why is today so important ?

[the loon]

with so much focus on the football it seems that a major aniversery has been overlooked.

90th aniversery of the battle of the somme.

20,000 allied service men fell in this the battle

to give you some kind of persepective of how many fell in battle from both allied and german forces there will be a church service lasting 25 hours in which all the names of those known to have fallen in the battle will be read.


There may be few if any survivers left now but we must never forget there sacrifice.

[Bush Tucker Man]

Too true

Far too many people think those over-paid prima-donnas are heroes.
They know nothing

[Rich_P]

Too true

Far too many people think those over-paid prima-donnas are heroes.
They know nothing

I agree totally.  :(

[the loon]

If you really want to make it hit home as to the death toll think of it this way
time how long it takes to say your name.

no more than 2 seconds if that

it will take 25 hours to read all the names of the dead.

It takes a lot to make me emotional but this is something I really feel strongly about.

[landraver]

I'm a football fan but appreciate the sacrifice of our heros. I know & appreciate that so many (half) of the men & boys that went out there to fight for our freedom in the battle were either killed or injured. It's a very humbling thought that these people had mothers, fathers, wives & children, just like us, but made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I wonder how many of us would do the same nowadays, but I don't think it has anything to do with football guys!

[landraver]

Although I do think you're quite right. At that time Britain was worth defending, so many people in this country have forgotten what its all about. The majority of people nowadays have no idea about the sacrifices these people made. Was it worth it? I don't want to be flippant but could things get much worse?

Jeff

[Rich_P]

Society wise, probably not much worse.  Government/ruling wise, yes it could be far worse.  But I am not denying that it is still bad as it is now.  

[landraver]

Yes we could have less "freedom" but although the standard of living is supposedly better now, I'd like to see the crime figures for murders, stabbings, rapes, shootings, robbery, gurglary, etc at the beginning of the last century!!

Jeff

[Dirty Gertie]

Too right, Kickball? PAH!!
The men commemorated here Are the REAL heroes; the Thiepval Memorial The commemorates almost 73,000 soldiers who died on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and 20th March 1918 who have no known grave. Included in their number is my Great Uncle Fred Chesterfield of the South Staffordshire Rgt. RIP and thanks.

[yer auld aunt nelly]

It still totally awes me just stepping to the fire step,then the jump over the top and in some cases going say FIVE yards before kissing the big one.And doing so having watch your mates go the same way! But it does stun me to think from whistle of at 5.30 in the morning to 1.00 in the afternoon is all it took to wipe out the cream of england.Im sorry but to me an english man that has more reverberation than the WTC  ! Just look at any village hall, memorial and church the length and breth of this country and you will Find HEROES you and i could only hope to be................



  Sorry rant over but this kinda stuff does make me weep at times im not to proud to admit

[LandRoger]

With TOTAL respect to the people that died on the Somme-what the hell has it to do with Footie???????? i will tell ya NOTHING!!!!!!! :roll:  :roll:  :roll:

[the loon]

Ok I think I should clear up my point here.
How much focus has there been in the press yesterday about the football  :?:
example TV news.
Every TV news program has had at least a 5 minute slot about the football or the build up to the game

Aniversary of the battle of the somme
10 minutes on the main evening news

[strapping young lad]

rest assured the covered of the WC has now diminshed due to engurrlund being kicked out

then i would say by tuesday the amount of flags on car windows will have all but disappeared

oh how i live british patriotism!  :?