Its November 11th if you haven`t noticed. Today in many places its Rememberance day. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when Germany signed the Armistice, today is the day we remember those who fell in that war as well as every war since then.
Given the current situation in the Middle east today is even more poignant as more and more of our troops are taken and more and more of us are feeling or have felt the effects of war in one way or another. I know I have.
I take you back about 20 years, I was a long haired kid on way to Germany with my little brother to meet our Mom who was based in Osnabruc with her new husband a sergeant in the 4th Royal Tank Regiment a Scotish regiment. While I was there I was taken to the naffi for a drink by my step father. If you can remember the old looking buildings you see in the old war movies, the naffi looked like one of them. Anyway I walked in feeling just a little bit nervous. Walked up to the bar with George my step dad and asked for a pint of scotch, which did give the bar tender a look of confusion until George explained “Excuse him, he`s English, Ge i`m a pint o` heavy”. I got my pint and followed George to a table to talk and get to know him as this was the first time I had met him. About an hour and many pints later the door behind me opened and in walked a man I could only describe as the size of three men but not an ounce of fat on him walked in. I remember the Barman did not even ask this man what he wanted, putting his pint and a short on the counter.
After a while the man walked over to were George and myself were sitting and sat down next to me. George introduced be as Gina`s boy over from England, telling him I was ok, he then went on to introduce the man as “Thug”, telling me that he is called thug for a reason, I will let you figure out the reason. I can tell you he was the nicest man a person could meet, when he was in a good mood.
Thug, I dont know his real name, I was never told it, anyway Thug was military born and bread, I have since been told that he probably could not have coped in the civilian world and would have probably ended up in prison. I know he did spend more than a few nights in military prison for fighting or being drunk and disorderly. Saying this when he was on duty he was “on duty” 4 RTR was his home and the only family he had.
About a year later I was talking to my Mom on the phone and I happened to ask how Thug was, after a short silence George came on the phone and told me he was dead, a few month after I returned home to England he was sent to Northern Ireland to do a three month tour (I think it was three month), while he was on patrol his squad was attacked and he was killed by an IRA sniper.
As well as remembering those who have fallen in past and present conflicts, today is the day I remember Thug. 4 RTR was disbanded in 1993 as part of government Cut backs.
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Remembering you Thug
Thank you Thug.
A solemn day we must always remember.