Ah Elgar, the epitamy of Englishness. But who amongst us couldn't fail to be impressed by his talent or be moved by it. I stopped in a layby on an English roadside and observed the two minutes silence on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day. The peace only being broken by the needs of commerce and of folk about their beezness rattling my vehicle as they passed on their noisy way to do whatever, where ever. I was listening to Classic FM radio at the time ...and then the two minutes silence was over.Broken by the sound of the last post,followed by Nimrod. I thought then of my favourite late uncle, Alec. he was in the trenches in the first world war as a member of the Cameron Highlanders (HLI). He was underaged, so he "borrowed" his elder brother's birth certificate ( Uncle Tommy) to sign up. ...and when he received his medals, they had Uncle Tommy's name on the rim of them. When Uncle Alec sat me on his knee as a wean he used to show me a blue-ish mark on his upper arm, a bit of shrapnel still lodged therein. His lungs were in terrible shape too, the gassing caused that he said. I thought it was the fault of his obnoxious full strength, players that he chain smoked, myself. They said it would be all over by Christmas and then we'd all return to a land fit for heroes ...Aye right. My dad had much the same opinion having been telt that he was going to hang out his washing on the seigfreid line ...and by Christmas too. But it took him a while to really understand what he was fighting for ...and against. When as part of sixth Para, he stumbled on Bergen Belsen. But as for returning to a land fit for for heroes, he said Aye right too. Politicians and beezness folk with vested interests on the make cause wars son and we're the ones who are sent to protect those interests and to sacrifice ourselves for them. Not a lot has changed really.Has it?
No not a lot has changed. Remember that fella Reid's comment.When he was a Westmidden Cabinet Minister eh. Something along the lines that this will not be a shooting foreign adventure.Aye right.
...and naturally of course,that cretin Ainsworth implied that they, our loved ones would return to a land fit for heroes. Aye right. Sacrifices have to be made to be sure, but not from the folk that asked them to make those sacrifices, that's for sure.
Personally, I prefer "Nimrod" played by massed military bands, it seems to have far more feeling than when played by an orchestra. Did they play it at the Cenotaph this year? - I was helping to ring our muffled church bells and then at the ceremony at our local war memorial. I'll watch the recording later.
Yes, we are due these people and their memory a whole lot more than we presently do.
These people died for freedom and democracy and a better life for their children and grandchildren. That's what they were told and what they believed. Believed enough for them to kill and be killed. For that belief they mortgaged their conscience and wagered their lives while we pay homage to their sacrifice by frittering away our democracy, freedoms and the right to aspiration on the rhetoric of political and establishment shaman.
Me, I would erase the word glorious from every monument and replace it with gullible. At least it would remove the taint of hypocrisy from our apathy.
Couldn't agree more RA. Nothing glorious about war or the way in which our war dead are revered for a few minutes each year by politicians actually mocking the lost lives.
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Ah Elgar, the epitamy of Englishness. But who amongst us couldn't fail to be impressed by his talent or be moved by it.
I stopped in a layby on an English roadside and observed the two minutes silence on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day. The peace only being broken by the needs of commerce and of folk about their beezness rattling my vehicle as they passed on their noisy way to do whatever, where ever. I was listening to Classic FM radio at the time ...and then the two minutes silence was over.Broken by the sound of the last post,followed by Nimrod.
I thought then of my favourite late uncle, Alec. he was in the trenches in the first world war as a member of the Cameron Highlanders (HLI). He was underaged, so he "borrowed" his elder brother's birth certificate ( Uncle Tommy) to sign up.
...and when he received his medals, they had Uncle Tommy's name on the rim of them. When Uncle Alec sat me on his knee as a wean he used to show me a blue-ish mark on his upper arm, a bit of shrapnel still lodged therein. His lungs were in terrible shape too, the gassing caused that he said. I thought it was the fault of his obnoxious full strength, players that he chain smoked, myself. They said it would be all over by Christmas and then we'd all return to a land fit for heroes ...Aye right. My dad had much the same opinion having been telt that he was going to hang out his washing on the seigfreid line ...and by Christmas too. But it took him a while to really understand what he was fighting for ...and against. When as part of sixth Para, he stumbled on Bergen Belsen. But as for returning to a land fit for for heroes, he said Aye right too. Politicians and beezness folk with vested interests on the make cause wars son and we're the ones who are sent to protect those interests and to sacrifice ourselves for them.
Not a lot has changed really.Has it?
Superb music.
And I echo the sentiments above also.
No not a lot has changed.
Remember that fella Reid's comment.When he was a Westmidden Cabinet Minister eh. Something along the lines that this will not be a shooting foreign adventure.Aye right.
...and naturally of course,that cretin Ainsworth implied that they, our loved ones would return to a land fit for heroes. Aye right. Sacrifices have to be made to be sure, but not from the folk that asked them to make those sacrifices, that's for sure.
Personally, I prefer "Nimrod" played by massed military bands, it seems to have far more feeling than when played by an orchestra.
Did they play it at the Cenotaph this year? - I was helping to ring our muffled church bells and then at the ceremony at our local war memorial. I'll watch the recording later.
A beautiful tribute to our hero's. I will always remember, Subrosa.
May they all rest in peace.
A worthy tribute
Thank you Subrosa.
I wish that I could regard the death of so many heroes and the tears and suffering of their relatives and friends as being in a just cause.
May the fallen rest in peace and may friends and relatives find comfort in their bravery and sacrifice.
Lovely memories wisnaeme. Elgar is very English but his work is played often by military bands.
No, not a lot has changed. We still have warmongers intent upon feathering their nests.
It's quite poignant Derek I think.
Aye wisnaeme, something about there will be no need for one shot to be fired.
I didn't think Ainsworth was the worst, just that he was well out of his depth. But you're right.
Yes it is perhaps better EP, but the orchestral version holds memories for me.
I'm sure they did play it. They usually do.
We all need to remember Bunni but some forget. Partlcularly politicians and their friends.
Good to see you.
The very least I could do JJ. Thank you.
I understand your reasoning Brownlie. There are few situations where the losses were worth it.
I should have said EP, I was pleased to hear you're a bell ringer. It's not such a popular hobby here.
Sorry, can't stand the hypocrisy.
Yes, we are due these people and their memory a whole lot more than we presently do.
These people died for freedom and democracy and a better life for their children and grandchildren. That's what they were told and what they believed. Believed enough for them to kill and be killed. For that belief they mortgaged their conscience and wagered their lives while we pay homage to their sacrifice by frittering away our democracy, freedoms and the right to aspiration on the rhetoric of political and establishment shaman.
Me, I would erase the word glorious from every monument and replace it with gullible. At least it would remove the taint of hypocrisy from our apathy.
Couldn't agree more RA. Nothing glorious about war or the way in which our war dead are revered for a few minutes each year by politicians actually mocking the lost lives.
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