I've been to a few of the cemeteries in Normandy, to British, Canadian, Polish, American and German ones. The German one was one of the most poignant as they had 3 people per grave and I think over 40,000 were buried in the one cemetary. The one at Colleville-sur-Mer is immense also and a very touching sight when you see all the white crosses and jewish stars in perfect formation. God bless them all.
thinking of both my grandads who died a couple of years ago.
one was a japenese prison of war. RIP grandad Tom
and my other was a dispatch rider. RIP grandad Chaz
one was a japenese prison of war. RIP grandad Tom
and my other was a dispatch rider. RIP grandad Chaz
quote:Originally posted by Justafriend:
thinking of both my grandads who died a couple of years ago.
one was a japenese prison of war. RIP grandad Tom
and my other was a dispatch rider. RIP grandad Chaz
those who were taken prisoner by the Japs had a very rough time of it, god bless em,
quote:those who were taken prisoner by the Japs had a very rough time of it, god bless em,
My friend's father was a prisoner of the Japanese. He was a broken man when he finally returned and never regained full health.
quote:yip not ALL Germans were nazis, lots of them were just soldiers, like our boys
Of course. A great many young German men also lost their lives. Tremendous losses on all sides sadly.
I went to the beaches when I was 11 and again at 15...they are still home to so many reminders of the war. I have also been to the battlefields of WWI in France and Belguim. Even decades after the wars finished, the atmosphere of those places was so eerie. Peaceful, yet laden with sadness. The WWI trenches are the saddest places I have ever been.
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
to OHG for starting the thread 
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
to OHG for starting the thread 
quote:Originally posted by MrsB:
I went to the beaches when I was 11 and again at 15...they are still home to so many reminders of the war. I have also been to the battlefields of WWI in France and Belguim. Even decades after the wars finished, the atmosphere of those places was so eerie. Peaceful, yet laden with sadness. The WWI trenches are the saddest places I have ever been.
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
Can you imagine youths lying about their age Today to go and fight for their Country
They were indeed brave Men, on all sides...may they Rest In Peace....every single one of them!
quote:Originally posted by MrsB:
I went to the beaches when I was 11 and again at 15...they are still home to so many reminders of the war. I have also been to the battlefields of WWI in France and Belguim. Even decades after the wars finished, the atmosphere of those places was so eerie. Peaceful, yet laden with sadness. The WWI trenches are the saddest places I have ever been.
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
one of my grandads fought in both, he lied about his age for the first one...got taken prisoner towards the end of ww1,
when the second one started he was a coal miner they werent allowed to join up, had to stay in the mines,...he wasnt having that haha, he had a few "scores" to settle,
so he ran off down south and joined up, he was going to be a part of the Dday invasion, when they found out he was a miner, he got 6 month in the nick and sent back to the mines after, bless him,
my other grandad got taken prisoner at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp,
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by MrsB:
I went to the beaches when I was 11 and again at 15...they are still home to so many reminders of the war. I have also been to the battlefields of WWI in France and Belguim. Even decades after the wars finished, the atmosphere of those places was so eerie. Peaceful, yet laden with sadness. The WWI trenches are the saddest places I have ever been.
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
one of my grandads fought in both, he lied about his age for the first one...got taken prisoner towards the end of ww1,
when the second one started he was a coal miner they werent allowed to join up, had to stay in the mines,...he wasnt having that haha, he had a few "scores" to settle,
so he ran off down south and joined up, he was going to be a part of the Dday invasion, when they found out he was a miner, he got 6 month in the nick and sent back to the mines after, bless him,
my other grandad got taken prisoner at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp,
What tremendous Men they were, you must be proud! They were so young some of them, they must've been terrified...I can't even start to imagine some of the horrific sights they must've seen!
quote:Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by MrsB:
I went to the beaches when I was 11 and again at 15...they are still home to so many reminders of the war. I have also been to the battlefields of WWI in France and Belguim. Even decades after the wars finished, the atmosphere of those places was so eerie. Peaceful, yet laden with sadness. The WWI trenches are the saddest places I have ever been.
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
one of my grandads fought in both, he lied about his age for the first one...got taken prisoner towards the end of ww1,
when the second one started he was a coal miner they werent allowed to join up, had to stay in the mines,...he wasnt having that haha, he had a few "scores" to settle,
so he ran off down south and joined up, he was going to be a part of the Dday invasion, when they found out he was a miner, he got 6 month in the nick and sent back to the mines after, bless him,
my other grandad got taken prisoner at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp,
They were so young some of them, they must've been terrified...I can't even start to imagine some of the horrific sights they must've seen!
the grandad who was in WW1 was only 15...FIFTEEN!! but somehow he got in, I only hope that I have an ounce of that kind of guts,
proud of him? you bet,
Great thread 
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
OHG what a wonderful idea
quote:Originally posted by HyacinthB:quote:those who were taken prisoner by the Japs had a very rough time of it, god bless em,
My friend's father was a prisoner of the Japanese. He was a broken man when he finally returned and never regained full health.
Prince Philip will still not acknowledge the Japanese leaders when they are received by the Queen, he absents himself.
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by MrsB:
I went to the beaches when I was 11 and again at 15...they are still home to so many reminders of the war. I have also been to the battlefields of WWI in France and Belguim. Even decades after the wars finished, the atmosphere of those places was so eerie. Peaceful, yet laden with sadness. The WWI trenches are the saddest places I have ever been.
My Great-Grandad served in both wars...in WWI he lied about his age to fight as so many did. In the second he was taken prisoner in the Far East. He died when I was 5, but has always been my hero.
We owe so much to all those who died during the wars....we should never forget.
one of my grandads fought in both, he lied about his age for the first one...got taken prisoner towards the end of ww1,
when the second one started he was a coal miner they werent allowed to join up, had to stay in the mines,...he wasnt having that haha, he had a few "scores" to settle,
so he ran off down south and joined up, he was going to be a part of the Dday invasion, when they found out he was a miner, he got 6 month in the nick and sent back to the mines after, bless him,
my other grandad got taken prisoner at Dunkirk and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp,
They were so young some of them, they must've been terrified...I can't even start to imagine some of the horrific sights they must've seen!
the grandad who was in WW1 was only 15...FIFTEEN!! but somehow he got in, I only hope that I have an ounce of that kind of guts,
proud of him? you bet,
I can honestly say that I don't think many young men these days would have an ounce of the guts those boys (they were just boys) had!!!
We owe them so much, more than could ever be repaid! I salute every single one of them!
Heroes!!!! quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:
Great thread
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
many of the men AND women in the "protected" jobs, IE their work was considered esential to the war effort, therefore they werent allowed to join up ALSO did their bit to defeat Hitler and his thugs,
quote:Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:
I can honestly say that I don't think many young men these days would have an ounce of the guts those boys (they were just boys) had!!!
We owe them so much, more than could ever be repaid! I salute every single one of them!
I dont know so much, I think you do our youngsters down a bit,
there are today MANY YOUNG men and women in the sevices,
and I truly belive that IF something as awful was to happen, even in these days many of our youngsters would supprise ya,
Another tragic site is Pearl Harbour in Hawaii where the USS Arizona remains to this day. It was the ship which lost the most sailors who didn't have a chance (approximately 1,000 died on the Arizona I believe).
It stands as a tribute to all those men and women who lost their lives that day and it is still seeping oil.
From the picture, you can still see the shadow of the Arizona under the water.
It was a very poignant reminder of all those young men and women who died that day.
Everyone visiting was so quiet, you could almost hear a pin drop and I was equally amazed at how many of the visitors were actually Japanese!
It stands as a tribute to all those men and women who lost their lives that day and it is still seeping oil.
From the picture, you can still see the shadow of the Arizona under the water.
It was a very poignant reminder of all those young men and women who died that day.
Everyone visiting was so quiet, you could almost hear a pin drop and I was equally amazed at how many of the visitors were actually Japanese!
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:
Great thread
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
many of the men AND women in the "protected" jobs, IE their work was considered esential to the war effort, therefore they werent allowed to join up ALSO did their bit to defeat Hitler and his thugs,
I was going to say that OHG
Even if they weren't on the frontline, they still all worked together...for US! quote:Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:
I can honestly say that I don't think many young men these days would have an ounce of the guts those boys (they were just boys) had!!!
We owe them so much, more than could ever be repaid! I salute every single one of them!
I agree with you on both counts.
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:
Great thread
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
many of the men AND women in the "protected" jobs, IE their work was considered esential to the war effort, therefore they werent allowed to join up ALSO did their bit to defeat Hitler and his thugs,
Yes, they did OHG
I remember one of my grandfathers telling me he actually felt guilty at not serving with his friends - many of whom he never saw again.
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:
I can honestly say that I don't think many young men these days would have an ounce of the guts those boys (they were just boys) had!!!
We owe them so much, more than could ever be repaid! I salute every single one of them!
I dont know so much, I think you do our youngsters down a bit,
there are today MANY YOUNG men and women in the sevices,
and I truly belive that IF something as awful was to happen, even in these days many of our youngsters would supprise ya,
I guess you are right, it's just the youngsters round here would sell their own Grans for a 10 pack of cigarettes...I know not all young lads are the same! quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:
Great thread
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
many of the men AND women in the "protected" jobs, IE their work was considered esential to the war effort, therefore they werent allowed to join up ALSO did their bit to defeat Hitler and his thugs,
Yes, they did OHG
I remember one of my grandfathers telling me he actually felt guilty at not serving with his friends - many of whom he never saw again.
MY grandad was one of them in WW2 he was a miner he HATED IT he so wanted to get among em,(he was a prisoner of war in WW1) he ended up getting locked up when he "ran away" and joined up,
quote:Originally posted by HyacinthB:
Another tragic site is Pearl Harbour in Hawaii where the USS Arizona remains to this day. It was the ship which lost the most sailors who didn't have a chance (approximately 1,000 died on the Arizona I believe).
It stands as a tribute to all those men and women who lost their lives that day and it is still seeping oil.
From the picture, you can still see the shadow of the Arizona under the water.
It was a very poignant reminder of all those young men and women who died that day.
Everyone visiting was so quiet, you could almost hear a pin drop and I was equally amazed at how many of the visitors were actually Japanese!
Oh Hyacinth, that is truly sad...
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:
Great thread
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
many of the men AND women in the "protected" jobs, IE their work was considered esential to the war effort, therefore they werent allowed to join up ALSO did their bit to defeat Hitler and his thugs,
Yes, they did OHG
I remember one of my grandfathers telling me he actually felt guilty at not serving with his friends - many of whom he never saw again.
MY grandad was one of them in WW2 he was a miner he HATED IT he so wanted to get among em,(he was a prisoner of war in WW1) he ended up getting locked up when he "ran away" and joined up,
My, he was a determined Man wasn't he! Excellent! quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:
MY grandad was one of them in WW2 he was a miner he HATED IT he so wanted to get among em,(he was a prisoner of war in WW1) he ended up getting locked up when he "ran away" and joined up,
How brave of him - especially after the atrocities he must have witnessed in WW1.
I actually have a tear in my eye reading this thread.
Well said OHG.My late dad and his two brothers all fought in the second world war.All came home safely.
quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:
MY grandad was one of them in WW2 he was a miner he HATED IT he so wanted to get among em,(he was a prisoner of war in WW1) he ended up getting locked up when he "ran away" and joined up,
How brave of him - especially after the atrocities he must have witnessed in WW1.
I actually have a tear in my eye reading this thread.
Same here Miss_S....
quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:
MY grandad was one of them in WW2 he was a miner he HATED IT he so wanted to get among em,(he was a prisoner of war in WW1) he ended up getting locked up when he "ran away" and joined up,
How brave of him - especially after the atrocities he must have witnessed in WW1.
I actually have a tear in my eye reading this thread.
OH he never liked the Germans untill the day he died,
he was treated quite badly as a prisoner, he would NEVER talk about it,
all I know is they almost starved to death, they lived on things like potato peelings and stuff that the Germans threw away (pig swill basicaly)
but then the Germans themselves were starving at the time, so I dont suppose feeding enemy prisoners wouldve been high on their priorities,
I would like to add this to OHG's wonderful tribute thread. It was covered up at the time but when preparations were being made and training for the D Day landings on Slapton Sands in Devon which was similar in landscape to the beaches of Normandy the following horrific attack took place.
In the pre dawn hours of April 28 1944 a flotilla of US LST troop carriers, loaded with thousands of troops and live ammunition for a rehearsal of the D-day invasion of Normandy, were surprised and attacked by German torpedo boats. A series of command blunders had left the troop ships so inadequately protected that more men died on this training manoeuvre for the Utah beach landing than on the actual D-Day assault. The bodies of hundreds of drowned service men washed ashore at Slapton Sands but since seaside communities in the area had been evacuated to make way for the invasion rehearsal there were few civilian witnesses to the catastrophe. The pressing need for secrecy at the time and official embarrassment later kept the disaster out of the public mind, if not out of some history books. After the war rumours that there had been an official cover up and that GIs had been buried in mass graves became the stuff of local legend, through both rumours were repeatedly denied by US authorities and seemed to have no basis in fact. The incident was swamped at the time by the big news of D-Day. It was then forgotten until Ken Small happened to stumble on evidence of Exercise Tiger while walking the beach near his home.
In the pre dawn hours of April 28 1944 a flotilla of US LST troop carriers, loaded with thousands of troops and live ammunition for a rehearsal of the D-day invasion of Normandy, were surprised and attacked by German torpedo boats. A series of command blunders had left the troop ships so inadequately protected that more men died on this training manoeuvre for the Utah beach landing than on the actual D-Day assault. The bodies of hundreds of drowned service men washed ashore at Slapton Sands but since seaside communities in the area had been evacuated to make way for the invasion rehearsal there were few civilian witnesses to the catastrophe. The pressing need for secrecy at the time and official embarrassment later kept the disaster out of the public mind, if not out of some history books. After the war rumours that there had been an official cover up and that GIs had been buried in mass graves became the stuff of local legend, through both rumours were repeatedly denied by US authorities and seemed to have no basis in fact. The incident was swamped at the time by the big news of D-Day. It was then forgotten until Ken Small happened to stumble on evidence of Exercise Tiger while walking the beach near his home.
My Dad swore he would live for his full 3 score years and 10 to spite hitler. He witnessed the horror, that was discovered in the 'camps' and called his time after the war his 'bonus years'. He died peacefully, and in his own bed at the age of 84. He'll always be my hero!
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:
he was treated quite badly as a prisoner, he would NEVER talk about it,
My friend's grandfather who served in WW2 would also never talk about what he'd been through or what he'd seen - not even to his wife.
He passed away last year without ever having uttered a word.
To think what he, your grandad and many others must have kept bottled up inside them is unthinkable.
Just been watching Brown, Obama and Sarkozky doing their speeches.
Very moving.
Very moving.
quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:
Great thread
Both my grandfathers worked in the shipyards so didn't have to serve.
We should never forget those brave souls who did
many of the men AND women in the "protected" jobs, IE their work was considered esential to the war effort, therefore they werent allowed to join up ALSO did their bit to defeat Hitler and his thugs,
Yay for the Bevan Boys.
quote:Originally posted by squiggle:
I would like to add this to OHG's wonderful tribute thread. It was covered up at the time but when preparations were being made and training for the D Day landings on Slapton Sands in Devon which was similar in landscape to the beaches of Normandy the following horrific attack took place.
In the pre dawn hours of April 28 1944 a flotilla of US LST troop carriers, loaded with thousands of troops and live ammunition for a rehearsal of the D-day invasion of Normandy, were surprised and attacked by German torpedo boats. A series of command blunders had left the troop ships so inadequately protected that more men died on this training manoeuvre for the Utah beach landing than on the actual D-Day assault. The bodies of hundreds of drowned service men washed ashore at Slapton Sands but since seaside communities in the area had been evacuated to make way for the invasion rehearsal there were few civilian witnesses to the catastrophe. The pressing need for secrecy at the time and official embarrassment later kept the disaster out of the public mind, if not out of some history books. After the war rumours that there had been an official cover up and that GIs had been buried in mass graves became the stuff of local legend, through both rumours were repeatedly denied by US authorities and seemed to have no basis in fact. The incident was swamped at the time by the big news of D-Day. It was then forgotten until Ken Small happened to stumble on evidence of Exercise Tiger while walking the beach near his home.
Visited there when I when I was down in Devon years ago,very poignant place,with the tank on the beach.
quote:Originally posted by Miss_S:quote:Originally posted by old hippy guy:
he was treated quite badly as a prisoner, he would NEVER talk about it,
My friend's grandfather who served in WW2 would also never talk about what he'd been through or what he'd seen - not even to his wife.
He passed away last year without ever having uttered a word.
To think what he, your grandad and many others must have kept bottled up inside them is unthinkable.
My late dad was in the medical corps of the 8th army,he must have seen some awful sights.
quote:Originally posted by squiggle:
I would like to add this to OHG's wonderful tribute thread. It was covered up at the time but when preparations were being made and training for the D Day landings on Slapton Sands in Devon which was similar in landscape to the beaches of Normandy the following horrific attack took place.
In the pre dawn hours of April 28 1944 a flotilla of US LST troop carriers, loaded with thousands of troops and live ammunition for a rehearsal of the D-day invasion of Normandy, were surprised and attacked by German torpedo boats. A series of command blunders had left the troop ships so inadequately protected that more men died on this training manoeuvre for the Utah beach landing than on the actual D-Day assault. The bodies of hundreds of drowned service men washed ashore at Slapton Sands but since seaside communities in the area had been evacuated to make way for the invasion rehearsal there were few civilian witnesses to the catastrophe. The pressing need for secrecy at the time and official embarrassment later kept the disaster out of the public mind, if not out of some history books. After the war rumours that there had been an official cover up and that GIs had been buried in mass graves became the stuff of local legend, through both rumours were repeatedly denied by US authorities and seemed to have no basis in fact. The incident was swamped at the time by the big news of D-Day. It was then forgotten until Ken Small happened to stumble on evidence of Exercise Tiger while walking the beach near his home.
yeah I read about that, most of the troops were either unarmed or had no ammunition cause it was a trainning exercise, and some german patrol boats stumbbled across them, it was a massacre,
quote:Originally posted by kattymieoww:
My late dad was in the medical corps of the 8th army,he must have seen some awful sights.
You can't even begin to imagine, can you
quote:Originally posted by kattymieoww:
Well said OHG.My late dad and his two brothers all fought in the second world war.All came home safely.
You were very lucky katty - my father came home but died later of his injuries and the blinking Government refused my mother a War Widows Pension because my father had not actually died in the War.
The Royal British Legion took up cudgels on her behalf and won.
I never knew my Dad (too young to have any memories sadly) but I am still tremendously proud of him and still do visit his grave, albeit not so often as I should do these days!
OHG I am going to leave this thread now because I feel as a German /Irish person I am not best placed to start speaking about the war, not dispassionately anyway.
Nothing can condone what Hitler did, nor his 'thugs' as you called them but there were devastating losses on all sides, indeed the British saw fit to send thugs of their own in the form of Black and Tans to patrol Ireland. They were vicious ex-criminals that terrorized a neutral country. They were not soldiers fighting for any cause.
Please know though that I do so support the D Day memorial and hope the world never experiences wars like WW1 and WW2.
Hope this hasn't upset anyone but couldn't sit back and not say anything.
Nothing can condone what Hitler did, nor his 'thugs' as you called them but there were devastating losses on all sides, indeed the British saw fit to send thugs of their own in the form of Black and Tans to patrol Ireland. They were vicious ex-criminals that terrorized a neutral country. They were not soldiers fighting for any cause.
Please know though that I do so support the D Day memorial and hope the world never experiences wars like WW1 and WW2.
Hope this hasn't upset anyone but couldn't sit back and not say anything.
quote:Originally posted by Hollygolightly:
OHG I am going to leave this thread now because I feel as a German /Irish person I am not best placed to start speaking about the war, not dispassionately anyway.
Nothing can condone what Hitler did, nor his 'thugs' as you called them but there were devastating losses on all sides, indeed the British saw fit to send thugs of their own in the form of Black and Tans to patrol Ireland. They were vicious ex-criminals that terrorized a neutral country. They were not soldiers fighting for any cause.
Please know though that I do so support the D Day memorial and hope the world never experiences wars like WW1 and WW2.
Hope this hasn't upset anyone but couldn't sit back and not say anything.
Nonsense Holly - you've as much right as any of us. Please don't go.
My Mother used to tell me stories of the Black 'N' Tans. God, what a ruthless bunch of cretins they were eh? Recruited ex-criminals who, as you say, were nothing more than mindless thugs.