Remembrance, Lest we forget........

[trinkie]

I've come home to discover that the Remembrance Thread has been ended and I feel that 'Remembrance' is for those who wish to Remember people who served and lost their lives for our Freedom.

‘VOICES IN THE WIND’ by Ally Budge deals with Caithness men and women in the First World War.
My thanks to Ally Budge for providing us with such a wonderful book, here he lists some of the people of Caithness who left to serve their country.
The first photograph you come across shows Wick Railway Station on the 3rd Aug 1914 completely crowded with folk making their farewells to the men of the Royal Naval Reserve as they leave, many of course, never returned.

The next picture is dated 6th August 1914 and once again Wick Railway Station is mobbed with family and friends making their farewells to the local Territorials. Beneath the photo or post card by Humphrey of Wick, we read it had been sent to Miss E Mowat of Lybster, and the writer informs her "that if you use an extra powerful microscope, you may be able to see Willie." Willie was the brother of Miss Mowat.

We are also told of the nurses from Caithness and the girls who worked in the Munitions factories in Glasgow.

There are many pictures in this book, each one telling it’s own sad story. At the back Mr Budge lists all the men who never returned, from every corner of Caithness all familiar names, few families escaped such loss.
My great uncle was lost on HMS Invincible at the Battle of Jutland – along with five other Wick men.

trinkie .... remembering........

[Tristan]

A wonderful sentiment and a wonderful book.

I know this has been posted before but if you don't understand why we need to remember this video and link should help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlrrAWCTRg
http://www.army.gc.ca/chief_land_staff/remembrance/English/video.asp


For all those who have risked or given their lives for our freedom.

[Moira]

Well said Trinkie.

I've not read Ally's book - is it on sale locally at the moment?

[Camel Spider]

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.


This Poem called was written by an American serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941, Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee of No 412 Squadron RCAF. He was just 18 when he joined up and composed it after landing from a high altitude test flight in his Spitfire, he sent it to his mother in a letter. He was later killed on December 11 1941 when he collided in cloud with another Spitfire, he was barely 19 years old.

This poem always springs to mind around this time of year.

[Camel Spider]

The Scottish Poppy Appeal 2007 Official Video .. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=brDmYnZDUMc (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=brDmYnZDUMc) .. I think this should be shown on TV.

[horseman]

Thanks trinkie, an fellow contributors.

[Pink Lippy]

Remember, Remember,
That day in November,
When cannons no longer did fire,
A hundred years on,
We live with the Bomb,
Red Poppies shall be our attire.

[peter macdonald]

21/01/1940 MV Miranda 14 men lost Norway neutral
16/02/1945 U 309 47 men lost Germany
18/11/1939 MV Parkhill 9 men lost UK
23/08/1940 MV Llanishen 8 men lost UK
23/02/1940 MV Gretafield 11 men lost UK
21/01/1940 HMS Exmouth 189 men lost UK
21/01/1940 MV Tekla 9 men lost Denmark neutral
03/02/1940 HMS Sphinx 53 men lost UK
15/02/1940 MV Sleipner 22men lost Denmark neutral
15/02/1940 MV Rhone between both ships Denmark neutral
23/08/1940 MV Makalla 12 men lost UK
19/03/1940 MV Minsk 11 men lost Denmark neutral
19/03/1940 MV Charcow entire crew lost Denmark neutral
20/03/1940 MV Bothal 15 men lost Denmark neutral
20/03/1940 MV Viking 14 men lost Denmark neutral
21/05/1943 MFV Gardar 3 men lost Icelandic
12/09/1940 MV The Emperor 1 man lost UK
25/01/1942 MV Isleford 15 men lost UK
06/11/1940 MV Clan MacKinlay 5 men lost UK
16/07/1940 HMS Imogen 18 men lost UK
01/01/1945 U 1020 52 aprox men lost Germany
18/02/1940 HMS Daring 157 men lost UK


This is taken from "Shipwrecks of the North of Scotland " by RN Baird and the lives lost are nearly but not all due to warfare which occurred along the east coast of Caithness in WW2 There is also some "unknowns" like the Swedish MV Andalusia whose fate is still a mystery
May they all rest in peace
PM

PS this data may not be complete

[rob murray]

ALi Budges book is fantastic, well written and researched. One part of the book that I found very poignant and moving mentions Euan Mackintosh, 5th Seaforth officer and poet. One of his poems as reproduced in the book refers to a night raiding party which suffered casulaties and fatalities, one of whom was a 16 / 17 boy from Reay who had his legs blown off in the raid and due to heavy fire the officer and men couldnt take the lad back to their own lines. (It was the done thing to always take back wounded.) Several pages on from the poem there is an actual photo of the very young looking lad . The poem refers to the night raid and the guilt suffered by the officer in leaving a dying boy alone, crying for his mother. Very very moving.

Euan Mackintosh himself died in a raid later in the war.

[starry]

The Scottish Poppy Appeal 2007 Official Video .. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=brDmYnZDUMc (http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://forum.caithness.org/go.php?url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=brDmYnZDUMc) .. I think this should be shown on TV.


I think that should be shown on tv as well, it is very moving.

[trinkie]

Thank you for all your comments - good that we are all Remembering together.
There are some beautiful poems on the Lit page - one by Ewan MacKintosh.... pity we cant get some of the pictures on here !

trinkie

[rob murray]

Anyone interested in reading the specifics on the raiding party incident mentioned above should check this out, it also links into the war diary of the 5th Seaforths

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/poems/inmeminsp.htm

[Lavenderblue2]

Thank you for reviving the Remembrance Thread Trinkie.

None of us should ever forget the sacrifices, which have been made for us all over the years. I was watching a quiz show recently and was shocked when a fellow in his mid to late 30’s didn’t know the duration of the First World War. It saddens me to think that possibly in the years ahead the 11th November may become just another day…

Hello God



Look God, I have never spoken to You.
But now I want to say; How do You do?
You see God, they told me You didn’t exist
And like a fool I believed all this.

Last night from a shell hole I saw Your sky
I figured right then, they had told me a lie,
Had I taken time to see things You made
I’d have known they weren’t calling a spade a spade.

I wonder God if You’d take my hand
Somehow I feel, that You will understand.
Funny I had to come to this hellish place
Before I had time to see Your face.

Well I guess, there isn’t much more to say
But I’m sure glad God, I met You today.
But I guess, the zero hour will soon be near
But I’m not afraid, since I know You’re here.

The signal! Well God, I have to go;
I like You lots, this I want You to know.
Look now, this will be a horrible fight
Who knows, I may come to Your House tonight…

Found on the body of a dead soldier.

[rob murray]

In Memoriam

by Ewart Alan Mackintosh (killed in action 21 November 1917 aged 24)
(Private D Sutherland killed in action in the German trenches, 16 May 1916, and the others who died.)

So you were David's father,
And he was your only son,
And the new-cut peats are rotting
And the work is left undone,
Because of an old man weeping,
Just an old man in pain,
For David, his son David,
That will not come again.
Oh, the letters he wrote you,
And I can see them still,
Not a word of the fighting,
But just the sheep on the hill
And how you should get the crops in
Ere the year get stormier,
And the Bosches have got his body,
And I was his officer.
You were only David's father,
But I had fifty sons
When we went up in the evening
Under the arch of the guns,
And we came back at twilight -
O God! I heard them call
To me for help and pity
That could not help at all.
Oh, never will I forget you,
My men that trusted me,
More my sons than your fathers',
For they could only see
The little helpless babies
And the young men in their pride.
They could not see you dying,
And hold you while you died.
Happy and young and gallant,
They saw their first-born go,
But not the strong limbs broken
And the beautiful men brought low,
The piteous writhing bodies,
They screamed 'Don't leave me, sir',
For they were only your fathers
But I was your officer.

[trinkie]

Another beautiful verse by Lieutenant Ewart Alan MacKintosh has been added to the Lit Page.


We will Remember.

[Tighsonas4]

hi all
thanks for the thread. must recap on that book.
so many will be saying at the ggoing down of the sun
and in the morning we will remember how many do ???
thanks for this today is actually the11 of 11
bye for now tony

[Venture]

If you watched the Remembrance Service from the Cenotaph on BBC 1 this morning you would have seen George Macdonald from Willowbank laying the wreath on behalf of RBL Scotland. What an honour for him. Well done George.

[Lavenderblue2]

If you watched the Remembrance Service from the Cenotaph on BBC 1 this morning you would have seen George Macdonald from Willowbank laying the wreath on behalf of RBL Scotland. What an honour for him. Well done George.


Yes Venture, I was delighted to see George on TV this morning laying the wreath on behalf of the RBL Scotland. Only a few years ago Robert Alan from Janetstown Thurso performed the same duty. I also noticed in yesterday's 'Groat that Alex Buchan of Wick represented the Merchant Seaman's Association at the Royal Albert Hall last night.

Proud moments for the county.

LB

[percy toboggan]

We went up to the local cenotaph - high on a hill overlooking four English counties. We took our little g/daughter and she placed a simple wooden cross, with a poppy beneath the obelisk. She's not old enough to understand (are any of us) but she's old enough to know of today's events. They will always be around the time of her birthday - I hope when she is an old lady
she, and the rest of the population will still be remembering.

[moureen]

Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to remember the soul's lost to war.The poem's are beatiful and haunting so sad.My Granda from Dunbeath was in the first world war he lied about his age {as many did}to get into the Army I can remember as a wee girl sitting on his knee asking him to tell me stories about the war not realising how dreadful the trenches must have been for the men.Where can I buy the book about those from Caithness lost to war?

[sassylass]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all veterans. Your sacrifices are very much appreciated. love, Sassylass

[trinkie]

Hallo Moureen,

If you are local in Caithness, then any book shop will have it - or offer to get it for you.
If not, there are two on amazon.uk

Good luck
trinkie

[Alice in Blunderland]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntt3wy-L8Ok

Take a few moments to listen and remember those who have, and still will, give the ultimate sacrifice. :~(

[Whitewater]

Thank you for that, it's the time of year comoing up. I also listened to 'The band Played Walzing Matilda' I've attented a few Anzac day parades as well.

[Alice in Blunderland]

Yes its almost that time of year again.

[Moira]

Thanks Alice, I've saved this to my Favourites.

[trinkie]

I'd like to bring this thread to the top again - certainly worth another read.

Trinkie

[brandy]

one song that has always touched me is actually the corries green fields of france.
always has the ability to make it more real for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyiLfSHSqds&feature=related

[webmannie]

Lots of local history articles on here

http://www.internet-promotions.co.uk/archives/

[Mosser]

This poem was first published in May of 1917 in the “Groat” and simply called “

“The Mither”

I’m prayin’ wi’ the love for the ending o’ the war,
aye prayin’ that the Lord‘ll send us victory soon.
But ma hert is sair tae burstin aneath its hidden scar,
and peace I ken will bring to me fresh opening o’ ma wound.
For peace’ll mean that ither fowk will welcome back their ain,
an gled herts’ll be rejoicing o’er the laddies a’ come hame.
For me an’ mine no laddie blithe will e’er come back again,
and ma hert is sair wi’ envy, tho’ I say it tae ma shame
Oh I can hear the cheerin’ that’ll greet them when they come
can see the flags aflying and hear the pipers play,
See the bairnies keepin’ step till the beatin’ o the drum,
and merchin by their brithers side an’ whistlin’ a’ the way.
An now they’re comin’ doon the close in fowers an’ threes or twa,
an droppin intil neighbours doors, bit nane’ll come till mine.
An Mithers airms aboot them ………………. Ma empty airms doon fa’;
nae bairn o’ mine will fill them mair on this side o’ time.
Oh I dinna grudge the laddies their joyfu’ welcome hame,
we canna gie then thanks enough for a’ that they’ve been through,
But Oh! When you’re rejoicin’, dinna flaunt it just the same.
As in happy days gone by,there are Mithers greetin’ too.

We will remember.

Mosser

[Moira]

2009 has seen the deaths of the last surviving veterans of World War I.

Remarkable men. Here are some snippets of their life stories I found courtesy of Google.

Bill Stone
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/WwiVeteranBillStoneDiesAged108.htm

Henry Allingham
http://www.rafnews.co.uk/readstory.asp?storyID=211&returnto=search.asp&page=&departmentID=37&categoryID=&search=

Harry Patch
http://www.hampsteadpals.com/2009/07/26/harry-patch-death/

[Aaldtimer]

MICHAEL
Robert Service

"There's something in your face, Michael, I've seen it all the day;
There's something quare that wasn't there when first ye wint away...."

"It's just the Army life, mother, the drill, the left and right,
That puts the stiffinin' in yer spine and locks yer jaw up tight...."

"There's something in your eyes, Michael, an' how they stare and stare—
You're lookin' at me now, me boy, as if I wasn't there...."

"It's just the things I've seen, mother, the sights that come and come,
A bit o' broken, bloody pulp that used to be a chum...."

"There's something on your heart, Michael, that makes ye wake at night,
And often when I hear ye moan, I trimble in me fright...."

"It's just a man I killed, mother, a mother's son like me;
It seems he's always hauntin' me, he'll never let me be...."

"But maybe he was bad, Michael, maybe it was right
To kill the inimy you hate in fair and honest fight...."

"I did not hate at all, mother; he never did me harm;
I think he was a lad like me, who worked upon a farm...."

"And what's it all about, Michael; why did you have to go,
A quiet, peaceful lad like you, and we were happy so?..."

"It's thim that's up above, mother, it's thim that sits an' rules;
We've got to fight the wars they make; it's us as are the fools...."

"And what will be the end, Michael, and what's the use, I say,
Of fightin' if whoever wins it's us that's got to pay?..."

"Oh, it will be the end, mother, when lads like him and me,
That sweat to feed the ones above, decide that we'll be free...."

"And when will that day come, Michael, and when will fightin' cease,
And simple folks may till their soil and live and love in peace?..."

"It's coming soon and soon, mother, it's nearer every day,
When only men who work and sweat will have a word to say;
When all who earn their honest bread in every land and soil
Will claim the Brotherhood of Man, the Comradeship of Toil;
When we, the Workers, all demand: 'What are we fighting for?'...
Then, then we'll end that stupid crime, that devil's madness—War."

[brandy]

awww this one made me cry, but it may be because its from my neck of the woods.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luLhwqXk1N4&feature=related

[Lavenderblue2]

2009 has seen the deaths of the last surviving veterans of World War I.

Remarkable men. Here are some snippets of their life stories I found courtesy of Google.

Bill Stone, Henry Allingham and Harry Patch =

God Bless their dear souls.




MICHAEL
Robert Service "

This is one of the best verses Aaldtimer, it tells a most poignant story, thank you.

[trinkie]

Good morning Moureen

One book I'd highly recommend is 'Voices in the Wind' by Ally Budge and I'm sure it is still on sale in Caithness. I know I've mentioned this book a couple of times but it is worth having, especially if you are doing Family History.
This Book is about the First World War - if there are any names you'd like me to look up, I'd be happy to do so.
It will be in the Library too of course.

Kind regards
Trinkie

[horseman]

Good day Trinkie,watched the ceremonies on tv in the am,very as ever impressive. Like Moureen, I am after that book as well.Will take your advice an try an unearth it.:D

[embow]

Another beautiful verse by Lieutenant Ewart Alan MacKintosh has been added to the Lit Page.
We will Remember.

E A Mackintosh is buried in Orival Wood Cemetery, Flesquiere not far from James Cormack of Smerlie Lybster. This cemetery, I believe, was visited by a party of pupils from Wick High last May and many of the burials are Seaforth Highlanders as it is the resting place for some of those who lost their lives at the Battle of Cambrai where tanks were used on a large scale for the first time.

[Lavenderblue2]

Remembrance Day is here again,
On this day we remember all those who were slain.
The ones they left behind have endured much sorrow and pain.
But rest assured,
the whole world knows those brave ones didn't die in vain.
The poppies that you see people wear,
Are there to show you they still care.
We open our hearts so that we can share,
A moment of silence, and offer a prayer.
To all the soldiers who died saving our country.
~~By Patti Joyce.~~