War Vets

Who in here has relatives that are still alive that were a part of a Major war NOT started by the USA.

ie WW1 , WW2, Korea

I start.

My grandfather fought in WW2, I am not sure if he fought with Canada or Ireland, but I will look into it.

My father is also a war vet, from Korea. He fought out of Canada. But I am not sure which regiment? Either had to be Ontarian or Nova Scotian.

I will look into that also.

Sweden doesn't have Rememberance day, so I had my mother ship me some poppies. I have never went a year in MY ENTIRE life without making the trip to the cenetaph on Nov 11. It was quite bothersome this year.

Everyone giggled at my bright red poppy too. Needless to say I wanted to poke their eyes out with the pin, but I avoided, afterall, Rememberance day has a lot to do with peace too.

I will never stop wearing poppies. My children, even if they grow up in Sweden, will wear poppies. Otherwise they might get a smack in the head.
Joking.

I'm pretty positive that my grandfather was in the Canadian Navy, during the Second World War. I dont know much of the details, I will have to ask my dad. I have my grandpa's helmet, its sweet. im not sure if its the one he used or if its one that he had from the first world war... because it says Dominion of Canada. So would that be from ww1 or ww2?

In my family everyone who was of age or lied about their age, were overseas during WWII, this meant that 4 of my uncles went to fight. Two were in infantry Regiments, the Regina Rifles and the other in the Perth Regiment. The one in the Regina Rifles landed on D-Day and was KIA four weeks later. His brother in the Perth's was in action in Italy till early 1945 when the all the Canadian armies joined in April/45 to finish of the war. He was wounded twice and was in hospital when hostilities ceased. The other side of the family sent two more as well. One in the 15th Field Regiment Artillery, landed on or about D-Day and was in continuous engagement with the enemy till wars end. His brother was in the RCAF and was on loan to the RAF and flew in Ventura's and B-17's. His 48 missions out of Wick Scotland, consisted of convoy escort and flying into the arctic to gather weather data. The same data used to postpone D-Day till the following day.

I was in Italy for this years Remembrance Day and found they too celebrate the day. They actually have two days for some reason. The first one is on Nov.4 and it is to remember WWI. (I have no idea why that day and not Nov.11) The second was on the Sunday which was Nov.10, but this may be because of it being the closest Sunday to Nov.11, similar to the way the British do it. I was in Florence on Nov.11 just as the WTO protesters were clearing out of the city. I only saw a couple of poppies being worn and they looked like the British type. Which look more like a flower with a leaf and were on older gentlemen who one of looked at mine and gave me nod of approval. He was wearing two hearing aids, so I'm assuming Artillery. :wink:

I am pretty sure my grandfather on my dads side was a medic in the military during WWII.

My mom's father I don't believe was involved. I know the family was, but not sure of everyone. I do know they have a plaque and letter from Winston Churchill thanking my great grandfather personally for his inventions and contributions to the war.

My sig says it all..
im 12th generation to have served Crown and Country

My father was 16 when he in-listed and served in Italy & France.

When I was in Rome this past October I visited "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier"(monument to victor emmanuel 2nd) I also laid flowers with a Canadian Flag (with card saying Thank you" in ST. Peter's Church at the Vatican.

Natooke I was just there in November and was quite impressed by the monument and surrounding architechture. It looks great sitting high up and guarded 24/7. We went by it a night too and it was even better all lit up.

I had the honour of serving under him and knowing this great man, as did Fred Fisher VC. He was one of the founding officers of the "REAL" Devils Brigade that the movie was based on...
This is an e-mail I recived yesterday

This message has been sent to all who have
subscribed to the e-mail list through the
Black Watch of Canada web site.

One of the pillars of our Regiment has passed
away. Col. Bourne served as the Colonel of
the Regiment and Honourary Colonel for many years.
Of late, he has been hospitalized in Ste. Anne's
Veterans Hospital where he succumbed to his illnesses
on Sunday night.

Retired. Formerly Chairman of Atlas Construction Inc.
Past President of Quebec Road Builders Association.
Past President, Montreal Construction Association.
McGill University Canadian Officer Training Corps 1935.
Officer RHC 1937. 1 RHC 1939 42 Canada and United Kingdom.
lst Special Service Force (Devil's Brigade), United States,
Aleutian Islands, Italy, and France during which time
he was Battalion Commander from 1942-44. Various appointments
in Regiment after World War II. Commanding Officer from 1953-55.
Colonel of the Regiment from 1968-73. Appointed Honorary Colonel
in 1973. Retired from Regiment in November 1987 after 50
years service.

His funeral will be a large affair and the details
are as follows:

Visitation: Thursday 12 Dec 02
1400-1700 hours and 1900-2100 hours
Collins, Clarke, MCGillivary & White
5610 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 483-1870

Regimental Funeral: Friday 13 Dec 02
1100 hours
Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul
Sherbrooke Street at Redpath

Dress for serving members:
CF with spats and hair sporran
Medals

Further details can be read here:
http://www.blackwatchcanada.com/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgi

under the Fallen Comrades forum.
___________________________________________

Although it may sometimes seem
they have been forgotten
in today's atomic world
their personalities still live
in our memories
for without their gift
we should not be here today

RoyalHighlander, Canadian Black Watch & the family of Col. Bourne ... I'm deeply sorry for your loss. I bow to you and thank you all for serving a Great Nation ... thank you & hugs. :cry:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regina ... agree breath taking by night. The best time was at night sitting in Piazza Navona & drinking wine by The Pantheon. The Fontana di Trevi ... i was lost for words, but I'll be back as a 1 euro over the left shoulder assures me to return ... awesome awesome and 24 degress warm at night in the middle of october and back home it was snowing

Yeah saw all of the above at night, which is better than the day I think.
Natooke did you get to Siena? We spent most of our time here and north a bit in the Chianti area. It was my favorite by far. The Piazza del Compo in Siena, was a great place to just sit and sip the local beverages.

We were there the first two weeks in November and the weather was great. Our last night in Italy we spent at a hotel 10km north of the Rome airport (Fiumicino) in a place called Fregene. Our hotel was across the street from the beach and there was nobody on there for miles. It was sunny and about 23c at 11:00 in the morning. 15 hours later we landed at the Toronto airport where it was a freezing -11c ........that was a shock to the old system!

A poem by Kipling abiout the English in Afganistan
many years ago...

"When you're wounded and left,

On Afganistan's plains,

And the women come out,

To cut up your remains,

Just roll on your rifle,

And blow out your brains,

And go to your Gawd

Like a soldier."

Rudyard Kipling

I want to thank every Canadian that has fought for the freedom of this country and for the freedom of the world. Bless those that died on the battlefield. I am proud to be part of this selfless nation known as Canada.

Bless ALL the soldiers, living and dead.........Remember those who have died, but don't forget those who continue to sacrifice their time and their living lives in the service of their country........Bless their families and their children.........At the end of the day,the children and the country are whom we're trying to protect right?