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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: colin buckle on Sunday 06 November 11 09:20 GMT (UK)
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As Remembrance week starts I'm sure that we have all discovered family stories related to WW1, WW2 or other conflicts. This is the most tragic story in my family which was also quite close to me (my grandmother's brothers).
http://wp.me/P1Vx90-6k
Any others?
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What a lovely idea, and you've put it together beautifully. My attempts in that direction so far have resulted in a number of A4 envelopes for each great uncle and a lot of photocopies and notes which I intend to tidy up very soon! You're an inspiration.
Your family story really underlines how terribly unlucky some families were and how lucky were others. My own grandparents had several brothers fighting in WW1 and just the one was killed, right at the end, having served all the way through.
This month, in particular, is an opportunity to really remember not just our ancestors who died in wars, but all who have gone before us. We had a dinner last night to particularly remember a great uncle of mine who drowned while saving a friend.
I know a lot of people will, like me this month, be visiting graveyards and meeting up with family for the occasion. I was in Northern Ireland this summer and, while trekking around one particular graveyard, questioned the amount of gardening activity that was going on at the time. I was told that the gardeners were getting ready for Family Sunday the following week, which is a yearly remembrance by local families for all those buried in the churchyard. Everyone comes, and it is quite a big do. What a lovely idea.
Good luck with your thread. (I'm not sure why it merits a transfer to 'The Lighter Side' though!).
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Hi Colin,
My great uncle, James Alexander Carrick, is also commemorated on that memorial
http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=3045865
He died on a hospital ship after contracting peritonitis on board SS Alston. He's buried at sea off the coast of Greece.
Regards
Ann
Edit: Sorry, my mistake - I always get Plymouth and Portsmouth confused!
Still, I'm thinking of him this week.
Regards
Ann
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John Henry Sheasby b 1887 Manchester and
Leslie William Sheasby b 1889 Manchester
eldest sons of John H and Clare F Sheasby
John Henry was a Lance Serjeant with 9th Battalion Manchester Regt [aka 4th Manchester Pals]
Died 23 July 1916 Somme battlefield
Leslie William Sheasby was a Private with the 9th Battalion The Kings [Liverpool] Regt
Died 03 September 1916 Somme Battlefield
Both men were also married.
They are remembered on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
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In memory of Ted Godbold (WW II) and John (Jack) Phillips (WW I)
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In remembrance of:-
RFM Frederick W Hogton 1st Batt KRRC d26/10/1914 Ypres remembered panels 51-53 Menin Gate
LCpl Arthur Ernest Hemsworth 9th Batt Cheshire Reg s20/09/1917 panel 61-63 Tyne Cot
http://www.wishful-thinking.org.uk/genuki/DBY/Eyam/WWI/portrait04.html#T2
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Well done Colin. My husbands great uncle was also lost on HMS Bulwark- he was a stoker too.
So lucky to have the lovely photographs.
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One of my brothers served on a later incarnation of the Bulwark during the eighties. I remember visiting him one navy day and going on board and him saying that he really disliked working on it (he was a stoker) as they always felt that if anything happened when they were way way down there they'd never get out. When I showed him, recently, the story of the Bulwark explosion he was horrified. My grandfather, another stoker, had served on it a few years before it happened. God love them all.
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Remembering this week, my Uncle Patrick Mason, Private, 5926, Royal Irish Regiment. KIA, Bazentine la Petite, Somme, 14th. July, 1916.
Bill
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My grand-uncle died in Galipoli in August 1915; like many Irish recruits he was forgotten and not referred to for years - his name was Andrew Joseph Mannion of the 5th Bn Connaught Rangers #620
I researched and located him for my Aunt's 80th birthday unfortunately be believe he had a brother based on the memory of a photograph of two men together in uniform but to date I have been unable to locate the second man
May they all rest in peace and may we live in peace
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RAF and RCAF
Left, Pilot Officer Stanley Humblestone, navigator. Born in Hull in 1921, he was the fourth son of Edward and Dora Humblestone. Right, Flight Lieutenant Clifford Arthur Walker, born in Fort William, Ontario, in 1921. He was the son of Thomas and Martha Walker, and he enlisted in the RCAF in 1940, graduating from pilot training at Camp Borden in 1941. The aircraft is a de Havilland Mosquito, RS520.
Clifford Walker and Stanley Humblestone were presumed lost on February 2, 1945, when their aircraft failed to return from a night raid on Tirstrup Aerodrome. They are remembered at the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.
There are two images from my scrapbook pages here:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,297794.msg1820640.html#msg1820640
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I will just leave this.A few discrepancies,the Mrs.McEwan mentioned was not the boy's mother but my GG grandfather Robert's second wife.In fact all correspondence was sent to either their mother,my GG grandmother Hannah or the person who was named as next of kin,their sister and my great grandmother,Tilda.
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Ernest John Whitcombe was born in Meare Somerset, parents John and Georgiana Whitcombe. This is a copy of a letter written by a senior officer to Georgiana Whitcombe who by 1917 was a widow. The original copy is in the safe keeping of Ernest Whitcombe's niece in the USA. He is remembered on the Common Wealth Graves web site. on the War Memorial at Meare, on his parents grave stone in the churchyard at Meare and buried at the Ecoivres Cemetery. My husband visited Ernest's grave several years on a motorbike tour, so was able to bring back photos for various relations.
Sadly too many letters will have been written like this during the Great War and the other conflicts our Service Men and Women have been involved in since.
Madam 11 April 1917
Our Battery position was shelled by the Germans a few days ago on the 5th of this month and caused us three casualties. It is with the greatest regret and deepest sympathy that I have to inform you that your son No 17251 Gunner E J Whitcombe was one of these. We got him away at once from the place that was being shelled and dressed his wounds as well as we could but he was hardly conscious at the time. At soon as this was done we took him to the Field Dressing Station but when we arrived there we found to our great pain. that he was beyond our help and had passed away. We went for the Chaplin and at half past three in the afternoon we buried him in a Military Cemetery about a mile behind our position. Another officer and I with a Sergeant and twelve gunners attended the funeral which was conducted by our Chaplin. He was carried to him grave with a Union Jack spread over him. I think you will be informed in due course by the War Office of the details of the position of the cemetery and where his grave is in it but if you do not hear from the War Office for some time and want the details, please let me know and I will send them on to you. I believe our Major has already written to you but I am also writing because Gunner Whitcombe was in my section and I have known him since December 1915 when I joined the battery. I have always known him as a very painstaking and trustworthy gunner and he was certainly one of the hardest workers in the battery. One could put him on any work at all and he would keep at it steadily all the time without a murmur while other men would stop for a rest or smoke or something else. I always had a very high regard for all the men who came out with the battery in August 1915 and he was one of them. I call these men ‘Old Timers’ and consider them much better in every way than any new man we get in draft: when anyone of them becomes a casualty in any way there is always present with me a very sad feeling of loss. I know how hard it must be for the parents of these men, among which parents you most unfortunately now figure, my parents are also numbered among you since my brother was killed and so you will know that I can understand your sorrow anyhow to some extent and will believe me when I say how very greatly I sympathise with you in your great bereavement.
I am
Yours sincerely
N J Calder
2nd Lient R.F.A
D/5 Battery
5th Brigade
R.F.A. France
P.S
I am posting to you today a registered parcel of the things found on your son. This contains a watch, a ring, a handkerchief, his identity disc and some letters. This ought to arrive a day or so after this letter.
N J Calder
Lt R.F.A.
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Remembering again: -
All the brave men & women who have laid down their lives in the cause of Freedom for all the conflicts this country has fought in.
In both the World wars. Those who were or killed or injured on the home front, defending our freedom.
Members of the fire brigades, the ambulance services, Nursing service, the Police, Home Guards, ARP Wardens.
The people in reserved occupations, men, women & children who were killed or injured or scarred for life. It was their battle too.
Ian killed by a tree bomb in Cyprus in the 1955-1959 troubles. He was in my husband’s regiment. All the men killed by the terrorists out there during that terrible time.
My son’s friend Fred killed in the Falklands war 1982 and all the men who died with him.
Men of the Korean War, Aden, Kenya, Northern Ireland, all the other conflicts too numerous to mention. The brave soldiers in Afghanistan.
But especially My Grandmother’s brother, Ernest Herbert Relf 125760, 337th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery who died age 29 on 27 July 1918 Remembered with honour Reading Cemetery
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My own grandmother's favourite brother - of the same Regiment as RabbitB's great uncle named above - Sergeant John Serjeant 37209 Royal Garrison Artillery 173rd Seige Battery. Died of wounds sustained in action at Bertincourt on 26th September 1918. Buried at Bertincourt Chateau Cemetery, Northern France. Visited there by several members of his family over the years and remembered on behalf of his affectionate sister (who had died before any of us knew where he was).
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My own grandmother's favourite brother - of the same Regiment as RabbitB's great uncle named above - Sergeant John Serjeant 37209 Royal Garrison Artillery 173rd Seige Battery. Died of wounds sustained in action at Bertincourt on 26th September 1918. Buried at Bertincourt Chateau Cemetery, Northern France. Visited there by several members of his family over the years and remembered on behalf of his affectionate sister (who had died before any of us knew where he was).
Thank you for that information, Winterbloom. I had no idea where my G. Uncle was wounded, but if they were in the same battalion the chances were that that is where it he was so badly wounded.
I am sure that everyone knows about the unknown soldier and how he came to be buried. But someone sent me this lovely old film the other day Please Mr Moderator forgive the inclusion on this thread http://www.rootschat.com/links/0gor/ of the story of his burial.
I had never seen this old film before at all, so I am sure that some of the young people will be interested.
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My Uncle Tom ,Mum's brother died in Malta 1942 on the HMS Indomitable and my husband's Great uncle sidney who died in France in 1917 and is remembered on the Loos Memorial.And a local lad Mark Marshall who died in Afganistan.
Barb
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Rabbit B that was a moving film
I lost a great Uncle in WW1 but don't know of any relative in the WW11
I will remember Robert Stead who was an unknown soldier until Michel (sorry if i have that wrong ) and rootschat brought him back into the limelight
Elizabeth
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My grandad, Wilfrid Firth Appleyard, Private 29688, 11th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, killed 7 October 1916 at Le Sars, together with 216 of his Battalion and 8 officers He is commemmorated on Face 2D at Thiepval as he has no known grave. The war diary does say that the battle objective was gained and held!!
My dad did not serve in WWII but did have the job of mounting engines in Spitfires, and told the tale that every so often the people who built the aircraft were taken up in them - that would keep them on their toes ;D
BumbleB
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Colin
What a lovely tribute.
Two members of my family did not return from service in Mesopotamia in WW1. Dad served as a sapper in WW2 and saw active service in Europe.
Remember also those who returned from the horrors of war and suffered from physical and/or mental pain for the rest of their lives.
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Rabbit B thank you for posting the film of the burial of the Unknown Soldier. It was so very moving, not only watching the footage but also the captions at the end of the film which explained the significance of those who were there in Abbey at the time.
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Along with so many, I shall be remembering all ancestors who fought, and some who lost their lives, in WW1.
Two in particular have always 'stood out' for me:
The brother of my great-grandfather - George William Hayden. Died 10 January 1915, France & Flanders, aged 38 years. Rifleman, King's Own Rifle Corps.
George and his wife had 8 children, 4 daughters of whom died as babies. The youngest was only 3 months old when her father was killed, and she herself died a few months later.
The son of a gg-aunt - Frank Skilton, born 1898., Ditchling, Sussex.
A book on the history of Ditchling gave the following information;
Frank was only 17 when he joined the Territorials in September 1914. After a period of training in Newhaven, where he contracted enteric fever, the battalion set out in July 1915 for the Dardanelles. War reports of fighting on 9th August in Sulva Bay involving his battalion (as well as others), confirm 1 officer and 11 other ranks were killed.
It is unknown if Frank was one of those killed that day, but local newspaper reports state he died on 11 September 1915 in the early hours of the morning, having reached Epsom Hospital at 4am after the long journey from the Dardanelles. His mother was telegraphed and left for the hospital on the first available train, only to find that she was too late.
His funeral was fully reported in the Mid-Sussex Times of 21 Sep 1915, and included the following line:
"The circumstances of his death were rendered all the more sad in that he was so young, not having attained the age of 18 when he laid down his life for his country."
His brother Richard (who died in 1930 and is buried with his brother), joined others in ringing a half-muffled peal on the church bells on the evening of the burial.
We will remember them.
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Thanks from me Rabbit B for the film, very emotional and informative and i like the way the background is given to the participants. M y mothers father and his half brother fought in ww1 and my paternal grandfathers nephew was a second lieutenant missing presumed killed and was in the south staffs attatched to mgc, james henry westwood mentioned on thiepval monument.
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Please Folks,
Don't thank me, all thanks should go to the young serviceman who sent me this link.
Also to the people who made the film. I have certainly never seen this wonderful old film before, it is indeed a very moving tribute to that unknown soldier whoever he was.
It is also part of our history.
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Also remember the many who died at home,civilians and those defending our cities and coast.Most of the boys in this row,and boys are what most of them were,died when an air raid shelter received a direct hit during a raid on St.Eval air base,Cornwall on the night of 25th January 1941.
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Rabbit, thank you so much for posting that link. I've sent it to everyone I know. Very moving and very important for all to see.
Best wishes,
Ann
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Rabbit what a moving film I have posted it on facebook so all my friends can see it.
Thankyou, my daughters ( 13 and 16) sat with me and watched it and we were all in floods of tears.
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It is certainly piece of film that people should see. I started to go when I saw the little puffs of smoke from the guns as they saluted the ship coming in to Dover. But the piece that really horrified me was the text that told us who was in the cathedral and that it included 100 women who had lost both their husband and all their sons.
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i shall be remembering many loved ones lost in recent conflict. my daddy was a soldier and for me rememberance day is very important. my own children who are 3,7 and 8 are wearing poppies and they know the signifcance of them too. so many children dont! the 2 older ones will be attending a rememberance day parade with the scouts, and attending church also.
also remembering George Frederick Lever died sept 1914 leaving an orphaned son.
and still fighting my cousin Zach Smith serving with the us army. xx
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Click on my link below "Names Familiar To All"
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Thankyou RabbitB, I`ll watch that again , it got rather blurred part way through -- ---- need a hankie.
I think it must have been quite comforting to those who had missing relatives without a known grave to think the unknown soldier could be one of their loved ones .
The Roll of Honour for The Accrington Pals shows three and four of the same name and address occuring many many times. There was hardly a street without casualties and you can hardly imagine what it must have been like after the first day of the battle of the Somme when the Regiment were almost wiped out, and the telegrams were being delivered thick and fast amid news in the daily papers that it had all been a resounding success!!!!
It is hardly believable that it could have happened, but it did.
Viktoria.
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Remembering .... a grandfather
Pte John Reynolds 6021
and his younger brother
Pte Arthur Reynolds 7074.
Both were Old Contemptibles; soldiers in 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regt.part of the B.E.F.
They both died on the same day 1st Nov 1914 during the 1st Battle of Ypres at Wytschaete in which the Battlion suffered their worst casualties in any action previous to this.Their losses were terrible. Five officers were killed, three officers were severely injured and two hundred and ninety three other ranks were killed, wounded and missing.
Also my great Uncle:-
Pte William Soutar 6639 2nd Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers who died from wounds on 21 Oct 1914.
Also another great Uncle :-
Pte Allan Jackson 43454 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters Regt. who died 22 Aug 1916.
Also
Pte Sidney Wright 52286 The Royal Fusiliers who died 29th Apr 1917 in Arras France.
Remembered with immeasurable Pride for their Sacrifice.
Polly
The photo was taken in the summer, a mile from where I live, when hundreds of thousands of poppies filled an eight acre field.
It was a poignant sight to behold.
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Like everyone else, I found that the film reduced me to tears. So do your poppies Polldoll, they are truly beautiful This is an emotional time of year for all of us
Lest we forget, they say, how could any of my generation ever forget them.
To all of the young people, please remember that, it must never ever happen again.
They died for your freedom, as well as ours.
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The Imperial War Museum is publishing photos of soldiers from WW1 between now and 2014.It is part of a colection they amassed between 1917 and 1920 and can be viewed at
www.1914.org/faces/
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Lest We Forget. 11.11.2011
Polly your picture is beautiful and so is the Movie to the
Unknown Soldier which was so moving.
I made my background paper on Uncle George's card from
a photo I took in the Summer.
Pte. George Sibley, 2nd Batt. Northants Regt.
Pte. Walter Luck, 2nd Batt. Northants Regt.
Pte. Sidney Arthur Eady, 2nd Batt. West Yorkshire Regt.
Also in Memory of Pte. Harry Freer, 54th (East Anglia) Div. Cyclist Coy.
Pte. Frederick Onley, 6th Batt. Essex Regt.
Sandy
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just shared my 2 minutes silence with ITV the old vetrens on this morning brought tears to my eyes.
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I`d like to remember my grt great uncle Jack Anscombe died aged 19 in Singapore in 1917 and my husbands grt great uncle Bernard Mahony died aged 19 in 1918.
For me this has always been an emotive week even before i knew of their sacrifice and i would also like to mention any current serving servicemen. They are a credit to their nations.
Sarah
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My Grandmother had four brothers go to the first world war. All but one came home.
John George WALTON, died 1st of September, 1918 and is buried at Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu, Somme, France.
Her brother Frank WALTON survived two wars and died of injuries recieved when two boys bashed him and stole his push-bike. He was 85 years old.
Lest We Forget.
Leonie.
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In memory of my Mother's brother Private William Walker, Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment). William (or Bill as he was known to everyone) was his Mother's one remaining son, after losing 3 others in infancy. She also had 6 daughters, but always said she didnt have any luck with boys. Bill was killed in Sfax, Tunisia North Africa on 6th April 1943 (the day after his Mother's 52nd birthday!!!). I am told by his sister that he was killed by a sniper a month before the war ended. He went off to the war with a group of other young men from the local area and he was the only one of them that didnt come back.
Busybod
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Just back from our memorial,very moving and wonderful to see the age range of those paying their respects,from toddlers to war veterans.The only spoiler for me was the traffic.It's a pity the police,of whom there were several couldn't stop drivers and ask them to switch off their infernal combustion engines for just two minutes.
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Such a moving day with so much to remember & honour.
I'm still documenting my husband's uncle's military experience during WWII, but I know from what I've tracked so far that he survived over 100 bombing missions over Europe. May he rest in peace knowing that we honour what he did for us.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=622_1236062375
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Although I personally have lost no family members in war I would still like to pay tribute to those wonderful brave men and women who died to keep us free.
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The Roll of Honour for The Accrington Pals shows three and four of the same name and address occuring many many times. There was hardly a street without casualties and you can hardly imagine what it must have been like after the first day of the battle of the Somme when the Regiment were almost wiped out, and the telegrams were being delivered thick and fast amid news in the daily papers that it had all been a resounding success!!!!
It is hardly believable that it could have happened, but it did.
Viktoria.
I'm actually from Accrington and I'm told that the day after the battle started a rumour swept through town saying that they all had died. Apparently something of a riot almost occurred before the mayor was able to find out that 'only' most of them had died or been injured. Might take a picture of the memorial and post it tomorrow (if this fog shifts!) - it's quite a sight.
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Spent Armistice Day at my usual place in Bedworth, Warwickshire. Every year for 93 years Bedworth has held a parade on 11 November. The whole town unites for this day, including all of the schools. I am proud of my town and also proud to be a member of the Girls' Brigade as we also take part in the parade. My grans cousin Victor Shaw died on active duty in WW2. Tonight I will be watching the festival of remembrance and tomorrow also taking part in a service for Remembrance Sunday.
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My great great grandfather, Engineman Robert Strachan.
Killed onboard H.M.T. Waltham on or around the 10th October 1917 aged 49, just off the Isle of Man.
His wife remained a widow for the next 42 years.
He never met his youngest son, Ewan, who was born in Januray 1918.
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Thats a sad one Windsor
Have you found any on our side seems like they were all lucky and came back than goodness
Elizabeth
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Thats a sad one Windsor
Have you found any on our side seems like they were all lucky and came back than goodness
Elizabeth
Hello Elizabeth,
One comes to mind.
George and Eleanor Sinclair's grandson, Captain William Watson Sinclair McAngus, was killed on 7th June 1944 aged 29 years.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2337288
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Thank you for this Windsor
Do you have the marriage of John and Helen I have them in 1918 but by the looks of it I have it wrong as William was born in 1915
Elizabeth
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Thank you for this Windsor
Do you have the marriage of John and Helen I have them in 1918 but by the looks of it I have it wrong as William was born in 1915
Elizabeth
Both of those dates are correct, I'm afriad.
Captain McAngus is mentioned on the Sinclair's grave in Fraserburgh. I can't remember if I sent you a picture of the stone.
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Hi Windsor no you didn't sent a photo
I have the photo of Mary McDonald's husband Peter Barclay
Do you have that one
Elizabeth
back to the subject above
Two of my granddaughters were in the parade today I have lovely photos of them but sadly I cannot post them they are in the army cadets and are 12 and 13 years old
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Hi Aspin,
We went to our Remembrance Ceremony this morning. Oh with his medal, he is a also a member of the British Legion. I took my small grandaughters too. I didn't think to take a camera though, they were so very good all though the service, then we came back to watch what was left of the parade in TV.
Very sad memories, for everyone all those lovely young men robbed of their youth.
I was sent this last Thursday, I thought that it was rather good.
The Final Inspection
The soldier stood to face his God, which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining, just as brightly as his brass.
Step forward now, you soldier, how shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?'
The soldier squared his shoulders, he said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Those of us who carry guns, can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, at times my talk was tough.
I have been too violent Lord, the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny piece, that wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills got just too steep.
I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear.
Sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place, among the people here.
They never wanted me around, except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be too grand.
I never expect, nor had too much, so if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne, where the saints did often tread.
The soldier waited patiently, for the judgment of his God.
'Step forward now, young soldier, you've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets. You have done your time in Hell.'
Author Unknown~
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Isn't that lovely
We too watched the service on TV and I was running late for Sunday Dinner
We landed up with 5 grandchildren for dinner and here was me yesterday buying a lovely bit of pork for two
Nothing left for a sandwich for hubbies tea and no left overs for tomorrow
Are well that's grandchildren for you and its good to have them call
Elizabeth
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Hi Elizabeth,
I have only got 2, but they are exhausting. If only I could bottle that energy!!
So was also had a neighbour come to lunch. so there were 5 of us altogether.
We all had a lovely piece of pork too. [from the Farmers Market!]
Rabbit B ;D
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The best laugh was when they went away they said thanks for the dinner see you next Sunday
Was that a hint I asked husband
We also had an Eves pudding i hadn't made that for awhile
Our youngest grandson 12 said who's Eve his brother 14 said Adams wife
So that laugh went down well
None of them had had Eves pudding before but enjoyed with custard
Elizabeth
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Another little thought for all,
The inquisitive mind of a child
Why are they selling poppies mummy? selling poppies in town today,
The poppies my child are flowers of love, for the men who marched away.
But why have they chosen a poppy mummy? why not a beautiful rose?
Because my child, men fought and died, in the fields where the poppies grow.
But why are the poppies so red mummy? why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood my child, the blood our soldiers shed.
The heart of the poppy is black mummy, why does it have to be black?
Black my child is the symbol of grief, for the men who never came back.
But why mummy are you crying so? your tears are giving you pain,
My tears are my fears for you my child
For the world is FORGETTING AGAIN. Anon
John915
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Hi John,
That is really lovely so true too. I am so glad that they now make a big thing of Remembrance.
It is so important never to let it happen again. There was a period in the 60's when it almost went out of fashion to Remember. As if those of us who went though WW2 could ever forget it.
But, the story I learned from my mother, who was a real countrygirl like me was, that the shells from the guns disturbed the soil where they fell. This caused the poppies to germinate where sometimes they had been dormant for years. When the battles were all over, millions of poppies grew on the battlefields, just like the ones in the picture that Polldoll posted.
That was the reason my mum said, that they chose the poppy as the symbol of Remembrance after WW1.
Rabbit B ;D
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my little boy today took his poppy into nursery to show his teacher 'granda's poppy' (as i said earlier my dad was a soldier) we showed teacher and lele said this is grandas poppy. teacher looked at me and i said my dad was a soldier. the reply i got was 'oh im so sorry'. i had to correct her and tell her that my father is still (thankfully) alive and well! she said to me that she is very lucky and hasnt had to suffer that kind of grief. is it me or is this a little odd?
it seems to me that rememberance day is only important to those who have lost someone. in my mind we should all remember not just those who have lost a loved one or friend.