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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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 Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:33 am Post subject: Musings |
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In an idle few minutes, I let my mind wander..............
A couple of times, I have witnessed someone wearing a veterans badge when someone else (seemingly unknown to them) strikes up a conversation about their service. Turned out to be a great idea these badges, invokes a feeling of comradeship almost as good as wearing your old cap badge.
In 1914 we picked the best of our young men and sent them off to be maimed or killed. Just the opposite of natural selection - Darwin would have been horrified.
Seven years ago I knew nothing of the first world war. Not taught at school and both grandfathers died before I was born - growing up in a new town with no war memorial probably didn't help. After seven years of immersion in this forum and other studies, I still know nothing, except perhaps how little I know.
\Paul |
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kinnethmont
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1649
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:23 am Post subject: |
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Paul
| Quote: | | I still know nothing, except perhaps how little I know. |
But you are doubtless better informed.
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Turned out to be a great idea these badges, invokes a feeling of comradeship almost as good as wearing your old cap badge. |
Seriously, I thought that was one of the main reasons behind them, so that a message could be given without regimental blazer, tie, etc.
I have my father's Veterns Badge from WW2 and have contemplated wearing in on the opposte lapel on Armistice Day but have always felt it was not right. I have similar thoughs on wearing medals if you didn't earn them, but accept that someone wearing a Mons Star / MM, etc may fine, provided the wearer knows all that went on to earn them. I expect they usually do.
_________________
Jim
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
www.kinnethmont.co.uk |
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spoons
Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Medals worn by widows, orphans and grieving mothers are fine by me but others I am less sure. I certainly would not wear my father's service medals or my grandfather's MM |
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kinnethmont
Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1649
Location: Aberdeenshire
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | but accept that someone wearing a Mons Star / MM, etc may fine, provided the wearer knows all that went on to earn them. |
I should maybe have made clearer I was really thinking of overseas here. It tends not to be an issue here, but a sort of " accepted norm " has grown up elswhere at Armistice time and probably mosty WW1 related. I dare say it will increase with the aniversary of 1914-1919 looming. At least they are remembering. I agree is is wrong apart from immediate NOK, in fact there are laws against it but never implemented unless deception imvolved.
_________________
Jim
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
www.kinnethmont.co.uk |
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jamiemcginlay
Joined: 20 Dec 2006
Posts: 930
Location: Glasgow
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Paul,
Your musings reminded me of a lecture I was at when the historian was talking about how Laissez faire was given free reign in the opening years of WWI and how the powers that be slowly came to realise that it didn't work. I remember he said that there was a man who would have been on a par with Einstein who was allowed to enlist and had his brains blown out (I think he might have said in the Dardanelles?). I didn't make a note of the name and haven't been able to find out who he was. Makes you think...another Einstein! How might that have changed the world?
Know what you mean about realising how little you know, every answer breeds two more questions> |
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