elann
member
Reged: 18/10/2007
Posts: 83
|
|
I wonder if anyone else has watched news footage of the last operational Lancaster fly over the Derwent reservoir commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Dambuster raid?
I found it moving and powerful; but modern perspectives of the last war give rise to more complex feelings particularly given the terrible loss of civilian life in Germany.
It is 'other times, other mores' I think and personally I feel very humble and grateful for the sacrifice and bravery shown by the RAF in defending our freedom. 617 squadron do have a memorial relating to the Dambuster raid but there is no memorial to the many other bomber squadrons because of the immediate post-war sensitivity to civilian casualties, which I think is an injustice to the many who fought and died in the service of this country.
Just wondered what anyone else thought?
|
honeybunny
member
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 212
|
|
Well voiced, I would echo your sentiments.
Honeybunny.
|
Peregrine
member
Reged: 04/02/2008
Posts: 2930
|
|
Hi elann, I didn't see it on tele, it's front page news in my local paper. What a magnificent sight. I too would like to echo your sentiments.
perry
--------------------
|
Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2653
Loc: South Wales
|
|
I agree Elann. My father was thrilled when St Clement Dane's finally opened a book of Remembrance for Bomber Command, and asked that instead of a tombstone, his name should be commemorated there. It's less obvious than the memorials to Fighter Command, but at least it is now there.
The loss of civilian life was terrible and in retrospect may well seem wrong, but I guess that when you are fighting for survival, the perspective is different. The bomber crews were fighting for their country just as much as the fighter pilots and I am glad to remember them.
--------------------
|
lulubells
member
Reged: 13/01/2008
Posts: 461
Loc: Sheffield
|
|
No not yet, as I'm sure it will be repeated later this evening, abit miffed as we live not far from the Derwent (sheffield) and did not know about it until it was over 
As a family we go there a lot and there is a museum to all the great pilots and to the making of the film, which Richard Todd is patron, infact he comes to the museum quite regulary, I bet he was there today?
I remember that when I was little, there was a security guard who worked in M & S, who was one of the 'Dambuster', he was quite the celeb!!
|
elann
member
Reged: 18/10/2007
Posts: 83
|
|
Thank you girls for your comments; I was a bit afraid this would become another 'controversial' post. Valaber, you must be very proud of your father, as I was of mine, who ran away from home aged 18 to join the Bomber crews!
I believe 65% of these young men died defending Britain and the Commonwealth and they deserve a memorial.
|
honeybunny
member
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 212
|
|
yes, I think they deserve a memorial but more than that I think they deserve to be remembered and the sacrifices they made for the freedom of the future generations never be devalued by political correctness or the nanny state. Things were as they were then, perhaps they are not like that now, but perhaps we have all these brave young men to thank that peace is a valued commodity. Not easy to preserve, conflict seems to be the easy option.
|
debenjane
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 573
|
|
Am hoping to catch the footage on the news at 6. I saw a trailer about it and had a lump in my throat at the thought of the last pilot to be in the raid being there.
I feel proud of every fighting serviceman and woman, past and present.I also spare a thought for the 'enemy' who also lost their lives, someones husband, son, father just like our lads.
|
Foxie
member
Reged: 09/08/2007
Posts: 3375
Loc: South London
|
|
The bouncing bombs were tested at Reculver Bay in Kent and I used to go there as a child. My father told me the story and of course I have seen The Dambusters film.
I saw the TV footage and had a lump in my throat too. There are no winners in war.
--------------------
Life is like a tin of sardines, we're all of us looking for the key. Alan Bennett.
|
honeybunny
member
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 212
|
|
Guy Gibson, who was the Squadron leader of the mission used to come to Cornwall for his holidays when he was younger. he came to a little fishing village about 3 miles from me, a place called Porthleven, There is a road named after him called Gibson way and there is a lovely exibition in the Helston Museam (Museam ? dodgey spelling) about him. If anyone is coming to Cornwall on holiday this year it is well worth a visit.
|
Vicky123
member
Reged: 22/02/2008
Posts: 1871
|
|
Echo all of the above sentiments. A super thraed elann.
xx
|
BEL
member
Reged: 21/02/2008
Posts: 570
|
|
Also had a lump in my throat, also a few tears, my
father and his crew were 'Bomber Boys' flew lancesters,
and Halifaxs out of Leconfield Yorkshire, the crew are
buried in Holland, the Dutch do a wonderful work in
the cemateries, Guy Gibson is also buried in a nearby
Dutch town, I visit fairly frequently.
Bettys in York were a frequent hangout for the boys,
they had a bar in the basement during the war, the
boys use to sign their names with a diamond pen on
a mirror, its still there, I have a list of names 0f
crew, Bettys staff are helpful, if anyone is interested,
or you can PM me.
I am reading Patrick Bishop's 'Bomber Boys' 1940/45
excellent, brings a lump to the throat.
He ends with an inscription.
Went the day well?
We died and never knew.
But well or ill, Freedom,
We died for you.
--------------------
|
elann
member
Reged: 18/10/2007
Posts: 83
|
|
Bel,what interesting comments! I am also reading the same book ; it is so gripping and as you say, brings a lump in the throat. The poem is unbearably moving.
I'm so interested to hear about Betty's (- I shall go on my next visit to York, thank you for the info -) and the memomorabilia and would love to have a list of the names of the crew.
Thanks everyone for their response; if only these brave young men and women could be officially commemorated.
On a much lighter note, whilst typing these worthy sentiments, my 2 dogs have chased an interloping cat out of the house.The noise was horrendous and the younger ( and thinner ) of the dogs raced down the steps to the garden at such speed that he had to flatten his ears and push his front legs forward in order to fly through a gap in the balustrade before landing in a rhododendron bush.The cat, of course, got clean away.
There may be a moral here...!!!
|
Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2653
Loc: South Wales
|
|
Bel, I had forgotten about Betty's in York - my father used to take us there for a treat when he was based at RAF Church Fenton back in 1959-60.
What is so hard to remember is how young those boys were - my father was an engineer and a sergeant at 18. One of his jobs was to go to the cockpits of any returning bombers that crashed and get the flight recorder out - he sometimes had to climb over the pilots' bodies to do it, but apparently there were souvenir hunters who would rob the aircraft if the RAF didn't get there first. Can you imagine now, sending an 18 year old to do something like that.
I think he and the others would be really chuffed to think that we are remembering them now - and if you go to St Clement Dane's, the Book of Remembrance is displayed in the Crypt.
I have just found this link which has lots of information
http://www.bomber-command.info/
--------------------
|
BEL
member
Reged: 21/02/2008
Posts: 570
|
|
Valaber, my grand/parents took me to Bettys 1959/60
maybe we were there at the same time!!!
Yes I have used that link, very interesting, think
how amazed these young men would be to see us at our
computers remembering them.!!
--------------------
|
Chickadee
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2653
Loc: South Wales
|
|
In our kilts with straps to hold them up, hand knitted jumpers and Clark's sandals, I expect!
--------------------
|
elann
member
Reged: 18/10/2007
Posts: 83
|
|
That brings back memories Valaber, especially as my mother never could knit the right sleeve well, right, so I always had some discomfort!
I am going to bed now, but not before I toast - as I'm sure you have done - those brave RAF Bomber Boys, pat my renamed dog ( Guy, since he is clearly a flyer)and give thanks that those of us alive by sheer chance - our dads got through the war - have had an opportunity to communicate and remember those brave young men who would, as you say, be amazed at the wizardry of today which has allowed us to to do so.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
