As we remember ALL who have died as a result of serving our nation please spare a thought for those who suffered and died after leaving the services as a result of mental illness brought on by their experiences. This still goes on today and these people were (and are) often "invisible" and their names do not appear on any memorial!
Hi all, although being a member here about 2(?) years, I think I've posted here just once or so... However, here is my contribution to this thread... In the Czech Republic, we usually remember WW2 events on - March 14th (Anniversary of occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939) - 5th May (1945 - Prague Uprising) - 8th May (1945 - end of War in Europe) - 17th November (1939 - massacre of Czech students) - 28th October (1918 - creation of Czechoslovakia) etc... But it is much more. Generally, Czechoslovakia was a counry that was involed from the very begining to the very end... So World War Two is still a non-closed event for us here... That's why I post the following... I had the honour to meet overall about 20 WW2 vets in my young life, but writing here about them all (and about their life stories) would be for a whole website, if not more... So I just post pictures of some of them that I took. Lieutenant General František Fajtl (20 August 1912 - 4 October 2006) was a Czech fighter pilot during World War II. He commanded a squadron in the Royal Air Force, and led a group of Czechoslovak fighter pilots who flew Soviet aircraft from 1944. He was dismissed from the Czechoslovakian Air Force after the Communists came to power in 1948, and was only fully rehabilitated after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. He wrote many autobiographical books about his wartime experiences, and was an inspiration for the 2001 film Tmavomodrý svět (Dark Blue World). František Peřina (* April 8, 1911, Morkůvky u Břeclavi, now Czech Republic, died May 6, 2006 in Prague) was a Czech fighter pilot. In 1939, following the first dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia by Nazi Germany, he fled the country. He travelled to France where he was shot down and seriously injured and later served with the RAF as a pilot in the 312. (Czechoslovak) Squadron. He shot down about fifteen German airplanes during WWII and became one of the most successful Czechoslovak fighter pilots. Colonel Petr Uruba (Born 15th Dec 1915). He flew Wellingtons with No. 311 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF. On 6th Feb 1942, he fell into captivity and spent the rest of the war in various POW camps. "Krieg ist eine große Scheiße" he told me. Adolf Burger (12th Aug 1917). A Holocaust survivor, one from the "Birkenau Boys" He survived three concentration camps; Auschitz II - Birkenau, Sachsenhausen and Mauthausen. Not to mention that Birkenau was hell on earth... General Adolf Vodička (Jan 1913). A Czechoslovak interbrigadist from the Spanish Civil War. As a Jew, he was not accepted by the Czechoslovak exile army in Great Britain, thus he joined Pioneer Corps and served as a fire and rescue worker during the whole WW2. Colonel MUDr. Gustav Singer, CSc. (1913?) Born in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire's capital Wien, he moved to Czechoslovakia after the Austrian "anschluß" in 1938. After the ocuppation of the Czechlands in 1939, he fled to USSR, where joined Czechoslovak Eastern Exile Army and served as a field docotor for the whole war. "I had four nationalities" once he said. "I was born in Austria, we spoke German. After German ocuppation of Austria, I escaped to Prague and I was sick to say I have German nationality, so I said I'm Austrian. When I crossed the Polish-Soviet borders in 1940, which was a crime by the way, I was interviewed by one NKVD investigator. He said: 'But you're a Jew, who do you hide it. Don't worry, we have freedom in the Soyuz.' and automatically enlisted me into his documents with Jewish nationality. After the war, when I reported myself in the liberated Czechoslovakia, I of course said that I have Jewish nationality. the officer told me: 'No, such thing does not exist by us. We have only German and Hungarian minorities and nationalities Czech and Slovak.' So I chose Czech nationality." S!
In rememberance of the fallen, those who endured the burden of conflict and to those who still serve.
To me this has always said it all! † "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" † Burma WWII http://www.2ndbattalionroyalberkshirereg.co.uk/
On Veterans Day we salute and support our servicemen. I would like to thank my father, Lt. James R. Smith, for his service. His story is posted at www.nightfighter.info. However, I would like to thank all of those who served this country for their immeasurable contributions.
Words of appreciation could never encompass the gratitude I hold in my heart. As a small token, I put together a collage of all the veterans (past and present) in my family, and posted on our family site yesterday. My father, Francis, was my hero -- no doubt most children think of their parents as heros, so I suppose I'm no different. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity for him to know, before be passed on (at the age of 68/1991). He appears in the collage twice -- at top left, as a cadet in 1943, and bottom right after the coveted wings were won. He was a proud Marine -- and I would have to say the Marine's Hymn was the first song I remembered learning! He contracted polio, and was rehabilitated in Warm Springs, but had a near-full recovery by 1947 and lived a very full life, working for the Wabash Railroad, and adding 9 more children to their brood, for a total of ten. The other pictures are of my brothers, brothers-in-law, uncles and cousins who have served our country with honor. Oh, the black and white picture at the bottom is a 1953 gathering -- my grandmother had written on the back "2/15/1953 Marine (or Maine??) Day Memorial Service By U.S.W.V & V.F.W. Soldiers Memorial Bldg St. Louis, MO" My grandfather, who served in the Spanish-American War is in the front row standing full face with arms at his side. The small black and white of the children wrapped in the flag are my mom's brothers, taken in 1918. I included this in the collage, for they both served in WWII -- Sonny is at the top, sitting in front of his tent, in the South Pacific, and older brother Tony is along the right margin, second 'brown & white' pic Army, was in the European arena. I can't say thank you enough to these brave men (so far no women vets in my family) Thank you, thank you, thank you -- Let Freedom Ring!!
In Memory of: Pte R McLean 2nd Bn Cameron Highlanders Died of wounds Jan 1915 from Givenchy 1914 (2nd cousin) Pte J Ramsay 4th Bn Gordon Highlanders KIA 1st Ypres Nov 1914 (great uncle) Pte H MacLean Lovat Scouts WW1 (grandfather) 5410 Pte AAG Voller 19th Bn AIF WW1(grandfather RTA) LAC C Voller RAAF WW2 (Uncle RTA) Spr FWJ Lee 2/12 Fd Coy AIF WW2 Burma Railway (Uncle RTA) AB HF MacLean RN WW2 HMS Campbell\MONAB15 Nowra Australia (Father) and to all those that served in all wars
Pisis -- excellent information and photos. Thank you! Coincidentally, I learned of my father's death while in Prague. My dad along with my sister and brother in law and their family were to meet me on May 4, 1991. They were going to take a sightseeing tour along with other Army families, from their base in Augsburg. I'd been traveling, and hadn't had any contact, and when the busses came in, and I searched the faces for someone I knew, a friend of theirs came up to me to say my father had 'gone to sleep' the day before. I had two of their children with me, and after we shed some tears, I insisted that 'grandpa' would not want us to be sad, and since the next train wasn't until the late afternoon, we saw as much of the city as we could and to this day, I think of Prague with a warm memory, and I feel my dad would have been happy with the way we handled word of his death. We had my friend take our picture, on the Charles Bridge, and though my face was red from crying, it is a cherished memory. The city and the people we met were simply beautiful, and I'd love to return some day. I haven't visited this site in a long while, and have so much to catch up to, right now! I joined a few years ago and only made a few posts, but I guess with the newer board, they are living in cyber space. I'm sure I didn't say anything too intersting. lol! (Webmeister, thank you for the continued emails, as my other computer had crashed, and I'd lost my bookmark. I'm pleased to be able to contribute today...and more in the future.) *****Pisis -- indeed I will peruse your website. I'm happy you saw my note.
we must remebner all those who died during 2 world wars, allies and axis alike, after all every single one of them was someones son or daighter
Hi Naumann, thanks for your interesting story - it is something very deep. As for Prague, please feel free to see my website: http://fotograff2006.xf.cz/prague/index.html I haven't visited this site in a long while, and have so much to catch up to, right now! I joined a few years ago and only made a few posts, but I guess with the newer board, they are living in cyber space. I'm sure I didn't say anything too intersting. lol! LOL, That's just like me, I posted my first hit just today! Cheers, Pisis
It's an Honor to post a "thank you" to all those brave souls who fought to keep Freedom for those unable to fight for it at the time it was needed......
The fallen (of all conflicts both military and civillian), I remember them. The surviving veterans, I honour you. I had the pleasure of talking to one such selling poppies. He was an RN veteran of Atlantic convoys and of the Omaha Beach-head. With quiet dignity he recounted some of his experiences to me. Let us urge the politicians of all nations in this troubled world to carry out their duty with honour and ethics, considering the claims and problems of opposition, and thus avoid that deadly '...extension of politics by other means...' which demeans both the victims and the perpetrators of such violence.
In honor of those who have answered their nations' call to arms. A special remembrance to two ancestors, Pvt. Amasa Towne and Major John Granger, American War of Independence, 1775-1781. JT
Remembering my Father Lt Cdr Leslie Cox RNVR served in the MTO 1942-1945. Also all those who served with my uncle at RAF Harrowbeer in Devon.
