Passchendaele: The Village That Gave Its Men To War

[mikey4444]

I have been listening and reading about this battle this morning, and the scale of it is truly awful.

[Tilly2]

Mikey, have you read 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks?

If you are interested in WW1, give it a try. It is absolutely riveting.

[anotheoldgit]

I don't know about it giving it's men to war mikey, but it gave plenty of our men both British and Empire.

Did you watch the covered on BBC 2 all last night, very well done in my opinion, but perhaps a little too long.

One thing that did jump out at me was, why did the Duchess of Cambridge find the need to dress her poppy up with a piece of jewellery?

[mikey4444]

AOG....I watched some of it. Very powerful.

Tilly....I have picked up Birdsong many times, so I must give it a go.

[Tilly2]

You will enjoy it, Mikey.

[Islay]

All the women of note were wearing broaches, as it is the proper way to dress!

[Berniecuddles2]

AOG makes a comment
Islay straight into him
its monday good morning to another wonderful week here on A/B lol ;-}

[bhg481]

I saw Islay's post as an explanation, rather than an attack.

[albaqwerty]

Some of the coverage I've seen on the TV has been extremely moving.

[Old_Geezer]

The legion sell broaches among other things.
http://www.poppyshop.org.uk/charity-jewellery.html#_size=149

[Berniecuddles2]

you are right bhg my apologies

[bhg481]

Not to worry, Bernie - written text is easily misunderstood as you can't see facial expressions or intonations in the voice.

[waterboatman]

Mikey I strongly recommend Birdsong. A very well written book.

[mikey4444]

I think the Passchendaele 100 Poppy Lapel Pin is rather tasteful :::

http://www.poppyshop.org.uk/passchendaele-100-poppy-lapel-pin.html

Lets keep this thread clean and peaceful please !

[anotheoldgit]

Old_Geezer
/// The legion sell broaches among other things. ///

With the poppy as the main theme, not what must have been a very expensive piece of jewellery, so as to decorate it.

If she wanted more than a plain poppy why didn't she wear one of the British Legion Passchendaele broaches, such as this?

Or was £39.99 too cheap for her?

http://www.poppyshop.org.uk/passchendaele-100-poppy-lapel-pin.html

[anotheoldgit]

Islay
/// All the women of note were wearing broaches, as it is the proper way to dress! ///

Yes but they didn't wear them to over shadow the poppy, in fact they didn't wear the poppy, well at least the Queen of the Belgians didn't, perhaps because the poppy is a British thing.

[jackthehat]

On such a poignant and important day such as this, I think it takes a special sort of 'sour' to focus on something as small as a brooch worn by one of the dignitaries....

I lost 2 great-uncles in the Great war; neither in any of the great named battles but I am reminded of their sacrifices whenever commemorative events like this take place.

[Old_Geezer]

Didn't see her, but maybe no one gave her the site link ;-)

[bhg481]

Well said Jack

[albaqwerty]

I'll need to give Birdsong a try.

Over the past few years, on various commemorative events, I am often reminded of the poem by Wilfred Owen (?) Dulce Et Decorum Est.

Still get a lump in my throat and the eyes fill up.

[HansUrbancka]

http://i2.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article10902425.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200/Prince-William-Duke-of-Cambridge-and-his-wife-Catherine-Duchess-of-Cambridge-arrive-in-Ypres.jpg