Thanks Friends!
sapper

Wow! Your story was great! Clearly you deserve gratitude and then SOME. I owe you thanks and to the rest of the men and woman who've served there countries to fight for a cause. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being so open about the subject.

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Time is only enemy you'll never get rid of.

Sapper

Please continue your story. While there may be horrific details in it, the fact of the matter is it did indeed happen and you were in the middle of it. Our WWII veterans are quickly leaving us and in my opinion it is imperative that their stories be told for history and posterity. Young people need to understand through first hand renditions such as yours, the sacrifices that were made by so many to preserve the rights and freedoms we all enjoy today. Keep up your wonderful writing and God Bless you Sir.

Leslie

Thank you folks for your kind words. It is much appreciated. Always nice to hear from the younger generation
Sapper

THis has ben used several times as a "Lesson" on Armistice day.


Les Fleurs de Normandie.

On Norman soil, they fought and died.
Now young men's graves in rows abound.
In Mother Earth's arms, now sanctified,
The fragrant flowers of our youth are found.

And yet, to rise again, as in a distant song.
Small voices that call, in dead of night.
Fleeting figures only in our dreams belong.
Alas, they fade, in dawn's bright light.

I see them yet, a sad, forgotten throng.
Shadowed, lost faces, marching on.
Over dusty roads, and high golden corn.
The call of long lost friends are borne.

We must not forget, the flowers of our days,
Lest they lay unquiet, in numbered graves.
For we lived, and loved, and life was sweet.
Still yet, for us, awaits our last retreat.

Flowers of our youth, now long since past.
Our sweet autumn days are fading fast.
We, who are left, flowered in our prime.
Enjoyed golden moments, on borrowed time.

Remember our friends, who passed this way.
For all our tomorrow's, they gave their today's,
On Utah and Omaha, Juno, Sword and Gold.
Oh! Dear Lord! See that they grow not old.

Brian Guy. (Sapper)
June. 1944 / 2004
.

Thanks, Brian. A very timely reminder that, indeed, we must not forget.

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Bear with me.. For a reminder of when I was a young man, and just what it was like to be the one Free nation left in Europe. The one bastion of freedom against a new medieval dark age, that threatened to overwhelm the world. For then we stood alone, totally alone...... If we fell? then what? I dread to think.....
So this means a lot to me. it is the final words of two speeches by Churchill.

Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.


What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.
Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their finest hour.'
Winston Churchill - June 18, 1940

Sapper

thank you Brian again............... and sadly through your words and quotes I see the same correlation happening elsewhere in the world.

Fight to stay free !

Erich ~

So glad I found this thread.

Dear Sapper, Thank you so much for writing your story. I'm the daughter of a Canadian Veteran and I so wish I could hear his story as I am getting to hear your's. Please do keep writing.

Michelle

Thank you Michelle for your kind words.
I am afraid that the Veterans, Both from Normandy and Arnhem Associations are getting very thin on the ground now. The youngest of us, is between 82/3 years old. Many, or most of the Vets Associations have closed, or are defunct. The old vets cannot get out in the evenings, and getting someone with enough savvy to carry out the duties of Chairman and Secretary.... are now almost impossible.

The idea of writing the story of a ordinary soldier? was done for one reason only. That is, or was! to try to keep the memory of what happened as fresh in the minds of the following generations as possible. Perhaps Michelle, I succeeded.... if only in a minor way.

During that exercise I have made many friends from all quarters.Those folk that share an interest in what was undoubtedly, in my mind. The greatest period in our Nations History.

from the time of Dunkirk when we stood alone. The last bastion of freedom in the whole of Europe. Till the eventual Victory at Bremen.

Although I paid a high price for that Victory, never the less, it was a great privilege to have lived in those times, and to have know such heroic men and women.
Not less the heroism shown by the Canadians.......Great lads. Brave as the come!

When I first started the series of lectures. I made it my business to get hold of a Canadian battle dress top that I wore....as a sign of respect for great Allies. I borrowed it from the tank Museum at Bovington.

I have also got a set of car flags that include the Union jack The Canadian, and the American flags. That flutter proudly, as I tear around the town on Veterans day.

I would like to upload the pictures, but don't know how to reduce the size.
Best Regards to all on this site.
sapper

Like everyone else reading this thread I'm honoured by it.

A lot of the whippersnappers won't have known a WWII veteran. I'm old enough to have been lucky in having grown up surrounded by them, England was indeed a land of heroes.

So it's a pleasure to "meet" another one.

I've sent you a private message about resizing your pictures, hope it's agreeable.

cheers,

Thanks. I have sent a PM, Cheers Sapper

Thank you, Sapper, for both responding to me and your recognition of the others who fought alongside you.

I'm writing about my parents, a Londoner (my mother) who married a Canadian gunner. I've been fortunate to find the history of the Cdn 3LAA (only artillery at Dieppe), but it is your descriptions that make me feel, smell, taste, and see what you and he lived through. He was there at Caen/Falaise and Verriere Ridge and on through to Germany. As I read, I remember the odd thing he would say such as the smell and sight of the carnage in the Falaise Gap.

I've printed the thread so I and my husband can read it while away from the Computer. We are tentatively planning to trace the steps of my father in 2009 and 2010. I will truly feel it having read your words.

Michelle

Hi Michelle.
Thanks for that. best wishes.
sapper

Well Sapper It's high time I added my comments to the long list of accolades awarded you and your story. I have not read all of your work as yet but certainly enough to recognize the value of your input to all its readers. My own escapades offered a mere glimpse of the turmoil taking place throughout Europe. Our threads have been running beside each other for some time on this remarkable forum and hope they continue. Some of your present day cohorts have taken up lodging on the grounds of our old RAF Squadron 514 at Waterbeach Cambs. On a visit there in '98 we were given a tour of the premises by some of the obliging inhabitants. How ever you and yours spend Christmas I hope it's a happy one.
From the skipper of Lancaster A2 C Cheers. Alex Campbell

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It is indeed my pleasure to make your acquaintance Alex Campbell. May I offer you my best wishes to you, and all of yours. Specially as the Vets are beginning to get very thin on the ground, Most of the NVA and Market Garden Associations have closed down. The old members are too frail to attend, and no one wants to take on the duties.

The whole purpose of the writings was to keep the memory alive of the dear friends we left behind. In that, it appears to have succeeded, if only in a small way.
"From the fields of Normandy I bring back many memories, beneath them I leave many friends"
Cheers and all the very best.
Brian
Sapper

Hello Sapper
Once again I thank you for sharing your memories as I too believe they should be recorded that future generations should never forget the sacrifices made to ensure the freedoms they enjoy today.
I am currently writing my father's memoirs from the war. He was a pathfinder pilot, who was shot down on his 44th mission, imprisoned in Stalag Luft III and was on the "horror march" near the end of the war. I am very lucky that my father is still alive and his mind is still sharp at almost 85 years old.
You write with great passion and allow the reader to envision some of the horrors you encountered.
Keep well sir and may I extend my best wishes for a joyous holiday season.

Leslie (Trotter) Zwingli

I am truly humbled that anyone should take the trouble to write as they do. For than I can only do one thing, that is to say "thank you very much" And to remember the whole purpose of these postings, is for that one reason that I mentioned earlier

That is for all the brave young men that never came home, should be remembered.

I have probably posted this before, but I wrote it with sincerity.

Quietly! Quietly! Whisper my Name.

So many long years ago I died, under Norman apple trees.
But now my Spirit wanders, as a warm and gentle breeze.
Hush! Quietly, Whisper my name, in that long forgotten place.
Then feel the warmth of my Spirit, caress lightly on your face.

For now, I am the jewelled Summer Lark, that soars on high.
Bright in heavens concert hall, my song will fill the sky.
I am the tumbling cloud’s that rise, to touch the face of Joy.
No longer held by earthly bonds, a once young and vital boy.

In an instant life was swept away, in a brutal savage war.
Look not for me in Normandy, for I am there no more.
I am the peace in woodland glades, in veiled cascades of green.
Feel me close, in your times of joy, sensed, but never seen.

Whisper my name, and hear my voice, in cascading woodland spring,
Or England's flowered primrose banks, wherein the bluebells ring.
Don’t mourn for me, quietly call my name, I'll visit in your dreams.
And, fill your mind with the beauty, of heavens joyous scenes.

Hush! Hush! Just whisper, quietly, call my name.
Whisper quietly.

Brian Guy.
For all my Friends of long ago.

Sapper

I love your poetry. You should look into getting it published.

Kindest regards

Leslie

Sapper,

I'm a little late to this thread but I wanted to say THANKS for all of your stories here. They will occupy me for hours and hours - these are fantastic accounts! Thank you, Sir, and God Bless. I hope this finds you in good health and happiness.

Happy Holidays from America

Hi CD13 Thanks for that mate.
sadly it is rare for an ordinary soldier, of whatever regiment or corps to write about the events and happenings....It is nearly always "Ossifers" What is written here is the life of a Field Company RE in war..Trouble is the old boys cannot remember and so many of them will not write those memoirs down.

That to me is a loss of a precious bit of history, for once they depart, it is lost for ever.
Lots of good wishes.
Cheers sapper

Thank you very much Brian. To you and all the others who grace us with the gift of your words to us, younger people.

Every word a treasure.

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