Lest we forget

[pesky1972 5,334]

I knew a simple soldier boy
Who grinned at life in empty joy,
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain.
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by,
Sneak home and pray you'll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.

 

Siegfried Sassoon

 

 

Edited November 11, 2017 by pesky1972

[Arry 22,389]

That brings it home mate. Good poem. Must have been hell on earth in them trenches.

Cheers Arry 

[j j m 6,555]

nice poem mate

[DIDO.1 22,845]

[KES2 171]

I often wonder what those who did not return would think of the world as it is now. We owe them so much but have perhaps not made the world they would have wanted.

 

[CRAZYHORSE 2,647]

They occupied the trenches to protect our country, now the enemy occupy their country and kill our soldiers in the streets 

[WILF 47,493]

Lest we forget?........we all forgot a long time ago

[socks 32,253]

3 hours ago, WILF said:

Lest we forget?........we all forgot a long time ago

I haven't ........

[stumfelter 3,034]

A good way to remember those who gave their lives for us it to visit the war memorials in the little towns and villages and try to get your head around just how many of the village men never returned. Very sobering.

[jacknife 2,005]

Great grandad was killed in the first month on the war along with 5000 others... Classed as missing in action at the time

He was the post master in a Northumberland village he was repaid by having his wife and seven kids kicked out onto the street and any money stopped as he was Mia

[tatsblisters 10,224]

Always remember my grandmother telling me about my greatgrandfather who on returning from the battle of the some with a bad shoulder injury who was then beaten up badly by two of earlfitzwilliams gamekeepers for poaching a few rabbits some time after made me realise some things never change.Those who have fought for their country but now find themselves on the streets is one that comes to mind.

Edited November 11, 2017 by tatsblisters

[Qbgrey 4,142]

11 hours ago, jacknife said:

Great grandad was killed in the first month on the war along with 5000 others... Classed as missing in action at the time

He was the post master in a Northumberland village he was repaid by having his wife and seven kids kicked out onto the street and any money stopped as he was Mia

Thats my major thing with this place,ee got eastern European s,young unemployed lads,govt spending on the most insane studies,inquirys,etc,,,yet war heroes get badly treated.at least the nepali familys got some good outcome

[scothunter 12,609]

Attended  the one in my village this morning.  Then watched them film an advert down the shore for the British army. 

Not sure if they use actual soldiers or actors. Didn't recognise any of them  lol

[foxtrotoscar 35]

I sympathise as much with recent war victims equally as those from the WW1 era.  That said, I remember growing up as a child in the 60's in Brum and my lovely old next door neighbour telling me how lucky she'd been to find a man to marry and have a family with, as her sister and some friends never did as there weren't many men left from her age group..Food for thought.