How many British WW2 Veterans are still around ?

[Ron Goldstein]

Brian

Like yourself, I inevitably mourn the passing of old, good friends and this is brought home to me every year when I attend Remembrance Parade and, as in my case, Club reunions.

Whilst re-reading some of the items on this thread I was reminded of an article that I posted on another forum that seemed appropriate to re-print here..

The piece went as follows:

Whilst on the subject of friendship I'd like to mention (yet again !) my old boy's club, the C&BG.

I first joined the club in 1934 and still attend annual reunions where we "oldies" bask in nostalgia and the pleasure of good company and relive triumphs of yester-year.

We used to have a polished oak memorial board set up in the reception area on which were recorded the names of members who had passed away during the preceding year and one member, who was a professional artist, was given the job of keeping the board up to date.

One year I had arrived fairly early and discovered Len hard at work with a small pot of golden paint.

I couldn't resist asking him how he felt about having to perform this rather morbid task.

Len has long since passed away himself and we no longer display the board in the reception area but I can still remember his reply.

"Once a year I come here early with my little pot of paint. I unwrap the board, and as long as my name is not there, I'm a happy man !"

Cheers Len !

Ron

[Gerry Chester]

Ron,

How about old enemies, now new friends? Meet Wolfgang Kloth who was taken prisoner by the Russians.
The photographs during a visit the war museum at Auburn, Indiana.

http://northirishhorse.net/AMPS/P/Wolfgang-2.JPG

http://northirishhorse.net/AMPS/P/Wolfgang-1.JPG

Happy to say there are still a fair number of North Irish Horsemen still alive a kicking!

Gerry

[Ron Goldstein]

Originally Posted by Gerry Chester

Ron,

How about old enemies, now new friends? Meet Wolfgang Kloth who was taken prisoner by the Russians.
The photographs during a visit the war museum at Auburn, Indiana.

http://northirishhorse.net/AMPS/P/Wolfgang-2.JPG

http://northirishhorse.net/AMPS/P/Wolfgang-1.JPG

Happy to say there are still a fair number of North Irish Horsemen still alive a kicking!

Gerry

Dear Gerry

Without any equivocation whatsoever I hold you in the highest esteem and consider your contribution to WW2 recorded history to be without parallel.

This entitles you, if anyone, to make your own decision regarding making friends with former enemies.

I believe however, that by inference, you were suggesting that I should do likewise. Regrettably I think that, given my background, this is hardly likely to happen.

In fact, as the sole survivor of five brothers who served in WW2, I am certain that it will never happen.

All best wishes

Ron

[dbf]

Gerry,
Glad to hear there are "a fair number of NIH".

Of the men who I remember being in contact with my father over the years, only one remains and he has no wish to re-live the past and talk about "old times".

May I ask which one in the photo is you?

Regards,
Diane

[Owen]

Diane,
Gerry* is on the left in the blue shirt.

* The "Jerry" is on the right.

[Tom Canning]

little point of some interest is that Gerry might have taken my place in Northern Italy .....my regiment - 145th RAC being a Territorial mob - was broken up for spares in Dec 1944...and at the same time 142nd RAC which was in 25th Tank bde along with the NIH was also broken up ....so NIH moved into our place in 21st Tank bde....51st RTR went on to become an Armoured Engineers bde...and I finished up with 16th /5th Lancers
A good friend of mine in "civvy" street was Terry McGrath of NIH - "C" squadron whereas Gerry was in "B" squadron.
One of the complexities of life in the British Army was the training schedule - initial Tank training at Barnard Castle was with Pursuit Tanks i.e Crusaders - Covenanters - Cromwell's etc - on arriving overseas to join the regiment - they had Churchill assault Tanks......on returning to active duty after hospitalisation..retrained on Armoured Cars ......on joining 16/5th Lancers ... they had Sherman pursuit Tanks !
Finally just before demob we had Armoured cars ...then I left..to be recalled for Korea in the Inns of Court regiment - an Officer Training regiment ! !
Heigh Ho... Cheers

[Gerry Chester]

Hey Ron,

I am sorry that my posting caused hurt. In no way was I inferring that you or anyone should forgive one-time enemies if the wish to do so is non-existent - some wounds are far to deep.

When I was on LIAP - the war in Europe was over when I was home - in a converstaion with father and Uncle Frank (probably the best known test umpire) I was going on about some of the SS we came across. Both of them said something to the effect that most of the enemy fought because they had to. Especially moving was Frank's comment, he having lost part of an arm at Salonika ending a certain play-for-England cricketing career, "Gerry, you cannot hate forever."

Sincerely, Gerry

[Ron Goldstein]

Hey Ron,
I am sorry that my posting caused hurt. In no way was I inferring that you or anyone should forgive one-time enemies if the wish to do so is non-existent - some wounds are far to deep.

Gerry

No offence taken or any hurt caused at all.

I was just making the point that I would not be able to follow your route simply because, amongst other things, of my conviction that only those who were offended against have the right to forgive.

Best regards, as always

Ron

[marcus69x]

I think that photo of Gerry and Wolfgang is a pure emotional statement that not all Germans were evil. He looks just like any other normal guy, doing his bit for his country.

[sapper]

The trouble with that statement, is that many of these people reveled in Evil. They could have fought their war as normal combatants, but they could never do that.

The number of massacres were far to numerous to say "They fought because they had to" (Crap).... Orador and Tulle make a complete mockery of " we only served" "We only obeyed orders"

What would the British army chain of command say about hanging 99 men from the lamp posts, and encouraging their Vichy French fellow travelers to hang on their dangling legs, to make sure they died?
Now who will tell me I am wrong? not to want to "Fraternise" Too late ...Far too late.

Like Ron. Who surely with what happened to people of his faith, let alone his family..... would find it very hard to come to terms with "Friendship"
My dear old friend Alan Westerman, gave me two descriptions of Belson. One official from the medical teams, and one where he walked around the outside of the camp writing about the scenes he witnessed. Everywhere there were signs KEEP OUT TYPHUS.....Still got them somewhere in the house.
Sapper