Poppy day and Flanders Fields

Flanders Fields is a poem to commemorate the dead in World War 1. There was a horrible battle in Flanders, Belgium, where thousands were killed but the next day (or next few days?) the battle field bloomed with millions of poppies. For some reason South Africa never really recognised Armistice Day (the eleventh hour on 11th November) but the UK and ex colonies remember the day by wearing poppies and you can see all the TV presenters on SKY wearing poppies. Nowadays, Armistice Day recognises not just the fallen soldiers in World War 1 but all fallen soldiers in all wars.

Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Mac - as you say, it's not something we make a big deal of in South Africa and I'm ashamed to say that it wasn't until I lived in the UK and saw the incredible gratitude of the English people to their fallen soldiers that I began to appreciate just what a great debt we owe the innumerable incredible people who made the ultimate sacrifice.

I now have friends in the armed forces and having them do tours of Afghanistan and Iraq was just horrible - I can't imagine what it must have felt like to have loved ones in trenches in a conflict like World War 1.

I think Churchill said it best in his speech - 'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few'.

Remember my dad taking me to Powderhall dogs in EDINBURGH,used to have to walk past the poppy factory.

Went to a commemorative church service once in Pretoria ... one of the very traditional churches, high Ang ... flags hanging from the rafters and all that. The guy in the pulpit read out a long list of names of those who died. Name after name after name after name ... you'd think it would be as dull as reading out of a telephone directory but actually it was very moving, all the more so because it was so quiet and unemotional, and I thought, "All those were real people ... someone cried when they died".

If you want a proper Armistice experience in SA then head to KES in houghton this Sunday at 10.30am. Grade 11 boys march in remembrance of the fallen.

Had the privilege of being in this parade not so long ago and it is goosebump stuff..

Bump...

Mac wrote: Flanders Fields is a poem to commemorate the dead in World War 1. There was a horrible battle in Flanders, Belgium, where thousands were killed but the next day (or next few days?) the battle field bloomed with millions of poppies. For some reason South Africa never really recognised Armistice Day (the eleventh hour on 11th November) but the UK and ex colonies remember the day by wearing poppies and you can see all the TV presenters on SKY wearing poppies. Nowadays, Armistice Day recognises not just the fallen soldiers in World War 1 but all fallen soldiers in all wars.

Flanders Fields by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Was at Tower of London during September and the sight of all those poppies were incredible and to think that they represent soldiers killed is just crazy.

Bob Brogan wrote: Remember my dad taking me to Powderhall dogs in EDINBURGH,us to have to walk past the poppy factory.

And past the Duncan's chocolate factory.

It is ironic that the fund which raises money through the sale of poppies is named after Earl Haig, one of the worst butchers on the British side, who sent thousands to their death over the top without a care for the inevitable losses. He is not fondly remembered.

I followed on sky news and very moving and the poppies were amazing

Was actually at the Tower of London this morning at eleven.....much more solemn and moving than what you see on TV.....you could have heard a pin drop during the two minutes of silence...

I am proud to say that a couple of these posts brought a little dampness to the eye and restored my faith in humanity a little. So quickly and easily people forget what these people sacrificed so that we may live today as we do. I was deeply saddened and angered when I visited the Bridge over the River Kwai in 2011 to see hardly anyone seemingly showing any knowledge of, or respect to, the horrors that had happened in that region only some 70 or so years before, it was simply a photo opportunity for 99% of those that were there. No words or actions will ever be enough to pay the debt we owe. "Lest we forget".

Thanks to Mac for opening the thread and for his excellent post.