75th anniversary of D day

[Danishfurniturelover]

May I ask a question of the British folk on this forum that go back generations (ie not someone like me who’s family arrived in the UK in the 70’s); do the majority of you have immediate family or ancestors that were directly involved in the Wars in the last century?





Sitting on my porcelain throne using Fapatalk

Grandad was in North Africa with the RAF as ground crew, one of his brothers died trying to get back to Dunkirk. The other brother my uncle Jack was disabled and could not fight but he was in London when the blitz was going on.

Grandad never talked about what he saw, uncle Jack died when I was 5 and I don't really remember him. My dad used to tell me little bits.

It certainly effected the sort of man my father became.

Edit I should also say my mother's side were Italian and their war record was never talked about. My sister even said to me a couple of years ago the reason she was not doing the family tree was because she did not want to find out about what the Italian lot got up to during the war. We heard little whispers from my mother's sister. Think they might have been on the wrong side which is why after the war they moved to Wales where my mother was born.

 

[Daisuk]

I'm not British, but my grandfather was fighting for the allied forces in France. He was pretty high up in the ranks in the Norwegian military, he escorted the king on the parade street in Oslo when the king returned from Britain when the war was over. He had seen some terrible brick during the war, never wanted to talk about it either, but I think it's pretty likely that he suffered from PTSD. He died in what was called an accident by the army (and by my grandmother) when my father was only 3 years old, but my cousin looked up the details a few years back, and we're pretty sure it was a suicide (he was found in his uniform, had fired a gun through a pillow and been hit in the head). My grandmother never accepted that he chose to take his own life, so denied it and always said it was an accident whenever we got talking about it - I think if she had known anything about PTSD and what it can cause, she would've understood that he didn't want to run away from her and their kids, but from the demons making his life a living hell. So many veterans struggling with PTSD. I've seen it up close, and it's just fudging terrible. War fudging sucks.

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

If you go to Northern France, the school kids over there are regularly visiting all the battle sites and getting an appreciation of what it was like. Every time we've been over there they've been very sombre and respectful too - not fudging about like English kids would be.

My first trip abroad was with a school trip to the battlefields. My son went with his school a few years ago so it still goes on.

I can not remember if I was respectful when I went, I hope I was. But I know what you mean about the English kids.

I wonder if it is because we were not occupied that we don't behave the same way. I have heard EU politicians say that is why we don't love the EU because we were not occupied. Really don't want to bring politics into this nice thread though.

When I saw the England fans chanting about German bombers yesterday I just felt ashamed.

I follow history quite a lot. Watch lots of documentaries and read little bits. Think their behaviour is the ultimate disrespect to the fallen on both sides.

My original post I don't think I articulated properly and it is why I enjoy trying to write plays about different subjects.

That generation and everything they did was so amazing. But the anniversaries felt more important when I was younger. The are to many grief victims these days.

I imagine the time will come when great grandchildren start crying on tv about the effect the second world war had on them. They seem to want to turn everything about them.

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

I think this is a very English (not even British) affliction

Seeing how those prices behaved in Portugal I sadly agree.

I mentioned it in the Tripper thread but the is a section of our society I absolutely fudging hate. I am a working class guy from a council estate, got a bit of money now but never would I behave like these scum.

People may not always like some of my opinions but I have always thought them out and got reason behind them.

I have long thought some form of military service like South Korea do would do the world of good for some of our chavs.

 

[AuroRaman]

Guys, thank you so much for your responses to my question, both fascinating to read and with equal amounts sadness and pride.

The reason I asked the question is because none of my family as far as I’m aware were involved in the wars. This is surprising as I have a Sikh background and they make up a very large part of the Indian Army.

Hearing these stories gives connection to the bravery and heroism of those that gave their lives so my family could build a life here.





Sitting on my porcelain throne using Fapatalk

 

[djp82]

My Grandfather on fathers side was in the navy and lost an eye to shrapnel. He died before I was born so never meet him.

Grandad on my mothers side was younger did not fight was evacuated during the blitz and again with the V1-2 rockets. He lost both parents and was orphaned due to the blitz. His older brothers were in Army. One made it home other was not so fortunate.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

My Dad was in North Africa and Italy, his eldest brother (who took him to Spurs) was lost at sea and his other brother was a PoW in Burma. My wife's dad was also in 8th army and was injured at Monte Cassino. Most of the male adults I knew as a child were servicemen and seem to have a great bond with their mates in the services. My aunts husband was dropped into Arnhem and went back every year to commemorate the event. It wasn't only the servicemen who showed great courage but also the millions who supported them at home, my mother always told me of the terror she felt during the Blitz and she feared she would die almost every night.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

My Dad was in North Wales, Egypt, Libya and Italy and said the natives in Wales were the most hostile.

 

[glasgowspur]

I never met him but my uncle lost a leg in Holland, no one in the family knows where or how as he never spoke about. He had a terrible time from what my dad says.
My wife's dad was a merchant seaman who served in the convoys to the USA and Russia, that sounds like serious brick.

Im not sure its just British kids, we were in Berlin last summer and went to the holocaust /terror museum and I walked out after about 20 minutes because of the kids. Most of couldn't get off their phones long enough to see anything.

 

[glasgowspur]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-48528841

This is an interesting read.
Also helps reinforce a theory I've had for a long time. The attitude of the younger generation is partially due to the parents trying not to make the same mistakes their parents made. This article points to reasons for those mistakes.
And of course all that's happened is that different mistakes where made.

 

[markysimmo]

Next year's early May bank holiday will be moved back by four days in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

May Day is traditionally held on a Monday but will be put back to Friday 8 May 2020.

VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, marks the day towards the end of World War Two when fighting against Nazi Germany came to an end in Europe.

The holiday will form part of a three-day weekend of commemorative events.

They will include more than 20,000 pubs encouraging people to toast the heroes of the war, while churches will take part in a Ringing Out For Peace.

The bank holiday will not necessarily move in Scotland because such decisions are devolved to Holyrood.

 

[Gilzeantoscore]

May I ask a question of the British folk on this forum that go back generations (ie not someone like me who’s family arrived in the UK in the 70’s); do the majority of you have immediate family or ancestors that were directly involved in the Wars in the last century?





Sitting on my porcelain throne using Fapatalk

Yeah, my grandfather was a professional soldier. Was in the artillery and fought all over Europe and won a medal for gallantry awarded by the the Free Polish Government. Never spoke about how he won it and never spoke at all about the war in general either. Not happy memories methinks.