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Author Topic: DULCE ET DECORUM EST  (Read 2718 times)

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Offline Pastis

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #15 on: November 11, 2008, 12:36:39 PM »
Well done all of them.
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Offline Nick

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #16 on: November 11, 2008, 12:40:56 PM »
A few years back I saw an Alan Whicker series about the invasion of Italy. He used documentary footage. I saw my dad on it!
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Offline Pastis

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #17 on: November 11, 2008, 12:43:51 PM »
I think I remember seeing that; he was a war reporter wasn't he? Not your Dad obviously ~
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Offline Nick

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #18 on: November 11, 2008, 12:45:30 PM »
Yes he was (Whicker that is). My dad was an engineer (REME)

We took the Boy to the D Day cemeteries in 2005. He was 7. Even he was moved
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Offline Pastis

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #19 on: November 11, 2008, 12:59:07 PM »
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Dad was messing about flying Sunderlands.



Burma, Singapore and Hong Kong. I have, a few feet from me here a Japanese Katana which was handed over at the Jap surrender in Singapore. Dad was asked to make up numbers as there weren't enough high ranking Allied officers to take part in the ceremony.
It's not as good looking as his one being a WWII standard issue, but it's still lethal  eeek:

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Offline Barman

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #20 on: November 11, 2008, 01:00:18 PM »
Coool!  worthy:
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Online Uncle Mort

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #21 on: November 11, 2008, 01:10:53 PM »
My Dad was evacuated out of the Burmese jungle by Sunderland flying boat. 
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Offline Pastis

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #22 on: November 11, 2008, 01:17:00 PM »
Quote from: Uncle Mort on November 11, 2008, 01:10:53 PM
My Dad was evacuated out of the Burmese jungle by Sunderland flying boat. 

 eeek:  Amazing coincidence!

One of things my Dad told me which I've never heard anything about was Japanese Kamikaze MTBs. Everyone's heard of the Kamikaze planes but they also used to pack small boats with high explosives and drive them at full tilt at moored Sunderlands and Catalinas.

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Offline Nick

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #23 on: November 11, 2008, 01:34:49 PM »
I was once driving past Battersea Power Station with a mate and his German girlfriend. He said his dad'sjob in the war was to defend it with AA guns.


She said her dad's job was to bomb it.

We laughed so much we had to stop the car.

Absurd
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Offline Grumpmeister

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #24 on: November 11, 2008, 01:44:51 PM »
Quote from: Pastis on November 11, 2008, 01:17:00 PM
Quote from: Uncle Mort on November 11, 2008, 01:10:53 PM
My Dad was evacuated out of the Burmese jungle by Sunderland flying boat. 

 eeek:  Amazing coincidence!

One of things my Dad told me which I've never heard anything about was Japanese Kamikaze MTBs. Everyone's heard of the Kamikaze planes but they also used to pack small boats with high explosives and drive them at full tilt at moored Sunderlands and Catalinas.



It wasnt just planes and boats though, they also had kamikaze minisubs. Basically an oversized torpedo with a, for want of a better word 'cockpit' for the operator to use. If memory serves me correctly they would be sealed in and would either destroy their target or suffocate.
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Offline tel

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #25 on: November 11, 2008, 01:59:51 PM »
My grandfather signed in 1914, in Ireland. Served in france, was gassed, but survived. He never spoke about what happened.

He died about 35 years ago, Boxing Day, after a very merry Xmas night, my unlces had to put him to bed.

Now no-one in the family seems to know what he did or where he served, no medals or service record/card but some photos of him in uniform. So far I have traced his WW1 record cards (Irish Fusileers & Leinster regiments) so can start to put a few things together.
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Offline Barman

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #26 on: November 11, 2008, 02:26:48 PM »
Quote from: tel on November 11, 2008, 01:59:51 PM
My grandfather signed in 1914, in Ireland. Served in france, was gassed, but survived. He never spoke about what happened.

He died about 35 years ago, Boxing Day, after a very merry Xmas night, my unlces had to put him to bed.

Now no-one in the family seems to know what he did or where he served, no medals or service record/card but some photos of him in uniform. So far I have traced his WW1 record cards (Irish Fusileers & Leinster regiments) so can start to put a few things together.

I can recommend this guy...

He has an amazing ability to research the history of WW1 and will tailor his tours to include your relatives...

I took my mother with them to find out more about her Great Uncle. David took us to places where he had been billeted, where his regiment marched, where he fought and ultimately died. He managed to dig our regimental records that we had not accessed and had located his grave...

An excellent and totally emotional journey...   
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Offline tel

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #27 on: November 11, 2008, 03:19:48 PM »
It is emotional and humbling.

Bit quirkey at times as well. My great-uncles grave in Holland gives his name as "John Nolan, son mary of Athy, Co Kildare".
No mention of his father!
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Offline Snoopy

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #28 on: November 11, 2008, 03:30:34 PM »
Anyone going to Holland should visit Overloon ~ site of one of the biggest tank battles of WWII. Deeply moving.

http://www.oorlogsmuseum.nl/index.php?t=en
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Offline Darwins Selection

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Re: DULCE ET DECORUM EST
« Reply #29 on: November 11, 2008, 04:10:10 PM »
Quote from: Pastis on November 11, 2008, 12:22:18 PM
Mum played croupiers during the war in an Ops. Room up in Scotland just like the one in the pic.




What a coincidence, So did my mother!

RAF West Freugh if memory serves me well (it often doesn't these days  redface:)
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