Spitfire

With Remembrance to the fore the British Legion usually do something in the town centre at this time.  Late on this afternoon I discovered they had a Spitfire on show!  This is unusual as the normal items are merely small arms and the like.  So I rushed off just in case it was moved.  Indeed it will be moved as it is only here for the day, tomorrow it will be on show elsewhere, and no doubt just as popular.  

When standing next to a plane you get a better idea of size, it appears so small in the air.  The cockpit appears to be quite tight for an individual, though the German fighter the Me 109 was not quite so good, and the heavier cockpit canopy opened to the side, rather than slide back making escape difficult.  

The Legion was as always there to talk and take contributions.  Personally I never find them that communicative though occasionally one of them will talk well.  They had no interest in the aircraft, only their own world was important.  This one has many medals from his time in the French Foreign Legion.  

Some kids were seen standing close by, an occasional male would be telling them how it was, though they themselves appeared to have been born long after the war.  Many I met who were children during the war told off how the sky could be black with aircraft of all types.  The local bomber bases nearby constantly flew overhead.  The men themselves making use of the pubs and clubs of the town.  The US airmen were popular with the townsfolk until they finally departed in 1992. 

Remembrance 2023: Braintree and Bocking

A long day.

Before 7:30 I was printing of several sheets for today's remembrance at the church.

I was doing the remembrance bit, so I ran off what I had come up with to ensure others knew what I was doing.  Then I had to write the prayer as I also had intercessions to do.  I was not happy with the half hearted manner in which I scribbled them down and printed them off.

I hobbled in dying shoes to church and was greeted as always by pretty young girls (of dubious age). 

Then discussed with the relevant people the organisation of the morning, and collapsed into my seat.

Sadly, there was no Brandy available from the medicine cupboard.

The time came, I done my piece, very nervously, babbling somewhat as the time was not rushing up to the 11 am hour.  I actually called out the memoriam at 10:59, and could see the man trying to play the 'Last Post' checking his watch.

We got through this, adding the national anthem (English), remembering to say 'King' and not 'Queen,' though I did not sing at all, and then I departed back to my place.

Not long after I was again at the front, less nervous, going through what I thought were poor, badly thought out prayers.

Then it was all over.

As I wished to rush home and eat before heading to the Town Remembrance I made for the door.  Three women stopped me, both praising my efforts and taking solace from my words.  There were stories unheard to hear, but I was rushing out.  How I wished I could have stayed and heard them all talk!  Typically these women do not do emails, so I canny find out more!  It will be forgotten next week.

Just after 2pm I was limping around the Gardens watching the service begin.  Having been running around (this is not to be taken literally) all week, and today's efforts at church, I was far from bright and cheery.  Indeed I almost missed the beginning of the service and interrupted everything!

I made no effort to climb up high as I usually do, the shame of falling flat on my face in coming down again put me off somewhat.  So, from a distance I snapped out of focus shots, and tried to find interesting pictures.

Such a shame the autofocus caught the women at the side.  His yawn was what I was looking for.

I browbeat one or two so I could picture their medals.  I want pictures of todays, and recent soldiers on the page so we realise that remembrance is not just about the dead from long ago.  We must remember those serving now, and those who served both between the wars and since 1945.  There are few memorials to them.

As always the Fire Service was represented.  

And as always a strong police presence was to be seen.

The service followed the usual British Legion pattern.  However, I noticed the crowd was well down on last year.  Many come of course, just to see their kid march.  Not all care about the war dead or what they see as wars from long ago.

 

Before it ended my flabby bulk was telling me to go home.  So, I trotted slowly up the hill, up the stairs, and began sorting the pictures.  Some of these I then put in the Braintree & Bocking Great War website, as I had promised the medal wearers.  Naturally it did not work, and much cursing was to be heard before it went up successfully.  I also added to the WW2 version but will finish that one tomorrow.

A young lady from the Sea Cadets came along, reflecting the various organisations many young men and women join before continuing on into the armed forces, if they are up to it.  Even if they do not enlist they will have had a great time for the most part and most likely avoid the dangers of having nothing to do.   

 

So, until next year.

Saturday Legion

Too cold and too lazy to do anything today.
I wandered about in a sunshine that possessed no heat.  The town was bright and the light makes even dreary areas look decent, however while young men sauntered around bravely in pullovers or tee shirts normal folks wrapped up.  
I felt sorry for the Legion me, those not dressed in camouflage gear had to appear in blazers.  This is why most broke the army rules and had hands in pockets most of the time, they must have been freezing!  Appearance however is all for such people, the Legions image must be maintained.  
Lots of cadets around selling poppies, lots of folks wearing them.
One post on Twitter came from someone explaining why they do not wear poppies.  I see no reason for people doing this, the whole idea of fighting wars fro freedom is to ensure the freedom to wear or not wear a poppy.  The Legion makes this clear and opposes forcing folk to wear them, quite right to.  However the 'Daily Mail' and 'Express' reader will stir it by demanding action taken by the none xenophobic who dare not to wear one.   Always the same people, always the same response.
We wore them when young in the 50s without thinking about it.  They appealed less in the 60s when we wished to avoid wars and 'Give peace a chance.'  The cry was 'Make love not war,' although round my way it as more 'Make Tea not war!'  
We then had Ireland!
That brought troops into our minds again.  Then there was the Falklands conflict, that reminded many soldiers were a good idea, even if Thatcher herself was not.
By then I had taken to reading about the Great War, a war we genuinely knew little about, and I became entranced in the many stories that arose from the conflict.  It was later I realised many others were doing the same thing, we found our history without having it shoved down our throats.

A variety of events brought people round to remembering their history, the centenary of the Great War also helped, and now most people understand something of two wars and what happened after them.  How deep this goes time alone will tell.
Tomorrow I have the Sunday service, 9 pages of readings between three of us!  Then the 2pm remembrance at the memorial.  Around 500 usually gather, the 'high heid yins' also attending.  The police are always on the watch for terrorist attacking, this time it may just be people yelling abuse at the MP!

Christmas Market

I discovered this afternoon a Christmas Market was under way.  This has occurred a few times in recent years and stalls from France and elsewhere usually predominate.  Clothes, hats, trivia, and far too many fast food (healthy well made foods) on show.  For some the stalls offer gifts for Xmas, for me they appear overpriced.  They must make money however as many appear to have been here before.  The simple idea of blocking the High Street, only buses use this in theory, allows folks to parade back and forwards.  Sadly a stall at the far end has a stand for some sort of performance so I expect loud, bad, music to be heard tomorrow afternoon.  I looked at the bread stalls (£2:70 - £4:00 a loaf!!!) and fancied some of those on offer but managed to restrain my hunger.  A good selection but prices that those who call themselves poor appear able to pay!

In the shopping centre itself the British Legion stand, with resplendent lorry on show, brought the remembrance services on Sunday to peoples mind.  Since the 1920's the Poppy has been the UK symbol of remembrance and the Legion makes millions for sale throughout the land to raise money to aid ex-servicemen.  It always get a huge response.  This year Armistice day, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, falls on the Sunday itself.  Throughout the country people will gather at local memorials to remember the fallen.

Remembrance Day    Royal British Legion   Poppy Scotland    

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