Town / Village War Memorials - posts pre 2016

Mildenhall: I well remember the Remembrance Sunday parade there in 1970. It was pouring with rain and there were puddles everywhere. It was on that occasion that I realised the reverence the USAF showed to their National Flag and Squadron Standards (or whatever the Colonials call them).

At the sounding of the Last Post, as the Brits lowered their Standards and Flags to the ground (ie, dropped them into whatever puddle and crud was lying on the road in front of the Standard Bearer), the Flags and Standards of the USAF were lowered to the 'trail' and not onto the ground. As the 12 Squadron Standard Bearer raised the Standard there was water and crud dripping off it. Smart, those Americans - and no dry cleaning bills.

Stamford

Missed the Battle of Britain Parade, but the Ensign was still flying (corrections to the term welcome)

WJT, there is a reason why the Americans dont let there colours/standards touch the floor. Under their law the national flag is never "dipped". And as for cleaning bills for British colours and standards, well I wouldnt want the contract as they are never ever cleaned.

That's told me!

I've been through this a few times during last post ceremonies in Britain... The American flag mustn't never ever touch the ground under any circumstance for any reason. Especially under the care of a military honor guard, that is one of the reasons they are carrying arms. It mustn't be used as a cover or a table cloth for a cover for displays etc... If the flag becomes unserviceable it must be dispose of properly in a dignified manner (Burning) in private. It is something the American military and her veterans revere as something reverent and to be protected at all cost. See more at
madeinusaflags.com/fletho.html

And the same applies in the British forces with regimental colours. When carried in battle they were to be protected at all costs, thats why the army has the rank of colour sergeant, they were responsible for guarding the colour.

Stithians War Memorial
Situated by the parish church. Stithians is a small village between Helston and Redruth in Cornwall.

[IMG]/community/84698=6058-Stithians War Memorial.jpg[/img]
[IMG]/community/84698=6059-Stithians War Memorial detail.jpg[/img]
[IMG]/community/84698=6060-Stithians War Memorial names 1.jpg[/img]
[IMG]/community/84698=6061-Stithians War Memorial names 2.jpg[/img]

This is the memorial in the small German town of Legden in northern Germany. The names are arranged according to the date they died and go back to the 1800's and I assume the Franco Prussian War.





Names appear through both World Wars and at the very end (bottom right corner) under 1946 you can see the name of Aloys Goke





Aloys was a driver in the Wehrmacht and became a prisoner of war in Russia. Unfortunately the Russians hung on to their PoWs for a bit after the war, however Aloys was in a bad way and they let him go. He only made it about half way home and died in a place called Frankfurt a.d. Oder which is at the border of the old East Germany. Aloys was my Grandfather.

Falmouth Home Guard Memorial
This memorial to the local Home Guard is situated on the coast path at Pennance Point just south of Swanpool Beach.

[IMG]/community/85453=6248-Falmouth Home Guard Memorial Pic 1.jpg[/img]
[IMG]/community/85453=6249-Falmouth Home Guard Memorial Pic 2.jpg[/img]
[IMG]/community/85453=6250-Falmouth Home Guard Memorial Pic 3.jpg[/img]
Location SW 805305

Continuing the theme of Bigbear's post and the post war problems caused by the Soviets, I recently found this memorial near Mylor Bridge near Falmouth in Cornwall.
Location SW8117 3680

[IMG]/community/85454=6251-Mylor Ukranian Memorial Pic 1.jpg[/img]
[IMG]/community/85454=6252-Mylor Ukranian Memorial Pic 2.jpg[/img]
Apparently there was a camp after the war for these "displaced persons" on the site of HAA Falmouth 2. The memorial is in the hedge by the side of the lane. The site has reverted to farmland, although still contains a reservoir.