remember them all

[Phantom 631]

I am not religious, far from it.

But I always feel sad when I see another soldier wounded or killed.

Its only because of the good men and women of the forces that I am here today, if it had not been for them Hitler and his cronies would have wiped out my bloodline ancestors.

Unfortunately I was never allowed to serve, but I would have purely to show my respect to those who fought and died and those who fought and survived.

 

Here's the lyrics from one of my favourite songs it says a lot and when I play this it almost always causes a lump in my throat and a tear to form in my eye.

Although its about one particular event between the villages of Paschendale and Ypres in Belgium, it pretty much sums up to me that we all owe a huge "Thank You" to service men and women who serve all around the world and the danger that they place themselves in.

It is estimated that there were around 800,000 to 900,000 casualties (combined sides) of the battles for Paschendale!

 

Funnily enough, Hitler himself fought in the battle for Paschendale and was injured on October 13 1918. What a different world we would live in if he had died during that battle eh?

 

 

Paschendale

by Iron Maiden

In a foreign field he lay,

lonely soldier unknown grave

on his dying words he prays

tell the world of Paschendale

 

Relive all that he's been through

last communion of his soul

rust your bullets with his tears

let me tell you 'bout his years

 

Laying low in a blood filled trench

killing time 'til my very own death

on my face I can feel the falling rain

never see my friends again

in the smoke in the mud and lead

the smell of fear and the feeling of dread

soon be time to go over the wall

rapid fire and the end of us all

 

Whistles, shouts and more gun-fire

lifeless bodies hang on barbed wire

battlefield nothing but a bloody tomb

be reunited with my dead friends soon

many soldiers eighteen years

drowned in mud, no more tears

surely a war no one can win

killing time about to begin

 

Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live again

Home, far away. But the war, no chance to live again

 

The bodies of ours and our foes

the sea of death it overflows

in no-man's land God only knows

into jaws of death we go...

 

Crucified as if on a cross

allied troops, they mourn their loss

German war propaganda machine

such before has never been seen

swear I heard the angels cry

pray to God no more may die

so that people know the truth

tell the tale of Paschendale

 

Cruelty has a human heart

every man does play his part

terror of the men we kill

the human heart is hungry still

 

I stand my ground for the very last time

gun is ready as I stand in line

nervous wait for the whistle to blow

rush of blood and over we go...

 

Blood is falling like the rain

its crimson cloak unveils again

the sound of guns can't hide their shame

and so we die in Paschendale

 

Dodging shrapnel and barbed wire

running straight at canon fire

running blind as I hold my breath

say a prayer symphony of death

as we charge the enemy lines

a burst of fire and we go down

I choke I cry but no one hears

feel the blood go down my throat

 

Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live again

Home, far away. But the war, no chance to live again

Home, far away. From the war, a chance to live again

Home, far away. But the war, no chance to live again

 

See my spirit on the wind

across the lines beyond the hill

friend and foe will meet again

those who died at Paschendale

Joanna Lumley once said about Eypres

"It is top of the list of places I recommend to people to visit; in particular, the great cemetery at Passchendaele and The Menin Gate, where the poignant Last Post ceremony is held every night. It will remind even the hardest of hearts of the meaning of valour and the awful nature of war."

 

I for one will never forget; My glass is raised to them all; past, present and future, in the air, on the land and those upon the sea for we all owe our gratitude to thee

 

Tony

Edited November 11, 2010 by Phantom

[zini 1,939]

Hi Tony buddy,

 

That's a really nice post mate.

 

Heart felt.

 

Si

[salukiwhippet 6]

We will remember them.

 

James

[air gun ant 1,666]

GLASS RAISED

[davyt63 1,845]

[major1 6]

well said lads masive respect

[olim 28]

well said

[poodle-ere 0]

Lest we forget

When the soldier's Get To Heaven To Saint Peter they Will Tell One More soldier Reporting Sir I've Served My Time In Hell And When they all Get To Heaven, are respect will be shown I will hold my head up high for all those that have died I am hoping that you will to because they all died ...for you.

[huddies 1]

 

We all have someone near or dear who at 11am today was in our thoughts.

[markha 99]

Thanks for starting this thread Gary, nice one. Went in to Caernarfon for the 2 mins silence, fell in and ranked up with the old boys and some of the Royal Welsh lads there.

 

Heros one and all, from the great wars in history books to the current conflicts around the world.

[pianoman 3,587]

Today I remember a dear buddy and a gentle, kind lad. Sapper Toby Lyle Royal Engineers. He died of wounds recieved at South Georgia, Falklands Campagne 1982. He passed away aboard the SS Uganda on the voyage home aged 22. The memories I have of fighting in that conflict are too upsetting to relate further. I just wanted to say something about a fine lad I knew all too briefly.

[festa 206]

Today I remember a dear buddy and a gentle, kind lad. Sapper Toby Lyle Royal Engineers. He died of wounds recieved at South Georgia, Falklands Campagne 1982. He passed away aboard the SS Uganda on the voyage home aged 22. The memories I have of fighting in that conflict are too upsetting to relate further. I just wanted to say something about a fine lad I knew all too briefly.

 

no need to buddy were all with you ..

 

atb gary

[pianoman 3,587]

Thanks Gary. It was a kind gesture of you to open this thread mate .

 

ATB

 

Simon