11th of november

[Lucky]

anyone who does know should be ashamed

I'm sure there's a slight typo there somewhere Stokey

On 11 November 1918 the Armistice was signed between the Allied and German armies, ending the First World War – a global war that lasted four years with the total human cost to Britain and the Empire of 3,049,972 casualties, including 658,705 dead.

Of all the millions of men who joined up to serve and defend the country, 90 years later the ranks have thinned dramatically. Now, there are just three stalwarts of the battlefields living in the UK. Harry Patch, Bill Stone and Henry Allingham are the only survivors to bear witness to those dark days. When they are no longer with us, the Great War will pass from living human memory finally to history.

Soon there will be no-one left, but don't think the poppy's die with these brave soldiers.
It's a common mistruth that the Royal British Legion and the poppy appeal are only about the great wars, and i'm stumped as to how many people i've talked to who didn't know

The Royal British Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependants. Currently, nearly 10.5 million people are eligible for our support and we receive thousands of calls for help every year.

It amazes me how our children are taught to embrace ethnic minorities and "their" cultures, yet we are to politically correct to mention to them, 2 horrendous events that "did" shape our society, and if things had gone differently then we would be a "minority" assuming we survived.
It happened, so get over it, embrace it and let the legends live on, because without them, we wouldn't be us!

 

[Stokecity_m]

I'm sure there's a slight typo there somewhere Stokey

 

[snax]

There's a Polish shop just around the corner from me.

dont suppose by any chance its called polski delaolski?

 

[Cook$]

There's a Polish shop just around the corner from me.

And everyone else. Only joking, I go through Mr Sheen like nobodies business.....

 

[Buddha 3]

Technically, World War 1 didn't end with the armistice. That was just the end of hostilities. The real end of the war came with the signing of the treaty of Versailles.

Kind of in the same way that North and South Korea are officially still at war...

As far as remembering goes, Holland doesn't "do" the 11th of November. After all, we weren't involved in the Great War.
We do however have two days that are important to us, namely May 5th, which is the day on which the German army in Holland officially surrendered (though there was some sporadic fighting, even after the surrender of the entire German armed forces on May 8th 1945) and the day before, May 5th, we remember our dead. It started as remembering the fallen of WW2, but it now also includes everybody that has fallen due to armed conflict.

Personally, these things mean a lot to me. My family has a deep war history, plus I have many friends in the armed services. One of them, who used to be the quarterback of the greatest rivals of my team, came back from Afghanistan without legs...

I'm also (lightly) involved with the celebrations every 17th of September in Oosterbeek (these are the ones concerning operation Market Garden/Battle for Arnhem). The reason we say celebrations, despite the grand offensive falling flat on its ass, resulting in the near destruction of the British 1st Airborne Division, the destruction of Oosterbeek and downtown Arnhem, plus many months of misery and death for the troops and people now holding open a totally useless corridor, is that we celebrate the men that landed in Holland, giving their lives in attempt to give us freedom.
Many of the veterans of that battle still feel apologetic, because they brought death and ruin, rather than freedom. We don't see it that way. They lost the battle, but their fight was for our freedom and we are eternally in their debt.

I can recommend visiting the area around the 17th of September each year, if you are interested in modern history. The Airborne Museum is well worth a visit and the war cemetary where the British and Polish Airborne troopers are buried bring tears to the eyes of the strongest. Coming in September makes it extra worthwhile because many of the veterans will be there and there are many vehicles of the period zipping around town.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Strange that this is the only end of war celebration, this country has.

What about WWII, Falklands etc

 

[slam]

Strange that this is the only end of war celebration, this country has.

What about WWII, Falklands etc

As this was already running I believe the Royal British Legion didn't want to dilute the meaning of remembrance day and armistice day. Also as it is their main fund raiser for the year this allows them to have a more powerful impact when the poppies go on sale.

 

[Kitch]

There was a documentary a couple of years ago where some new wave neo nazis were denying that the holocaust ever took place and that it was just a huge publicity stunt by the jewish population in general. In this day and age were it seems more politically correct to stop teaching school children about the 2 great wars (and pretty much anything the deem unsavoury), and the sacrifice that was made in the name of freedom, I for one hope we never forget.


Lest we forget

 

[chuckwood]

Those people are called 'apologists' and frankly are completely brain dead.

The 11th of November is now used to remember all the service men and women who have paid the ultimate price for us.
For |Aussies & Kiwis April 25th is special too, it is Anzac day and remembers when we fought for the Empire [and lost!]

 

[Buddha 3]

Those people are called 'apologists' and frankly are completely brain dead.

The 11th of November is now used to remember all the service men and women who have paid the ultimate price for us.
For |Aussies & Kiwis April 25th is special too, it is Anzac day and remembers when we fought for the Empire [and lost!]

Yup, April 25th 1915, the landings at Gallipoli.