Remembrance Day and Harry Patch a WW1 veteran, the long farewell.

Why we have Remembrance Sunday on the 11th day of November and about Harry Patch the last survivor of world war one.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is November the 11th in the UK and it is our day for remembering those who have lost there lives in war and conflict. For many generations it was about remembering those who had their lives dominated by the First World War and then the Second World war but it is also about not forgetting the people who served in wars since then.

In November 2009 for the first time were no First World War veterans at the memorial service. Harry Patch died that year and I wrote this as it would seem wrong not to think of him and the men of my grandfather's generation who were sent to the trenches many as very young boys just out of school. Maybe also we should be thinking of the wives who lost their husbands, for the men who went and were lost were brothers,fathers,sons and sweethearts.

Some who went to fight in the trenches never returned while others came back changed men. These are the men of my grandfather's generation and we should remember them with respect and also the women who supported them including the nurses who cared for the sick and wounded. On remembrance day when we think of how many were lost in the two world wars and also since it is sad to think that conflicts continue and loved ones and families continue to suffer losses.

In the aftermath of the first world war it is said that the poppy was the only thing that would grow on the battle fields.

This video includes John Mc Crae's poem... In Flanders Fields....

"In Flanders' fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses,row on row, "

On the hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918... the first world war ended.

I suppose as well as admiring Harry Patches quiet dignity something about him reminded me of my grandfather who never spoke of his time in WW1 except to tell me he 'looked after the horses'. As a child I thought that sounded nice, I know realise the possibility that he may have witnessed great suffering and kept silent about it. I can also remember seeing a photo of my grand father in his uniform.

Harry Patch never spoke out in public about the first world war until he was one hundred years old. Some of the footage of him speaking that was shown at the time of his death is very moving. Especially when he talks about being at the side of a fallen soldier as he died. Harry Patch was often referred to as the last Tommy of world war one.

A Poetry Tribute for my Grandfather.

Grandfather , you kept a silence about what you saw,

You came home and worked hard, never complaining.

You use to take me to see the brewer's dray horses,

when they brought the barrels to the local public houses.

"He likes to see the horses, because he looked after them in the war."

my dad would say, and I pictured a stable full of hay and sunshine.

Oh course older and wiser, I now know differently.

How did you always have that smile for me, despite it all.

A bar of chocolate and some money for my money box, you never forgot.

Now I remember you, with a fondness, such a gentle man.

How lucky was I that you returned to show me the brewer's dray horses.

poem written 2012 - 'War Horse' the film made me see how bad it might have been for him.

added January 2010.

I have put this link here because it is actual fim footage taken at the time of the First World War. If you are upset by images of war and suffering please do not watch it. I think it is right to make the link to it available but I have no wish to cause distress to anyone.