Passing Of A Generation

Discussion in 'General' started by jamesicus, Apr 26, 2005.

  1. jamesicus

    jamesicus Senior Member

  2. adrian roberts

    adrian roberts Senior Member

    As a teenager in the seventies I knew a few WW1 veterans, and I've always wished I'd talked to them more. Now the men and women who fought WW2 are also passing, and all we have is the freedom they fought for, often taken for granted, misused and even perverted.
    Trouble is, most of them never speak about their experiences.
    When you see a pristine preserved Spitfire or Mustang at an Air Display, it's hard to believe that the original pilots are old men in their 80's, if they are alive at all. (And if the bureaucrats and insurance companies have their way, we won't be seeing many of those aircraft flying much longer)

    "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble/
    He springs up like a flower and withers away/
    like a fleeting shadow he does not endure"

    Adrian
     
  3. Kiwiwriter

    Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member

    That's why I urge people who meet veterans to get their stories down, on tape if possible. Fortunately, the Imperial War Museum, the new Canadian War Museum, the US Naval Institute, and other fine outfits are way ahead of me in those endeavors. If you can, buy the IWM's tapes of oral histories of WW1 and WW2. Great stuff.
     
  4. GUMALANGI

    GUMALANGI Senior Member

    Despite of difficult struggle for my country to gain its freedom,.
    War vets pension are mediocre. One have to go through
    many beareucracies and red tape in order to obtain one.
    Many just gave up on having one.

    people forget of what they gave yesterday was
    for us today.

    Regards
    Gumalangi
     
  5. jamesicus

    jamesicus Senior Member

    I think this is appropriate here:

    TOMMY ADKINS
    by Rudyard Kipling

    I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
    The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
    The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
    I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

    O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
    But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
    The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
    O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

    I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
    They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
    They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
    But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
    But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
    The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
    O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

    Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
    Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
    An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
    Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

    Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
    But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
    The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
    O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

    We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
    But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
    An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
    Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

    While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
    But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
    There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
    O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

    You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
    We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
    Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
    The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

    For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
    But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
    An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
    But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

    Notes on contemporary language usage:

    public-'ouse -- a pub, drinking house

    publican -- the pub owner

    red-coats -- generic slang for British soldiers

    Tommy -- also (later) generic name for British soldiers

    music-'alls -- musical entertainment theatres

    stalls -- prime seats near the stage in a Theatre

    the Widow -- Queen Victoria
     

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