 |
| djin_bleu |
on Thu 16 Jul 09, 1:49 PM to djin_bleu's blog.
A real one by the way!
I've had associations with the Army since a teenager, joined, left and joined and left again, circumstances and everything.
I have had and always will have a love affair with the Services as they represent so much for me, represent Honour and Valour of which cannot seem to be found anywhere else, not to that level atleast.
My Regiments motto is 'Swift and Bold' and even though i only had a brief life as a Squaddie, part of me will always stray.....over the hills and far away.
My Regiment was the predecessor to the newly formed 'The Rifles' which was a direct descendant of the 95th Rifles of which Sharpe's heroic stories were written about.
It's been messing me up lately whilst reading about so many Riflemen losing their lives abroad at the moment, sometimes I feel proud that these guys are getting thoroughly stuck in as I know how proud and rock solid these Guys are and other times like the other day when those children of 18 years old were killed it tears me apart inside, to think that a couple of years back they were fresh faced school kids with a wonderous life ahead of them.
I don't wanna talk about politics, it's not a Squaddie's job to discuss the why's and wherefores but only to do as ordered to the best of their ability. People here do not even have the first idea about what goes through the mind of an Infantryman, not to say I do but I have had the honour of having rubbed shoulders with some of these guys and if I ever believed in Regrets it would be that I wasn't still among them now.
Sure it's not Glamourous, the reality is such a stark contrast to what you think is going on, to say it's the Hardest thing I have ever done in my life doesn't begin to explain it. people are Homesick, they join for completely different reasons, some cos it's a job, some cos it's their dream and some just do it as all their mates are doing it but life is one great Hammer that will Temper your life, some of them find Girlfriends and Wives, some start a family that give them other goals and wishes and this is what nags at me so much. An Infantryman is a solitary life, some guys I have known are Hardened to Death and Pain, they are not Family men and Soldiering is just who they are, these people have seemingly died out leaving a softer kind of person, a person who has ambition and ideas of a family which make the risks way too much to think about.
I can't begin to understand what their Girlfriends and Wives must think when they leave for Duty, I have felt just a modicum of leaving someone and it was overwhelming, you either blank out the other person or you go to pieces, it angers me that these youngsters are sent away to do a Job they simply don't have a clue about.
Last night I decided to make a Tribute Video of a collage of pics mainly from Afghanistan although some are just random shots together with a song I rather like at the moment. Whilst finding the pics I happened upon a Blog of an Irish site that was telling how an Irish Royal Marine was killed abroad and buried back in Ireland, the propaganda really pissed me off, they know NOTHING of honour and loyalty even in death they were ignorant and demeaning, the British Army have always had very brave Irish Regiments and soldiers who don't live in ignorance, god bless em!
Whatever your views on the Empire and the British Forces, put them aside for now, this is a Tribute to them, they deserve the best and in particluar i'm going to be biased and Tribute this one to the Infantrymen out there.
Some poems first...
A British Soldier
At dawn's first light at 0730, my feet are wet, and cold, and dirty. I try and wash, I try and shave; remembering those who fought so brave. I hear the call for bayonet charge; against an enemy so fierce and large. The sound of guns, the sound of cries; even the enemy fears to die! Over the top for Country and Crown, I see young bodies falling down. And as we charge this final time; may god forgive us all our crimes. The rifle rings inside my ear; but nothing compares to the fear. I'm glad to have died a British Soldier, for now we have made that name bigger and bolder.
By JS McGuinness
The Reality of War
The rust of the fences, The life in the trenches, Night after night the bad dreams, Constant sounds of shots and screams, Bomb shells dropping like rain, Friends and comrades in agonising pain. The sounds we never wish to hear, was the life they all lived and feared. Sights of those who have shown their heads, being put down in their deep beds.
By Js O'Brien, Js Neate and Js Brown
Losses of War
The fourth of August nineteen fourteen, A new formed soldier at a new formed scene, Things seemed good for a week or two, But what they told him was not true.
He gritted his teeth and life went on, Dodging bullets, dodging bombs, He loved his country, King and all, And unto them he would take the fall, Only for them he would give his life, Miss his friends, Miss his wife, But she was safe, at home with his boy, Whose little face lit up with joy, Because daddy should be home on the 25th, Bringing presents and bringing gifts, But that day came and that day went, Daddy's Christmas was in a trench, Where tears from his eyes landed on the floor, His friend had died in the trench next door.
Later that day daddy was hit, Now he was dragged through the bloody pit Of broken bodies and shattered bones, Unable to fight they sent him home, Mentally twisted and dead inside, Daddy opened the gate and took a nervous stride, Mummy told the boy how his dad got given the can, But standing there wasn't daddy, But a broken man...
By Js Pennington and JS Pratt
My Tribute to the Boys from The Rifleman Hope you enjoy.
Edited Thu 16 Jul 09, 2:05 PM by djin_bleu
| 16 Jul 09, 2:42 PM Lady_Alys UK(RG), 6 yrs |
Beautiful - I shed a tear or two. DoN't WaStE YoUR TiME On A MaN WhO Isn't WiLLiNG tO WasTe ThEiR tImE On You... | |
| 16 Jul 09, 3:01 PM Lounge_Lizard 5 yrs |
I struggle sometimes myself to comprehend what 'our' lads & lasses are doing out there... Part of me wants to say 'bring them home now!'...The other,says 'You're doing a job that you've always wanted to do,good luck and take care,our thoughts are with you'... As a veteran (ex-RAF) and the father of an 18 year old,I'm torn about the whole situation. Nice 'tribute'...
Ruin my reputation?... | |
| 16 Jul 09, 4:05 PM dominalush UK(RG), 5 yrs  |
well written and heartfelt blue...and i totally agree with you. to give pain is my pleasure...... | |
| 16 Jul 09, 4:05 PM djin_bleu UK(NW), 5 yrs  |
Thank you, you yourself know that sometimes what we see on our tellies and in our papers shows just someones particular opinion of a situation. I hate seeing people harmed, I would love them back too but I tend to think those guys wouldn't want it any other way, you can call it foolish pride if you like but they believe in what they are doing not just for Queen and Country, not just for their Commanders but for themselves, you see I think in each and everyone of us we fight a personal battle depicted in the material world. A War in a foreign field is just a sign of a war of emotions, beliefs and of dfferent worlds. If it is out of our hands, we can atleast spare them all a loving thought. *She who rides the Demon is afraid to dismount* ~* A hopeless dreamer she said, eyes of cloud and feet of lead *~ | |
| 16 Jul 09, 4:06 PM djin_bleu UK(NW), 5 yrs |
Me too, I've wanted to do a tribute like this for ages and ages. *She who rides the Demon is afraid to dismount* ~* A hopeless dreamer she said, eyes of cloud and feet of lead *~ | |
| 16 Jul 09, 4:14 PM Lounge_Lizard 5 yrs |
Of course...and especially for the families they leave behind. Ruin my reputation?... | |
| 16 Jul 09, 4:17 PM djin_bleu UK(NW), 5 yrs |
Thank you x *She who rides the Demon is afraid to dismount* ~* A hopeless dreamer she said, eyes of cloud and feet of lead *~ | |
| 17 Jul 09, 9:26 AM Forsaken1 UK, 7 yrs |
Great blog mate. Resident play piercer at Velvet Eden | |
| 17 Jul 09, 1:55 PM djin_bleu UK(NW), 5 yrs |
Means alot from you, thank you *She who rides the Demon is afraid to dismount* ~* A hopeless dreamer she said, eyes of cloud and feet of lead *~ | |
| 18 Jul 09, 12:41 PM Jons_Amaranth UK(WS), 11 yrs |
Excellent, a very fitting tribute Eleanor Roosevelt: The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience. |
