Regt) on D Day, and had commanded a platoon of Hobarts Funnies on Gold Beach, things like flail tanks and crocodile flame throwers, but as I understood it, the award was for actions immediately following D Day. Eventually he retired a Colonel, but now 96, he was still ardently caravanning with a broken hip and quite able to manage thank you. And I moan because my knees hurt when pegging out.

No siree, we dont make em like that any more.

 

[otherclive]

They don't make em like they used to do do. And in this case Im talking about people.
On our way down to Cornwall we stopped off for a few days at Exebridge, and the same afternoon we arrived, an elderly gent pulled in next to us, twin axled Buccaneer towed by a Range Rover. To say the chap was struggling to walk would be an understatement. He was having to use a small three legged stool like a zimmer frame, and seeing him struggle of course I offered help. It was politely refused but we got chatting. Turned out this wasnt his normal state of affairs, he had done something to his hip. He pitched his caravan and did all the usual arrival stuff, struggling along. Three days later, his wife said they were going to pop to the nearest hospital just to get it checked out. He had cracked his pelvis.

During our previous chats he told me he lived in Spain, but had taken the caravan to Normandy for the anniversary and to be presented with a medal. Took me a while to drag the story out of him, but the medal was the Legion d'honneur, Chevalier Class. There are five levels of LDH, Chevalier Class usually awarded to the PBI (poor bloody infantry), the higher classes going to Generals and Field Marshals etc. To be awarded this for military action, its similar to a VC and whatever the award was for has to be investigated and verified. I never managed to drag that part of the story out of him, but he had been a junior officer in the RTR (Royal Tank Regt) on D Day, and had commanded a platoon of Hobarts Funnies on Gold Beach, things like flail tanks and crocodile flame throwers, but as I understood it, the award was for actions immediately following D Day. Eventually he retired a Colonel, but now 96, he was still ardently caravanning with a broken hip and quite able to manage thank you. And I moan because my knees hurt when pegging out.

No siree, we dont make em like that any more.

I agree. My father who has this week just passed away took ill last June aged 96 years. Two days before he was hospitalised I had been to Leicester to visit him and we went out for lunch, he was still driving each day and independently looking after himself without any carers or additional support. Plus he took daily care of a long term lady friend too who lived some 6 miles away. He had volunteered for the RAF and spent 1943-46 in the Far East. Some 20 years ago I went with him and a group of RAF veterans to visit the old airbases and R&R centres and I must say not only was it a very enjoyable trip, but the tales they told of "Flying the Hump" were unbelievable.

 

[camel]

Totally agree I was at a model show today with my D Day diorama when a 96 year old gent in an electric wheelchair along with his son said I've come along espicially to look at this , his son he was involved in D Day, I did not want ask what part he played in the operation and just let his son take plenty of photos,

 

[Hutch]

As an Helicopter engineer, retired 5 years ago, an old pilot of mine, Barney Swinton Bland, OBE. ( engineer's own the aircraft and the Pilots borrow them) Who taught me to fly helicopters, had an OBE, he was a Squadren leader, but never said why he received his honour. And always said " On Other Basxxxds Efforts. . What a lovely bloke.

 

[Mel]

I agree. My father who has this week just passed away took ill last June aged 96 years. Two days before he was hospitalised I had been to Leicester to visit him and we went out for lunch, he was still driving each day and independently looking after himself without any carers or additional support. Plus he took daily care of a long term lady friend too who lived some 6 miles away. He had volunteered for the RAF and spent 1943-46 in the Far East. Some 20 years ago I went with him and a group of RAF veterans to visit the old airbases and R&R centres and I must say not only was it a very enjoyable trip, but the tales they told of "Flying the Hump" were unbelievable.

So sorry to hear about your recent loss OC. Although your father was elderly, it doesn’t make it any less sad. Thoughts and prayers with you and yours.
Mel

 

[otherclive]

I agree. My father who has this week just passed away took ill last June aged 96 years. Two days before he was hospitalised I had been to Leicester to visit him and we went out for lunch, he was still driving each day and independently looking after himself without any carers or additional support. Plus he took daily care of a long term lady friend too who lived some 6 miles away. He had volunteered for the RAF and spent 1943-46 in the Far East. Some 20 years ago I went with him and a group of RAF veterans to visit the old airbases and R&R centres and I must say not only was it a very enjoyable trip, but the tales they told of "Flying the Hump" were unbelievable.

So sorry to hear about your recent loss OC. Although your father was elderly, it doesn’t make it any less sad. Thoughts and prayers with you and yours.
Mel

Mel
Thank you. The last 12 months have been a long drawn out fight by him. But it’s nice that I can now give him a fitting farewell.

 

[Gagakev]

They don't make em like they used to do do. And in this case Im talking about people.
On our way down to Cornwall we stopped off for a few days at Exebridge, and the same afternoon we arrived, an elderly gent pulled in next to us, twin axled Buccaneer towed by a Range Rover. To say the chap was struggling to walk would be an understatement. He was having to use a small three legged stool like a zimmer frame, and seeing him struggle of course I offered help. It was politely refused but we got chatting. Turned out this wasnt his normal state of affairs, he had done something to his hip. He pitched his caravan and did all the usual arrival stuff, struggling along. Three days later, his wife said they were going to pop to the nearest hospital just to get it checked out. He had cracked his pelvis.

During our previous chats he told me he lived in Spain, but had taken the caravan to Normandy for the anniversary and to be presented with a medal. Took me a while to drag the story out of him, but the medal was the Legion d'honneur, Chevalier Class. There are five levels of LDH, Chevalier Class usually awarded to the PBI (poor bloody infantry), the higher classes going to Generals and Field Marshals etc. To be awarded this for military action, its similar to a VC and whatever the award was for has to be investigated and verified. I never managed to drag that part of the story out of him, but he had been a junior officer in the RTR (Royal Tank Regt) on D Day, and had commanded a platoon of Hobarts Funnies on Gold Beach, things like flail tanks and crocodile flame throwers, but as I understood it, the award was for actions immediately following D Day. Eventually he retired a Colonel, but now 96, he was still ardently caravanning with a broken hip and quite able to manage thank you. And I moan because my knees hurt when pegging out.

No siree, we dont make em like that any more.

Total respect to this guy, bless him.

 

[Thingy]

I agree. My father who has this week just passed away took ill last June aged 96 years. Two days before he was hospitalised I had been to Leicester to visit him and we went out for lunch, he was still driving each day and independently looking after himself without any carers or additional support. Plus he took daily care of a long term lady friend too who lived some 6 miles away. He had volunteered for the RAF and spent 1943-46 in the Far East. Some 20 years ago I went with him and a group of RAF veterans to visit the old airbases and R&R centres and I must say not only was it a very enjoyable trip, but the tales they told of "Flying the Hump" were unbelievable.

Very sorry to hear of his passing OC, a good innings but still awful when it comes. The world is a poorer place without their generation. I wonder what they really thought looking at the current generation of the age that they went off to war at. Probably very similar to my thoughts but Im sure they would put it more eloquently and politely.

 

[Dustydog]

I agree. My father who has this week just passed away took ill last June aged 96 years. Two days before he was hospitalised I had been to Leicester to visit him and we went out for lunch, he was still driving each day and independently looking after himself without any carers or additional support. Plus he took daily care of a long term lady friend too who lived some 6 miles away. He had volunteered for the RAF and spent 1943-46 in the Far East. Some 20 years ago I went with him and a group of RAF veterans to visit the old airbases and R&R centres and I must say not only was it a very enjoyable trip, but the tales they told of "Flying the Hump" were unbelievable.

Very sorry to hear of his passing OC, a good innings but still awful when it comes. The world is a poorer place without their generation. I wonder what they really thought looking at the current generation of the age that they went off to war at. Probably very similar to my thoughts but Im sure they would put it more eloquently and politely.

Sad to hear your news Clive. It’s still a shock even when we know it is imminent.
Best wishes at this sad time to you and all the family My mum struggles on at 93. It is a 400 mile round trip to see her. Too old to move sadly.
DD

 

[camel]

I knew three gents that took part in D Day, Dennis was in the RE and spent D Day clearing beach obstacles on Gold beach , operating a bulldozer, Charlie was in the RASC and was on the Mulberry harbour at Arramanche driving in Normandy delivering ammo and stores and Tommy who was a RM and a coxswain on landing craft, all are no longer with us,

 

[Parksy]

Sorry to learn of your fathers passing Clive, please accept my sincere condolences.
I once worked with a D day veteran, his name was Lawson but we all called him Hoss.
He was an artillery gunner and went from the beaches right through to northern Germany and was there until shortly after the war had ended.
He was a tough old guy, partially deaf through his role as a gunner but he'd tell us some fantastic and often amusing stories of his wartime service.
My own father wasn't involved in D-day, he fought from 1943 in the steaming jungles of Burma with the XIV army, often behind Japanese lines.
Dad was a regular soldier, there in Rangoon after the fighting stopped until 1947, rounding up and guarding Japanese prisoners at the end of the conflict before they were repatriated to Japan. He was a tough guy as well, he was only 5 foot 4 inches tall but nobody ever took liberties with him.
His Japanese prisoners struck up a rapport of sorts with their guards after hostilities ceased, and they taught dad and his mates unarmed combat techniques long before martial arts became popular here in the UK. :evil:
Uncles, neighbours, most of our schoolteachers, the local coppers, they had all seen action during word war 2 when I was a kid, and these blokes were all nice polite smart gentlemen, but they certainly had that air about them that would discourage any nonsense from us lot.
We were lucky to have known them and will never see their like again.

 

[otherclive]

Thank you Parksy and all other contributors. It’s true what you say about that generation many being just ordinary blokes called upon to do a difficult job. I recall when I was young nights at the Leicester Railway Men’s Club with various relatives swopping yarns. There was my Dad, an uncle rear gunner in Lancasters, another RE who lost a leg at Alamein, another Guards tank division desert and Italy, and the last one with many tales to tell batted for the opposition on the eastern and western fronts before being “invited” to come to UK in December 1944. He stayed here for the rest of his life.

 

[Buckman]

They don't make em like they used to do do. And in this case Im talking about people.
On our way down to Cornwall we stopped off for a few days at Exebridge, and the same afternoon we arrived, an elderly gent pulled in next to us, twin axled Buccaneer towed by a Range Rover. To say the chap was struggling to walk would be an understatement. He was having to use a small three legged stool like a zimmer frame, and seeing him struggle of course I offered help. It was politely refused but we got chatting. Turned out this wasnt his normal state of affairs, he had done something to his hip. He pitched his caravan and did all the usual arrival stuff, struggling along. Three days later, his wife said they were going to pop to the nearest hospital just to get it checked out. He had cracked his pelvis.

During our previous chats he told me he lived in Spain, but had taken the caravan to Normandy for the anniversary and to be presented with a medal. Took me a while to drag the story out of him, but the medal was the Legion d'honneur, Chevalier Class. There are five levels of LDH, Chevalier Class usually awarded to the PBI (poor bloody infantry), the higher classes going to Generals and Field Marshals etc. To be awarded this for military action, its similar to a VC and whatever the award was for has to be investigated and verified. I never managed to drag that part of the story out of him, but he had been a junior officer in the RTR (Royal Tank Regt) on D Day, and had commanded a platoon of Hobarts Funnies on Gold Beach, things like flail tanks and crocodile flame throwers, but as I understood it, the award was for actions immediately following D Day. Eventually he retired a Colonel, but now 96, he was still ardently caravanning with a broken hip and quite able to manage thank you. And I moan because my knees hurt when pegging out.

No siree, we dont make em like that any more.

Great story and thanks for sharing. Today's snowflake generation probably would be demanding the attentions of a specialist even before the injury happened and then asking for compensation for being inconvenienced.

 

[Parksy]

Great story and thanks for sharing. Today's snowflake generation probably would be demanding the attentions of a specialist even before the injury happened and then asking for compensation for being inconvenienced.

I can understand why anyone would think that about the young people of today, but the snowflake generation seemed to do alright in Iraq and Afghanistan. :cheer:
The greatest generation who fought in World War 2 were considered to be long haired pacifists at the time, but they answered the call to arms when they were needed.
I would like to think that the better educated and admittedly more pampered young of today would do the right thing if the chips were down.

 

[Craigyoung]

I work with the public and I agree that the better ones may do what is necessary but a lot of The Young Ones today haven't got a care in the world and are all aggressive and rowdy and troublesome .

 

[otherclive]

I work with the public and I agree that the better ones may do what is necessary but a lot of The Young Ones today haven't got a care in the world and are all aggressive and rowdy and troublesome .

“The Young Ones today haven't got a care in the world and are all aggressive and rowdy and troublesome .”

Good recruits then for the Argyll and Sutherlands

 

[Buckman]

Great story and thanks for sharing. Today's snowflake generation probably would be demanding the attentions of a specialist even before the injury happened and then asking for compensation for being inconvenienced.

I can understand why anyone would think that about the young people of today, but the snowflake generation seemed to do alright in Iraq and Afghanistan. :cheer:
The greatest generation who fought in World War 2 were considered to be long haired pacifists at the time, but they answered the call to arms when they were needed.
I would like to think that the better educated and admittedly more pampered young of today would do the right thing if the chips were down.

I was referring to the snowflakes within the current generation. I also think you are getting mixed up with the Vietnam war as before WW2 I doubt if we had any "long haired" pacifists. Maybe short haired pacifists? :lol:

 

[GD485]

I went to the D Day anniversary in Normandy this year and had the privilege to talk to many veterans of operation Overlord.
At Arromaches there was a parade which included veterans with ages ranging from a youthful 91 through to 107!
I got into a long conversation with a member of the Observation Corps that landed on the 6th. Their Landing craft got hung up on a beach obstacle and had to wait for the tide to float the boat free. They were there for many hours under fire from Nazi machine gun posts.
He talked about his experiences in a very casual manner, as he said he had two stark choices, fight back or get his own permanant small plot of French Land!
It is a very humbling experience to meet these men and to see where many of their friends lost their lives.

These few surviving veterans diminish in numbers with every passing year, it is important to learn of their experiences before it's too late.

 

[camel]

I work with the public and I agree that the better ones may do what is necessary but a lot of The Young Ones today haven't got a care in the world and are all aggressive and rowdy and troublesome .

Talking of jock regiments many moons ago me and a mate had a bit of trouble in a hotel
in Barrybudden village only handbag stuff but all the same the following morning the Ras-man(RSM) had us and threatened to send us up to Fort Goerge for a bit of drill for two weeks with the Royal Scots, he said I know one $%/@#*^ thing you'll be brilliant at drill when they have finished with you , thankfully when he was told the full story he said, 'Get out my bleeping office',

“The Young Ones today haven't got a care in the world and are all aggressive and rowdy and troublesome .”

Good recruits then for the Argyll and Sutherlands

 

[woodsieboy]

We were in Normandy lat year and visited the British Cemetery in Caen, it was absolutely beautifully maintained and a very humbling experience, 2 things stood out for me, firstly the lines of headstones featuring men from the same regiment with the same date, and secondly the large number of school parties that had visited from the UK, so some of our young people will have an insight into the sacrifices that were made.

 

[GD485]

“

We were in Normandy lat year and visited the British Cemetery in Caen, it was absolutely beautifully maintained and a very humbling experience, 2 things stood out for me, firstly the lines of headstones featuring men from the same regiment with the same date, and secondly the large number of school parties that had visited from the UK, so some of our young people will have an insight into the sacrifices that were made.”

We visited the Caen cemetery too and like you I was impressed by the number of school pupils visiting from many countries.
There are many cemeteries throughout the area, all immaculately maintained by the War Graves commission.
It is a very sobering sight of all those young people that gave their lives to free Europe.

It is incredible that some political leaders seem hell-bent on starting military action without regard to history

From my visits to France I’ve learnt no country wins a war they just all lose, some lose more than others

 

[Thingy]

From my visits to France I’ve learnt no country wins a war they just all lose, some lose more than others

I tend to agree with that statement in general, though all of us that have seen the elephant would like to think that there was a reason for it and in the end we did some good. Plus I dread to think of the world we would live in had Nazi Germany been victorious in the replay. Take a stroll around Dachau, Mauthausen or Auschwitz and its plain to see that we at least had a moral victory.

The cemetery at Caen contains an awful lot that were killed in Operation Goodwood, a proper debacle if ever there was one. I know what you mean about lines of men from the same Regts, but take a look at some of the WW1 Cemeteries, in particular the larger ones like Tyne Cot. We visited that on a typical Paschendaele day, General Rain had arrived, it was misty and a piper was playing.

Some of the smaller ones too can be very emotive, the Devons Cemetery on the Somme for one. On the gate is the sentiment "The Devons held this trench, they hold it still". The French "Trench of the Bayonets" is also very emotive. Many people see the War Graves and yes, they are moved, but to them its just another cemetery, but dig deeper and every cemetery has a story too. Take the German Cemetery at Langemarck. By the way, Langemarck is where Britiain first used poison gas. By the entrance is a small garden surrounded by an 18 inch wall. People entering see a shrub garden, it is actually the mass grave of over 25000 German soldiers. On the Menin Gate is listed the names of many Indian Regiments, with names straight from a Hollywood movie. 45th Rattrays Sikhs as an example.
For anyone visiting the battlefields, there are a series of books called Major and Mrs Holts Battlefield Guides and they cover all the cemeteries and their hidden stories in great detail. The War graves Commision also do Michelin maps with all the cemeteries overlaid on them, and what a sight that is.

As for the younger generation, fair play to the lads that did both Gulfs and Afghan, but its no secret that virtually every battalion is way below nominal strength, which may say something about the current young generation.

 

[otherclive]

From my visits to France I’ve learnt no country wins a war they just all lose, some lose more than others

I tend to agree with that statement in general, though all of us that have seen the elephant would like to think that there was a reason for it and in the end we did some good. Plus I dread to think of the world we would live in had Nazi Germany been victorious in the replay. Take a stroll around Dachau, Mauthausen or Auschwitz and its plain to see that we at least had a moral victory.

The cemetery at Caen contains an awful lot that were killed in Operation Goodwood, a proper debacle if ever there was one. I know what you mean about lines of men from the same Regts, but take a look at some of the WW1 Cemeteries, in particular the larger ones like Tyne Cot. We visited that on a typical Paschendaele day, General Rain had arrived, it was misty and a piper was playing.

Some of the smaller ones too can be very emotive, the Devons Cemetery on the Somme for one. On the gate is the sentiment "The Devons held this trench, they hold it still". The French "Trench of the Bayonets" is also very emotive. Many people see the War Graves and yes, they are moved, but to them its just another cemetery, but dig deeper and every cemetery has a story too. Take the German Cemetery at Langemarck. By the way, Langemarck is where Britiain first used poison gas. By the entrance is a small garden surrounded by an 18 inch wall. People entering see a shrub garden, it is actually the mass grave of over 25000 German soldiers. On the Menin Gate is listed the names of many Indian Regiments, with names straight from a Hollywood movie. 45th Rattrays Sikhs as an example.
For anyone visiting the battlefields, there are a series of books called Major and Mrs Holts Battlefield Guides and they cover all the cemeteries and their hidden stories in great detail. The War graves Commision also do Michelin maps with all the cemeteries overlaid on them, and what a sight that is.

As for the younger generation, fair play to the lads that did both Gulfs and Afghan, but its no secret that virtually every battalion is way below nominal strength, which may say something about the current young generation.

Thank you. We visited a small cemetery outside of Dunkerque it had WW1 and WW2 graves and not only were there many different nationalities buried there, but it was a combined cemetery with graves from regiment of both of the opposing sides.

One problem with recruitment to the services is that the perception with defence numbers reductions is that it is not being given due consideration as an effective defence force. The contracting out of recruitment hasn't helped either and the pull backs from Afghanistan and other areas has itself had negative effect on recruitment. The lack of ships in the Royal Navy restricts the opportunity for longer deployments for all but a very few. Some years ago I took my grandson along to the Careers office as he wanted to join the Royal Navy. He was told there was a three year waiting list although if he opted for submarines it was only 2 1/2 years. Suffice to say he's now got a very good job with GE, and although at 26 years he still considers his options I had to remind him that joining the Royal Navy at the age would put him at a distinct career advantage with his peers.

 

[camel]

Every time We go over to Normandy we make a point of visiting our former next door neighbours grave in Jerusalem cemetery at Chouain a few miles east of Bayer, obviously I did not know Jackie but all my family did, Jackie went off when he was sixteen and joined the DLI, Jackie laned in the second wave on D Day, two weeks later along with two mates he volunteered to attack a german machine gun post he was hit it the leg and later on died of his wounds, even today back in Darwen Lancs Jackie is still a hero, like you say Thingy the younger generation,

 

[GD485]

We all have a good idea of what went on during the war and the terrible waste of human life caused by the brain washing of the ordinary population.
What is worrying is how few of the last few generations have little or no knowledge of the world wars.
I was asked by my 19 year old niece "Was Britain in World War 2"?
She is a at university studying History!