The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project Forum Index The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project
(Registered Scottish Charity No. SC043826). Please visit our homepage at www.scottishmilitaryresearch.co.uk
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

A view on Remembrance

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project Forum Index -> General
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:44 pm    Post subject: A view on Remembrance Reply with quote

Following is the text of a submission I made recently to our local newspaper

A View on Remembrance

I have always found it difficult to comprehend the scale of human misery in the first and second World Wars. I find that I can better pay my respects on Remembrance Day if I think of just one or two men. This is, after all, what the people who attended the early services of Remembrance would have done.

In those early years following WW1 and WW2, families would have come together at the annual Remembrance Sunday service to remember a father, son, husband or brother who had been killed. For some, they would also remember their fallen comrades in arms. It might be two, three or even four brothers who had died.

Whenever I visit a war memorial, I choose a name and find out some detail about the man (or woman) and I have them in my thoughts. I am not a religious person but I think (or imagine) who the person was as an individual. I think about the pain, suffering and loss to the family and the community; I think about the achievements not made from a life not lived; I think about the children, grand-children and great-grand-children not born and what they might have achieved in their lives.

Whilst I have been writing this, I have chosen to hold in mind Thomas Colvin of 42, Academy Place in Castle Douglas. He is listed on four memorials in the town: Castle Douglas Civic Memorial, the Post Office Roll of Honour, the Carpet Bowling Club Roll of Honour and St Andrews Parish Church memorial which is now in Castle Douglas Parish Church. Thomas was just 19 when he died of wounds leaving grieving parents James and Mary. From the above we know he was a church-going postman who played carpet bowls in his spare time. To me he is no longer just a name on the memorial.

Whether you attend a service on Remembrance Sunday or not, the next time you pass a war memorial, please stop, read a name, and pause for thought.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project Forum Index -> General All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com