Time to remember

It is that time of the year when we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us in two World Wars and in all subsequent (and current) conflicts. It has saddened me slightly to see fewer people wearing poppies this year – hopefully this is not the actual situation and just reflects where I have been.

In any event I believe any form of remembrance is good – I was especially pleased to see the Bomber Command memorial finally completed in London this year, I have not seen it yet, but intend to visit it when next in London. It has a particular interest to me because of my father’s time in the RAF at the very end of the war – he did not fly in anger, but was trained on Lancaster’s.

So it is good to see that there is now ‘an app for that’ – the RAF Benevolent Fund have launched an iPhone app which tells the story of the memorial and the crews and machines that it stands for – it is only 69p and the money goes towards the upkeep of the memorial.

So if you haven’t got a poppy yet and are sat reading this on your iPhone why not download the app and do some good…..

 

Too little too late?

Yesterday saw the official ‘unveiling’ of the Bomber Command memorial in London. This is to remember the 55,000+ airmen who lost their lives serving their country. These were not the spitfire and hurricane pilots who were vaunted as our saviours after the war (the few who took on the might of the Luftwaffe). No these were the men who took the war to Europe in their Lancasters, Wellingtons and the like. The death and mayhem they caused is still a subject that causes controversy, however we were at war and I always find it somewhat bizarre when we grade acts and behaviour in war-time situations.

My Father is second on the left

The bottom line is that these men were doing what they were told – no more no less – so they should not have be judged and ‘hidden away’ for over 60 years. The memorial has come too late for the majority who fought to see. That is very sad.

I have always had a ‘soft spot’ for the aircraft of the second world war period, and in particular the Lancaster. My late father was trained to fly as part of the Imperial Program which trained pilots in America and Canada. He returned to the UK to be trained on Lancs as a flight engineer towards the end of the war (there was a shortage of Engineers). He was put with a crew just as hostilities in Europe finished – consequently he never saw action, but it always makes me think of what might have been (or not in my case!)

So I do hope that the memorial becomes a regular addition to the activities on remembrance day, they really do deserve it!