FighterControl

As always I would ask members to allow me a small indulgence at this time of year.

"To absent Friends"

They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

I spent a few moment to pay my respects to former colleagues, and to those who gave there all so we could have freedom.I can tell you for free it was hard.







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Selection of pics from over the past 4 years.fitting time to post them up again.

Found this post on PPrune. The poster, BATS, has it spot on. I really feel you could read any of our fine Services into it.

The average British soldier is 19 years old ... he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country – and for you. He’s not particularly keen on hard work but he’d rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK. He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun.

He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.


He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands. He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job - it's what a soldier does. He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draws half the pay and has nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all. There's an old saying in the British Army: 'If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!'


He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual. Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid.
He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men who have kept this country free for hundreds of years. He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding. We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn't like it either - he just has it to do. Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

Now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm's way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation's politicians call on us to do so.

When you read this, please stop for a moment and if you are so inclined, feel free to say a prayer for our troops in the trouble spots of the world.

Please allow me to post two pictures I took while visiting the Arboretum in 2007 and 2008.





My heartfelt thanks go out to all who ever served and to all who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that they and we can enjoy and live in freedom and peace. Your sacrifice is not forgotten! We will remember! Always.

Andy

PS: A severe illness is unfortunately preventing me from visiting the Arboretum this month but I hope to be able to return sometime next year.

Lest we forget

Thoughts go out to those who are serving or have served in past conflicts and to my close friend who is out there now.



regards mirage 2000

The service was very touching this evening, really did bring a tear to my eye. Let us never forget our absent men

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

From "For the fallen"

By Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

HighlandSniper wrote:They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

We Will Remember Them.

Thoughts to all those servicemen of British and Commonwealth countries who gave their lives in past and present wars. RIP.

Mark.

This is not intended to take anything away from those who have paid the ultimate scrifice. But after hearing the communications between the ground and planes returning to the UK relaying how many wheelchairs will be required. It has brought it home to me perhaps even more than hearing the almost daily statistic of those that have fallen. We should also not forget those who have come home severely maimed and whose lives are shattered and will suffer for the rest of their lives.

A poignant quote from this mornings cenotaph service.If all who have fallen in battle from the UK and the commonwealth were lined up, the ranks would stretch from the cenotaph to Edinburgh. I cannot express enough gratitude to those who have served, and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
We will remember them.

My next door neighbour who was nintey this year was married to a Kiwi, who was killed during a pathfinder mission to Le Mans martialling yards in 1944.
Due to the nature of the collision between two flare equipped Lancs, although most of the crew have graves in France her husband is not one of them.
She has lived a full life since, but still feels his loss and has even speculated that maybe he survived.

So lets remember the lost, and those who they leave behind.
Stig.

stigorige wrote:My next door neighbour who was nintey this year was married to a Kiwi, who was killed during a pathfinder mission to Le Mans martialling yards in 1944.
Due to the nature of the collision between two flare equipped Lancs, although most of the crew have graves in France her husband is not one of them.
She has lived a full life since, but still feels his loss and has even speculated that maybe he survived.

So lets remember the lost, and those who they leave behind.
Stig.

that's an amazing story!

We have had a very moving and lovely remembrance day! This day, more than any other that I have been involved with has been more poignant and deserved of our support. God bless you all! I will do my best to honour your memories xx

I spent a few moment to pay my respects to former colleagues, and to those who gave there all so we could have freedom.I can tell you for free it was hard.

Gonk your post from Binbrook brought tears to my eyes - I was at "Frosty's" funeral and one of the officers who were looking after us was Neil MacLachlan who was sadly killed later whilst flying with the Red Arrows - both Lightning pals back together
RIP to the many

I was with nev sheldon on the night he was killed,if it wasn't for a last minute decision i would have been with him,five minuites later he was dead ,Neil Maclachlan was one of the best officers i served under,a genuine man a real gent and popular with all he met, a sad loss to all.




Gonk your post from Binbrook brought tears to my eyes - I was at "Frosty's" funeral and one of the officers who were looking after us was Neil MacLachlan who was sadly killed later whilst flying with the Red Arrows - both Lightning pals back together
RIP to the many Squadron Prints

Location: Scotland
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I was away the weekend in Telford at a show.We had a Bugle played at 11am and observed the Two minute silence.I luckily when serving never lost anyone in a war zone.But isaw the and heard of the loss of a few in general,including the Phanto crew at Abingdon wheni served there in 88.And a good friend Dom Ferrari who was killed in a car crash when returning back to base from Wales.

I to wish all familes of those serving and retired well.

Jim Maher.

Went to my towns rememberance service, more people there this year than iv'e ever seen before, was a very moving service, i went there to honour the fallen and remember my late grandfather's best friend Reggie Briggs who was a gunner on Lancasters who was sadly shot down over France on the way to their target.

God bless you all, you will not be forgotten.