Large Scale Central

Nov 11

General Discussion
#1

The day that ended “the war to end all wars”… except it didn’t

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by Major John McCrae, (Can) May 1915

#2

What I remember each Nov 11: My first contact with my favourite railway - RhB (Rhaetian Railway) - on Nov 11th 1952. Destination: Celerina GR! Occasion: start of the cure period for my chronic bronchitis! Ten months in the glorious Engadine; that winter I learned to ski and once the snow was gone the hiking started. Both have stuck ever since. :wink: :slight_smile:

#3

A tip of the hat to those that defended and defend our freedom, no matter what war or conflict, or police action.

#4

To my brothers and sisters in all the U.S. Armed Services, I say thank you this day! FTG3 Miller - USN - '69-'72 @ USS Joseph Hewes DE 1078 (Plank Owner).

#5

To all Veterans, of all Nations, even including HJ, thank you for your service.

Since poetry seems to be on the Plan of the day, here’s a few…

For it’s Tommy this and Tommy that,
An’ chuck ‘im out, the brute!
But it’s “Saviour of 'is country,”
when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this an’ Tommy that,
An’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t no blomin’ fool–
You bet that Tommy sees!

#6

Not strictly poetry but one of Sir Winston Churchills many speeches: this one in June 1940.

"We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in Gods good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old. "

Yes, indeed, once again some of the old and some of the new world fought in partnership for freedom - as they have continued to do so and are still doing today.

#7

Early this morning, while most of you were still abed. I sent this out - to many of you here, and to many others who, for reasons best known to themselves that I am not privy to, do not play with trains as we do. Nevertheless, they are in my band of brothers and sisters, as are you all here today.

Ladies and Gentlemen - today, all over the Commonwealth, we will be remembering the Dead of both World Wars, and also ALL of those who have died in the service of their country.

It goes without saying that the nationality and birthplace of the person that we remember matters not a hoot, and needless to say, many of those we remember were Irish, like my grandfather, who earned his military cross on the Somme in 1917, and now lies buried underneath it in the little cemetery at Templeux-le-Guérard, or American, like my namesakes - on the Wall of Remembrance or in a quiet plot at The American Cemetery Madingley just down the road from me here in UK.

Let’s just take a minute to remember that we are here because they are not.

Pte William Victor Collins - 6th Dragoon Guards +21 June 1917

Lt Thomas J Foley - somewhere over the Atlantic - on the Wall of Remembrance - Madingley American Cemetery Cambridgeshire UK

Cpl John D Foley Jnr - died from injuries in 1945 - Madingley American Cemetery, Plot C, Row O, Grave #57

tac

#8

There’s a quote I really like, but don’t know where it came from:

A veteran is someone who, at some point, wrote a check to the government in the amount of, “Anything, up to and including, my life”.