11.11.11.
The last Commonwealth and Empire soldier to be killed in WW1 on the Western Front died at 10.58 on 11/11/18. Many more died years later of wounds or by suicide, others were destined to spend the rest of their lives in mental insitutions or care homes, still more daily exposed their horrific disfigurng wounds to their uncaring fellow citizens as they went about their business. Thousands more suffered from their injuries until their death. This is the truth of all wars, the butchers payment does not end with the dead.
The Ministry of Defence, despite the lauadable claims of the so called Veterans Agency, still fails to look after Britain's ex-servicemen and women, many who have injuries or have fallen on hard times, or whose mental stress problems have only appeared many years after the event, are still in need of the help and support of ex-service charities such as St Dunstan's, The Royal British legion and SSAFA. In most cases, in the opinion and experience of the writer, the VA uses its best efforts not to assist but to deny compensation, help and support. Without the assistanceof the Ex-Service associations and charities the Ex-Service community, who have risked so much for their country, whether as Regulars or Reservists, would have no voice to fight for the help and support due to them but not forthcoming from a lip-serving but uncaring Government, Country and MoD, and in many cases supplied by the charities rather then the governement whose responsibility it really is..
For this reason we must 'remember the dead, but do not forget the living'.
It is time to 'Honour the Covenant'
"They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
FEVER SONG
And did you serve in India, lad, Or Burma's wild green land? And did you have the fever there Till you could scarcely stand? And does the fever catch you still When England's winds blow bitter chill?
And does your head throb once again As it did then, my lad? And do you feel the dulling pain The same as you once had? And do you, soldier, curse the day When under those hot skies you lay?
And do you shake and shiver, lad, And ache to lay you down, As you did then, short years ago, Under the jungle's crown? And do you sigh for water now, And drink the salt sweat from your brow?
And do your limbs feel far away In ague's sudden grip? And do you like the price you pay, The fever-cup you sip, For being young in England's Isle, When Hitler saw his war-god smile?
Or do you think of well-known friends, Men of your Company, Who, uncomplaining, met their ends, Nor looked for sympathy; But under Asia's brassy skies Died with this England in their eyes?
Their rotted bones in jungle lie Six thousand miles away - Lad, what's the fever? You won't die. You'll live another day - But God forgive, if you forget They paid, in agony, our debt..
Unknown Author
From little towns in a far land we came,To save our Honour and a world aflame
By little towns in a far land we sleep;And trust this world we won to you to keep
Rudyard Kipling
When you go home, think of us and say,
For your tomorrow, we gave our today.
(Far east monument inscription)
To save ourselves, we asked this man to die
if he could see you now, would he ask you-why?
(tomb of the unknown warrior, Westminster Cathedral, London)
Please buy a Poppy, the lady said,
And held one out, but I shook my head.
I stopped and watched her standing there,
Her face was old and lined with wear,
`Beneath the scars, the years had made,
Remained a smile that did not fade.
A boy came whistling down the street
Bouncing along on carefree feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
“Lady” said he, can I have one.
She pinned it on and he turned to say
Why do we wear a Poppy today?
The lady smiled without a flaw,
“For all the boys who died in war.
Because they did, we are free
So we wear this Poppy, you see.”
I had a boy about your size
With golden hair and big blue eyes,
He loved to play and jump and shout
Free as a bird, he would race about.
The years went by, he learnt and grew,
As, in time, you will too!
When war broke out, he went away,
All I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
Which, I can see, in dreams at night.
Tanks and bombs and cruel barbed wire,
Bullets and mines, screams and fire.
The fields were gone, the land all bare,
Yet seedlings spouted from their lair.
The Poppy grew and flowered red,
And breathed sweet perfume upon the dead.
The soldiers saw this sight with awe
Which gave them strength to fight the war.
Until at last, the war was won,
“That’s why we wear a Poppy, son ".
“The small boy turned as if to go,
Thanks Lady", I’m so glad to know,
That sure did sound an awful fight
Was your son safe, and so allright.
She shook her head but didn't speak
A tear rolled down each faded cheek,
I slunk away, so full of shame,
If you were me, you”d do the same.
Our thanks in giving is oft delayed,
Our freedom bought and thousands paid.
So when you see a Poppy worn,
Reflect upon the burden borne.
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer, Country's call.
So buy a Poppy for all who died,
And show it clearly with great pride.
In our multi-faith, multi-ethnic 1990's society, remembrance transcends all boundaries. The legion is seeking a small yet significant individual and collective act, a rare moment when the nation can stand together and reflect on the price of freedom. That price is still being paid. More than 12,000 British servicemen and women have been killed or injured on active service since 1945. The Legion appreciates that it cannot expect complete observance of the two minutes silence. Individuals must decide. If people wish to stop and remember, they should be given the freedom and opportunity to do so.
THE COST: (let it not be forgotten that while the death toll is terrible, the cost in wasted lives through mental and physical injury still goes on, many men were, and still are institutionalised for life at a young age through the damage received)
1914-18 Britain Killed 908,371, wounded 2,090,212, Total all nations 37,494,186
1939-45 Britain 452,000 Military killed, 60,000+ men,women and children. Over 11 million people victims of concentration camps, extermination and reprisals. The full total of casualties world wide will never be known.
Since 1945 12000+ British casualties: Israel, Korea, Kenya, Aden, Borneo, Malaya, Suez, Cyprus, Falklands, Ireland, Gulf, Bosnia, Croatia, Afghanistan, Iraq.
In The Iraq war from the invasion in March 2003 to January 10th 2005, MOD figures tell us that there were at least 875 casualties of which 85 died and 790 were seriously injured, many more have been killed and injured since then, many of the wounds horrific but the MoD are not releasing the figures willingly.
If I should die, think only this of me,
That there is some corner of a foreign field,
which is for ever England
and in the rich earth a richer dust concealed
Rupert Brooke, WW1 poet
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