What causes me the most upset? Nothing really, except having to deal with my war injuries...That is a full time job. The injuries are severe, and do take some putting up with...But I have been dealing with this problem since 1945 Cheers. I enjoy life, and intend to continue enjoying it. I have decided not to take part in the dying business...It does not appeal in the slightest..... Big Grin Sapper
Canuck - As Brian said to me after about three hours in his company during which we may have discussed our various wounds -and aftermaths - in between uproarious laughter - and I was getting into the Cab to take me away - "Tom - WE are still here !" Said it all I guess ! Cheers
Aye And a privilege to meet old Veteran matea Tom. With that special understanding that only those that have shared death and wounds can ever know. So keep well Tom, there are not many of us nice blokes (like you and me left) sapper
Brian - I am still determined to last until I am 150 y.o. - that's the ONLY way to get all my money back from the Government !
What causes me the most upset? Nothing really, except having to deal with my war injuries...That is a full time job. The injuries are severe, and do take some putting up with...But I have been dealing with this problem since 1945 Cheers. I enjoy life, and intend to continue enjoying it. I have decided not to take part in the dying business...It does not appeal in the slightest..... Big Grin Sapper Sapper You are as special a person as the air & ground crew I meet at the 75 (NZ) Sqn reunions of all ages. Though you would not admit you are just as much of a hero! Go on giving us your experiences because only through those can we even begin to understand.... xx
I have decided not to take part in the dying business...It does not appeal in the slightest..... Sapper Brian, That is the most uplifting (and funny) thing I have read in ages!! You have out-quoted Winston Churchill, Oscar Wilde et al with that one!! Kind regards, Tom.
Think about it Tom Mate. They either stick you in blistering hot over....Or dig a deep hole, shove you in and chuck dirt on top.... Neither strikes me as a nice day out. Big Grin Sapper
Tom/Brian This site would simply not be the same without you! Continued best wishes for good health and happiness to you both. Cheers
Brian, Tom and veterans et al, No one could ever imagine what it was really like unless you were there and experienced the real Hell of War, which you did and suffer to this day. The world owes so much to people like you that words cannot express enough. My utmost respect. Regards Tom
My Dad lost an arm and a leg at Monte Cassino in March 1944 and was taken off the mountain on a mule. Luckily the medic was a genius and Dad is still with us today, aged 93 and a half.
Brian - et al When I decide finally to go i.e. in another 64 years - they might have come up with another method to get rid of the old bones - like beaming us up somewhere ! Hey - you never know - just think the first computers filled a room at Manchester Univ - now they fit one hand ! Cheers
What will happen Tom. Is that a new type computer will be found. us old fellows will walk into a cabinet/ Switch it on and we will be reduced to the size of a pack of cards....Painlessly!... Then that package will be totally rejuvenated..Then we will be put back into the cabinet and the process reversed.Out will walk a young man of about 24... "With all the knowledge we gained over many years" ..... The mind boggles. Heroson please send my best wishes to you old Dad. Cheers Sapper
Brian/Tom I read an excerpt from Flying into Hell (Mel Rolfe) this weekend that instantly reminded me of you both. George Griffiths, a Halifax pilot in 102 Squadron, was one of four, of an eight man crew, to survive when their aircraft exploded over Berlin on January 20th, 1944. They had been hit by a night fighter at exactly 8:00 pm after completing their bombing run. Griffiths telephoned his former bomb aimer, Laurie Underwood, every year after the war, at precisely 8 pm on January 20th. He always said, " Happy anniversary Laurie, we've survived another year ". He did this for 54 consecutive years until he passed away in 1998.
Canuck - During my last trip to the UK in May of this year -as well as having a few laughs with Sapper - and Frank MEE ex W01 of the REME - I spent two days with a man I met on the New Street Station of Birmingham way back in '42 both on our way to Bury St Edmunds for Initial Infantry training at Gibralter Barracks - we shared a double bunk - did all our training - passed the same tests - went for Tank training at Barnard Castle - went overseas to-gether - joined the same regiment - fought in the same battles he was injured getting out of his tank in the dark as the track covers had been blown off - I was wounded two days later - six months later - in a new regiment I walked into his billet and he nearly died - we attended each other's wedding - me and my wife came to Canada - he visited for three weeks - and so when I go to the UK - I spend some time with him and Hilda his dear wife, and so you could be persuaded that we have been friends for some 68 years - that's not bad... Cheers
Canuck- goes without saying.....went through many experiences together - that's the cement...... Cheers
Forum members... There once was a brokerage house called EF Hutton. They ran a series of TV adverts back in the '70's or '80's that had the handle " When EF Hutton speaks, everyone listens". Well, when Sapper and Tom speak, we all listen. Thanks for sharing.
