Thetownend.com

Some only signify this date with the world wars ending but i also see it as a time to remember all loved ones past and present and think about how lucky some of us really are.

R.I.P. Nan and to all those who fought to keep this land free

Cherish the living but never forget the dead.

RIP to all who lost their lives defending our freedom in both World Wars.

Lets not forget:

The Korean War
The Suez Crisis
Aden
The Malay Emergency
The Falklands
The Balkans War
Sierra Leone
The Iraq War
Afghanistan

to name but a few conflicts where British service personell have made their sacrifices, since the end or World War Two.

We will remember...

Interesting that you didn't mention Ireland Ironside.

I just thought about it for 10 seconds, Ireland didn't actually spring to mind.  Forgot about Cyprus, the partition of India and the African wars (Rhodesia etc) too.

I don't think that a year has passed since 1945 where British servicemen haven't been on active duty somewhere in the world.

 We do even now maintain a substantial amount of military forces, and as such most personel you speak to sign up in the hope of seeing action.

 Periodically their are government reviews of our requirements....but any suggestion that our forces should be drastically reduced, is seen as a massive vote loser.

 Our military capability is a substantial drain on the taxpayer....is it time to have a more realistic appraoch to our place in teh world?

Yes lets pull out of the eu.

Yes please, could you arrange it?

It would probably be the worst thing this country could do. But its not for this thread, and never should have been.

  The money to India though is essentially a sweetener...the situation in Pakistan is grave , if we no longer have the resolve to do anything in Afghanistan, then we're going to have to rely o teh Indians to sort the problem of Islamic fundamentalism for us.

We have the resolve reg we will be in afghan for decades still

back on topic; anyone see (or hear as i did) about one of the WW1 vets who didn't want to let go of his wreath as he wanted to lay it himself?

despite his efforts, he couldn't manage to get out of his chair. not surprising at the age of 112...it chokes me up a little

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5131342.ece

 Our troop numbers have been reduced  this year, we're looking for a dignified exit.

I disagree, it would be a great thing if we left the EU, and remembrance today is all about those that sacrificed their lives for their country and for freedom and democracy. I'm sure I don't have to point out the complete anti-democratic nature of the EU, so yes you could argue it is relevant to this thread

When we withdraw from iraq in the next 18 months numbers will increase. Anyway sorry thats a different debate

 I mixed up my Iraq with Afghanistan there, it's in Iraq where sinificant reductioins have been made.

 It may be a different debate, but the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in the ummah, means there are some links.

I saw the clip on BBC news, it was sad he couldn't quite make it despite his determination

I thought there was one...maybe in the late 1940s or 1950s...not sure though.

I attended a service of remembrance at work today. There were a number of local veterans of WW2 there. Both my grandfathers fought in WW2, as did my wife's grandfathers; my grandmother and lots of aunt's were Land Girls. Never, ever, should their sacrifice be forgotten and it is up to our generation to ensure that must not happen.

And please don't believe all you read in the press, be that newspapers, the BBC or any other media outlet, about the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Just goes to prove if you repeat flawed propaganda enough, the masses WILL believe it......but as has been pointed out, that's another thread.

Since the end of WWII there has been only one year( 1966) when a British serviceman has not been killed whilst on active duty.

I just hope that at least one of those marvellous men will still be here for 11/11/09
A day late I know, but We WILL remember them.............

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1084900/War-hero-89-beaten-burglars-obscene-attack-millions-remember-fallen.html

Some people are fucking scum and should be swinging from the nearest branch.  >:(

thats fucking disgusting

Cheers, Fogster, that must've been what I was thinking about.