Time to let them rest..

[Scrumpy]

Today we remember those who lost their lives in the far east ..
The second Sunday in November is Remembrance Day.. When we remember those that lost their lives in wars 1 and 2..

It must have been hell for those young men who went through this horror..
They show pictures of young boys going off to war.. So proud that they were off to fight  for King and Country.. Lying about their ages because they wanted to be part of the battle..

I have seen older boys during my days working in schools and colleges..

The heartbreak when losing a young son.. brother.. husband.. sweetheart..
The unwanted knock on the door..!! The telegram boy.. aged around 14...

Perhaps the time has come to let them rest in peace now...
Do we need to commemorate these events with speeches and parades.. ?
The Japanese/ German visitors to this country must feel uncomfortable during this time..

Are there other countries who commemorate wars of the past..?

Please don't think I am being disrespectful.. Far from it..
Old black and white clips of such young faces going to their death makes me very, very sad..

[klondike]

So they should. They should make the politicians who cause wars sad. Unfortunately they don't seem to.

We need to remember just how horrible wars are. We need to stop starting them and if possible help to stop them. Remembering those that happened should ensure that we do remember what war means.

[Alex]

TBH I don't care if our commemoration speeches and parades make Japanese and German visitors uncomfortable.  It's a tradition that we should continue.   The Germans have their own National Day of Remembrance not the same as ours of course as there is still shame about the Nazi era.   No idea what, if anything the Japanese do.

[Michael Rolls]

TBH I don't care if our commemoration speeches and parades make Japanese and German visitors uncomfortable.

Nor me - remember who started. A couple of late were POWs under the Japanese and some horrific tales. One was the MO of his battalions and had to watch many of his patients die because the Japanese refused him even the most rudimentary medical supplies

August 15, 2025, 05:23:36 PM

Nor me - remember who started it. A couple of late friends were POWs under the Japanese and had some horrific tales. One was the MO of his battalions and had to watch many of his patients die because the Japanese refused him even the most rudimentary medical supplies

[Dextrous63]

If it helps some people remember history and thus try not to repeat it, then it is a good thing IMHO.

[Michael Rolls]

yes!

[klondike]

some people

Not some people - the bloody politicians. I can't start a war. You can't start a war. Most people can't start a war. Only politicians start wars - and usually take no active part in them themselves.

[Dextrous63]

Not some people - the bloody politicians. I can't start a war. You can't start a war. Most people can't start a war. Only politicians start wars - and usually take no active part in them themselves.

I recall Rudyard Kipling being all in favour of WW1, until his son got killed in battle.  At which point he was totally against it.

Perhaps if those who choose to go to war were forced to send their own close family members into battle, they might be less inclined to wager it.

[Michael Rolls]

but it will never happen - although some politicians and 'upper crust' folk had distinguished milter careers Eisenhower, Mountbatten, King George VI when Duke of York, JFK etc., but I agree that of them were in a position to start a war

[Scrumpy]

In life we have those who give orders and those who carry out orders...

The heroes are seldom the Generals..

I enjoyed the film Saving Private Ryan..
Loosely based on a true story. .. about the Niland brothers.
 A mother wrote to the US President asking him not to take her last son..
Her three boys had been killed in WW2.. she had one son left and he was fighting in France (I think)..

Hence the creation of the military's  Sole Survivor Policy was introduced..
Which allows surviving siblings to be discharged from service..

[klondike]

I think Tom Hanks takes a special interest in WW2 infantry. He directed some of the Band of Brothers episodes. Well worth a watch if that sort of thing interests you and closely follows the book of the same name.

[Vlad]

Not some people - the bloody politicians. I can't start a war. You can't start a war. Most people can't start a war. Only politicians start wars - and usually take no active part in them themselves.

War is a place where young people who don't know each other and don't hate each other, kill each other by the decision of old people who know each other and hate each other, but don't kill each other.

[Michael Rolls]

very well put

[Dextrous63]

Yep.

[JBR]

War is a place where young people who don't know each other and don't hate each other, kill each other by the decision of old people who know each other and hate each other, but don't kill each other.

Yes.  Well put.  Politicians.