http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/...6f2a050b_o.jpg
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great photo and very emotive.
Thanks, Quincy.
Chris
Very moving photo Chris.
It shows the scale of just one cemetery, so many lives taken, so many others ruined. Remember them, Lest we forget.
Thanks, Tony. Such cemeteries never fail to be moving for me, as for you too, I know.
Chris
A group of friends and myself do the first world war battlefields and graveyards, it is a very moving experience, I would recomend you do it at least once in your life. We hope to do Normandy and WW2 eventually. We Will Remember Them.
I've had many holidays in Normandy with my wife and two boys. We've been to all the landing beaches and a lot of the museums.
The first time we went we started at one of the American cemeteries. Later, we were at the beach at Dog Green sector.
About two weeks after we got home Saving Private Ryan, which we'd never seen, was on the TV. We saw the emotional moment when he's in the cemetery and starts remembering what it was like the day they landed. The film then cuts to the landing sequence where the men are getting slaughtered before they even make the beach. They identify it as Dog Green sector.
The pair of us sat there in floods of tears.
our local Bettaware man does those. he's says they're fascinating.Quote:
Originally Posted by verdi
photos and documentaries are moving enough I would imagine actually standing in one is quite something.
I've been on the British Legion grave photo list for El Alamein cemetery for a few years now. I've seen general views and it looks to be well maintained.
When I visited my grandads grave in Italy it was of course emotional because he is my grandad. but noticing a 16 year old boy buried a few feet from him almost brought me floods of tears. so so young, its wrong it really is.
Looking at the rows upon rows of headstones must move anybody, far far to many.
I must say they look after these cemeteries very well. My grandads cemetery at Minturno is a beautiful place, its good to know he is at rest in such a peaceful place.
Just thought I'd give my Grandfathers Brother a mention today.
John "Jack" Jones, Private, 7th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Killed in action 13th June 1918, 90 years ago today.
He apparently joined the armed forces in Australia because they paid an extra shilling ! Not long after joining up, went on his first mission and was killed in action.
I had info on him and only decided to look through it last night, realising it was 90 years ago today !
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He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who,
at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them,
endured hardness, faced danger and finally passed out of the sight
of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives
that others might live in freedom.
Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten.
Pte. John Jones, 7th Bn. A.I.F.
Many thanks, Gnomie and mtmaj. . . so many lives sacrificed. We need to continue to remember all of them.
Chris
They are an amazing site, the only one I have visited is in Tunisia and amidst all the dust and arid surroundings there was this lush green cemetery with everything kept perfectly not a blade of grass out of place. Somebody must have seen us at the bus station and tipped the keeper off because he was stood there with the visitors book, which showed only about 10-15 had visited in the last month. He then went back to maintaining it whilstwe lookedaround saddened by such a huge loss of young life, but warmed by the fact they werent being allowed to be forgotten.
In 2006 my grand-daughter and I took a weekend trip to the battlefields in France and Belgium. We visited several cemetaries, including Tyne Cot where it was drizzling rain. When we thought about the conditions those poor boys had to put up with, we agreed that a drop of rain was nothing to worry about. It was a very moving experience for everyone on the trip, and I think everyone should go at least once in their life. The saddest headstone was for a 15yr.old child, who had no business being there in the first place, but he'd obviously lied about his age to get in the army. How very sad for his family, but how proud they must have been as well.
The cemetaries are all kept in immaculate condition and I think it's the War Graves Commission that undertakes this, but I may be wrong.
We were also able to visit the Menin Gate for the Last Post ceremony and that really is heart-wrenching. I defy anyone, young or old, to go there and not shed a few tears.
We went with Leger Coach holidays and I can recommend them as they are specialists in the Battlefield trips. The guides are superb and can answer many questions you may have. I believe they also will help if you want to visit a particular cemetary to see and ancestor's grave, so well worth checking out.
Lest we forget.
Lilian
Hi Lilian
Yes Ledger do help with paticular cemeteries.
I want to go to Belgium as my 2 great grandfathers are there. One is at a cemetery in Ypes(now Leper ) the other is remembered on the Menin gate. So one day i will experience that ceremony too.
By the way
Harry Patch is 110 years old today
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7458315.stm
Source- BBC News
Happy Birthday Harry:PDT11
Hi Gnomie,
Don't put it off, if you can possibly go then make the arrangements. It's a wonderful experience and you will enjoy it despite the inevitable tears you will shed.
Happy Birthday to Harry Patch :)
Henry Allingham was 112 recently as well. He's the eldest of the few survivors now and still goes to the Remembrance Day ceremony in London.
God bless them both and all the others who fought that we should be free.
Lilian :)
What a fantastic age he's reached, got his book, superb.
Happy Birthday Harry patch. :handclap:
I visited Minturno Cemetery in Italy, My Grandfather is buried there. very emotional and once again so very carefully tended to by the keepers.
While in Malta i stumbled across Pembroke Cemetery, They have flat graves in Malta due to the rocky surface, will post a pic.
http://h1.ripway.com/andalucia/yo/p3.jpg
British War Graves, Pembroke cemetery Malta, each grave holds 3 men.