By Isle of Wight Observer
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.
The words above are an important part of Remembrance Services, as they express the feeling that we show when we think about the servicemen and women who gave their lives in the defence of our country and for us.
These words were first published in the Times Newspaper on 19 September 1914. They were written as part of a poem by Robert Laurence Binyon, called ‘For the Fallen’ which had seven verses in total. These words are just one of the verses.
We tend to think that this poem refers, in the main, to the huge losses of soldiers during the First World War, and then followed by the Second World War which ended in 1945. However, service personnel have taken part in many military and terrorist confrontations almost continuously since the end of WWII.
Would you believe our military have been involved in a total 83 confrontations since 1945, and, sadly, we have lost 7,193 service personal in those actions? Only a few of these actions have resonated with people who are, generally, getting on with their everyday lives. The most well-known are probably: Korea, Northern Ireland, Falklands, Bosnia, Gulf War 1 and Gulf War 2. Those are just 6 out of the 83 confrontations; how many of the other 77 have you heard about?
Of course, many thousands of personnel have served in the 79 years since 1945. That service and experience will have left its mark upon all of them – sometimes badly, but generally good in certain ways. Probably the one thing that does leave its mark is the feeling of belonging to a unique family, with a unique bond. Military personnel have a reputation for insulting and ridiculing each other, whether it’s because we were in different services or different Regiments or Corps; it matters not. However, should a non-military person try to do the same we will close ranks and defend each other.
Also we will readily socialise with each other and do our best to help those who need it; perhaps that’s why we have several military charities, such as the Royal British Legion, Help For Heroes, SSAFA, and more.
The Island’s youth have traditionally readily enlisted, as they see it as a good basis for having a good career, learning a trade, having opportunities to travel around the world and enjoy experiences they are unlikely to have otherwise. During my career I have met with Islanders in Germany, Kenya and Canada; it’s like meeting up with family members!
I’m pleased to say that Remembrance Day is now hugely supported by the population of the United Kingdom and it’s much appreciated. Most Remembrance Services end with the words written on the Kohima Memorial in India:
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
For your tomorrow we gave our today.