Rememberance Day

[stubexpc@yahoo.co.uk]

Watched some good television over the weekend,together with the Festival itself on the Saturday evening
there was: My Boy Jack,a heartbreaking true story of Rudyard Kipling's son,on the Sunday,then last night
Monday,The Forgotten Heroes,- The Not Dead.

All facts regarding the wars this country has contributed to, by sending its men, and women as either
Peace Keepers as with the U.N,or cannon fodder as in WWI,you don't realise, as was said in 'My Boy Jack'
Over 7000 soldiers died on the first assault on the first day in the trenches but the battle was deemed a
triumph,because X number of yards of ground was won...

In latter wars.from 'The Not Dead' -over 300 ex-squaddies killed themselves through PTSD-if thats right-
MOREthan died in the whole of the war in Iraq,and N.I etc.THEN;-
i open my paper (-The Sun,sorry )- this morning,and we are informed that:
"THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ALLOW,SERIOUSLY DISABLED EX-SOLDIERS FROM THE BATTLES IN
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, TO ATTEND THE PARADE AT THE CENOTAPH,BECAUSE IT WAS SAID,IT WAS
FOR VETERANS ONLY"""

The father of the squaddie involved(,who by the,way lost his hands,right arm nerves in his legs,and
shrapnel in his pelvis and stomach ,all of which he initially endured a 12 hour operation to save his
life.)States he believes the Government did not want the embarrassment of injured soldiers,from Iraq and Afghanistan,on show.//

He jokingly says he is getting there,but walks,at the moment like a penguin.

All this lad wanted to do was attend at the parade to pay his respect to colleagues , killed before and
after he was injured,and the Government would not allow it,that is apart from the pittance of
compensation he has been offered,but no doubt that is another battle he has to fight.
As it was he joined the parade in Bristol and was made welcome by veterans,who all approached the lad
to shake his hand.I say to you JAMIE C. THANK YOU YOUNG MAN FROM ALL VETERANS.THANK YOU.

[5haron]

Very sad story Stu. I watched the Wilfred Owen one on Sunday and that also made an impression.
Now, if I had a question relating to this that I would ask a Government official it would be: Isn't someone who survives a battle/war/ assault, regardless of whether or not the conflict is still raging, technically still a veteran? What do you think?
Silly Buggers the lot of them!!

[stubexpc@yahoo.co.uk]

Two points Sharron.:

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A VETERAN (this thread has been before)

Someone will know,

I know,in my mind, what a veteran is,I have seen a few over the last weekend.

YES ,I applied,and GOT, a veteran's badge, I don't think I am a Veteran!
I applied,through the forum,got one, and YES, its a great piece of metal,and I am proud of it although
its still in its lovely presentation box

I took it to the RWF Band re-union,in August, but it stopped in its box,

I took it to the Rememberance Parade we had in my home Town,but it stopped in its box !!

WHY.! can someone tell me,????

After the weekend,I don't think I deserved it.the most combat I saw
was scrapping with the rear party of the Black Watch,or The Warwickshirte Regiment,as they were
known, in Germany in the 60's.
I DID get a LSGC medal (AL) from the Police after twenty odd years, I DESERVED THAT, but thats
another episode.

I still haven't worn THAT since it was pinned on me. but you see these ' Comrades' on Parade,
and they can hardly walk with the weight of their well earned medals,well,mine just seem to fade into
insignifance. Don't I go on ?

Second Part,
How many sons/daughters of the government are in the forces,fighting for their Country???

Hey Goodnight Comrades, we will wake in the morning !!

[5haron]

Dictionary definition of a veteran:
1 a: an old soldier of long service b: a former member of the armed forces
2: a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts).

I suppose you must do what your heart tells you. I think you should show them gongs some sunshine hun :)) I also think the "powers that be" are so far up their own back passages, they need a Bevin Boy to help them out of that particular shaft ;)

sws mawr
Shar x

[rob jones 60]

if you took the queens shilling then you stood up to the plate and served any where in the world your government sent you you may not have a chest full of medals but you served your country . that makes you a veteran of a brother hood that goes on for ever.....