tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post1523115119743378955..comments2024-03-28T17:35:45.948+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Courage, Commitment and Bravery … D-Day 2019Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-87626667073192181902019-07-02T14:01:43.427+01:002019-07-02T14:01:43.427+01:00Hi Sue - good to see you here ... thanks for this ...Hi Sue - good to see you here ... thanks for this recommendation - I will definitely look it up ... it sounds interesting. I go to monthly talks on Military History ... so this will be informative and perhaps I can give a talk on aspects of the book.<br /><br />I'd like to learn more about what went on behind the scenes ... and as you say your horizons broadened as you read it - so I'll be seeing if our library has it ... I need to work out the library online ordering system!<br /><br />Really appreciate you commenting like this ... it's what I love about blogging - the interaction one gets and thus the insights you and others pass on.<br /><br />Thanks so much - cheers and enjoy your winter - at last we have some sun ... and Wimbledon to enjoy - all the best HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-73529687389476443572019-07-02T01:24:00.939+01:002019-07-02T01:24:00.939+01:00I appreciate your comment at the end of your post ...I appreciate your comment at the end of your post about the need to understand history. Recently I read a very fine book of historical fiction called The Nightingale. It was about the Resistance in France during WWII, from the perspective of the women who were left on their own once the men had left for war. It expanded my consciousness about those times in Europe, and gave me new understanding about what France, in this case, went through. Thanks for posting on this important anniversary!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779183231776072253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-4941705329472065992019-06-15T08:36:52.136+01:002019-06-15T08:36:52.136+01:00@ Chrys - yes we must never forget ...
@ Holly -...@ Chrys - yes we must never forget ... <br /><br />@ Holly - lovely to see you ... I couldn't find another comment ... but pleased you've read the post and visited ... <br /><br />Good to see you both - cheers Hilary<br /><br /><br />I'm going to add this para at the end of the post:<br /><br />One thing I've learnt is - we need to understand history, the different peoples of this world, their culture and customs etc - before we go expecting others to be like us ... Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-2773693621303798832019-06-15T04:21:44.139+01:002019-06-15T04:21:44.139+01:00Hi Hilary! I think my comment went into the spam f...Hi Hilary! I think my comment went into the spam folder. :(H. R. Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06715450637785127208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-81273127284189795232019-06-14T18:31:49.089+01:002019-06-14T18:31:49.089+01:00Great post and facts. Let us never forget.Great post and facts. Let us never forget.Chrys Feyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955009490266358041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-65664957336873892382019-06-13T16:55:06.719+01:002019-06-13T16:55:06.719+01:00@ Sandra - yes ... though I sadly know nothing abo...@ Sandra - yes ... though I sadly know nothing about it ... it was just never mentioned. Yes ... certainly people really do come to the fore in times of war - but D-day was just so dreadful, yet today we are free - thank goodness. <br /><br />@ Inger - it's amazing to think people are still alive who were there on the beaches in those early (end) days of the War. The BBC does put on very good tv ceremonies (commemorative events) for us to be able to watch and get the added history, and/or poignant stories - as you say ... yes one could just hold them all tight, whispering words of thanks and love ... thanks for these thoughts: so appropriate ... <br /><br />@ Marja - yes you and your family must have felt the War so badly being in Holland. How terribly sad to know about the Canadian soldiers - that area was so well fortified by the Germans ... just desperate. We had Canadian soldiers here in Eastbourne - not sure how or where they went in WW2 - but must now find out. A bridge too far ... as you say. It looks like the 2nd Liberation War in April 1945 ... just before the Nazis fully surrendered in May 1945 ... was where those poor Canadians were deployed. <br /><br />@ Elsie - I hope our children and descendants will never forget. I really should find out more about the MC - but just family never let those sorts of things be talked about ... he obviously did something pretty extraordinary ... <br /><br />@ Julie - he certainly seems to have been and I know he never forgot those experiences, and had long lasting consequences. But he did what many others would have done I'm sure ... <br /><br />I just hope the Proclamation is understood by all the peoples of the countries who were freed by the extraordinary courage of these brave servicemen who gave of their lives, and those who survived like my father ... who should understand the terrible things the free world was having to deal with - and then kept it free.<br /><br />Julie, that interview must have been horrendous ... regrettably there are still people out there - when killing is just killing for killing's sake - one can't easily comment on it ... sick to your stomach (and mine) is definitely one way ... <br /><br />@ Lynda - you're right ... I remember War as a kid - as dare-devils who always won in the films and tv programmes that came out ... but how different life must have been in those times ... the fighting, the lack of food, the hardships of travel, fear of death or injury etc<br /><br />The servicemen and women did what they had to do ... willingly, conscripted or helping out - and having those memories must have been quite terrible.<br /><br />We all need to understand and relate to what they did for us.<br /><br />Thank you so much for your comments and thoughts reminding us of our families and the horrors of War ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-84820485232962471582019-06-13T16:19:22.794+01:002019-06-13T16:19:22.794+01:00You know, we look at documentaries and we read acc...You know, we look at documentaries and we read accounts of war, and yet only those who have served can truly understand the horrors and the feeling of duty involved. Many thanks to your dad and others who served—willingly, conscripted, or something in between. They did what they had to and carried the weight of those memories for the rest of their lives.Lynda Dietzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15442214431341019380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-86135519414947049312019-06-13T13:58:40.144+01:002019-06-13T13:58:40.144+01:00Hilary, Your father was a true hero. It is importa...Hilary, Your father was a true hero. It is important that we never forget D-Day, and I agree that more counties should have signed the Proclamation. I once interviewed a man who lied about his age at 17, so he could enlist in WWII. He proudly boasted about all the men he had killed and it made me sick to my stomach. I wish I had proof that he was lying, as his joy of killing was anything but heroic.<br /><br />JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-5732200440047329892019-06-13T13:15:54.510+01:002019-06-13T13:15:54.510+01:00Thank you to your father for his service. It will ...Thank you to your father for his service. It will never be forgotten. The Military Cross is such an honor and a true testament to his bravery and his character.<br /><br /><a href="https://helpingpartnersofsexaddictsheal.org/" rel="nofollow">Elsie </a><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-37721830118178832482019-06-13T09:10:39.537+01:002019-06-13T09:10:39.537+01:00oh that awfull war. We are very grateful for the s...oh that awfull war. We are very grateful for the soldiers who fought for us and sad at the same time. I remember my mum telling about the canadian soldiers staying at their house. None of them returned after going to Arnhem (a bridge to far)Marjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17458942200244031009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-55678479964882455552019-06-12T23:27:10.205+01:002019-06-12T23:27:10.205+01:00I saw so many touching moments with our veterans, ...I saw so many touching moments with our veterans, now in their mid-90s, at the ceremonies. I wanted to give each one of them a hug. Ingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02924736131382149056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-11567341133338168242019-06-12T20:37:48.237+01:002019-06-12T20:37:48.237+01:00You must be so proud of your father. That's a ...You must be so proud of your father. That's a beautiful medal. There were so many brave young men, weren't there?Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-18322500531277447282019-06-12T09:24:53.432+01:002019-06-12T09:24:53.432+01:00@ Debbie - there are very very few left now; and v...@ Debbie - there are very very few left now; and very few children of the WW1 era who could tell us things. They all gave us our freedom and our attitude for today to look after each other ... we must remember ... <br /><br />@ Nila - yes we needed to stop the Nazis and their like in both WW1 and WW2 ... but the interlinking of different conflicts in other parts of the world - Africa and the Middle East, then too Asia was a step too far ... thank goodness they were stopped. I had a quick look at El Alamein ... I'd like to visit - but am fairly certain that's not somewhere I'll get to.<br /><br />Your comment is interesting - thank you ... and so right - the first paragraph, as too here the 2nd one ... we do memorialise our historical figures (rightly or wrongly) yet warfare goes on with lots of money spent on things to kill other humans: it would be better spent helping everyone out of poverty ... <br /><br />Somehow we need to move societies to not accept tyrants ... and to live in peace sharing our lives ... a change of acceptance and attitude is needed ... I hope leaders come through ... and we all learn to appreciate others ... <br /><br />@ Ray - I won't pass comment except to agree with you ... the less said about the man the better - the Proclamation understands the world as it should be ... <br /><br />@ Kelly - thank you ...<br /><br />@ Diane - good to see you - and yes I know this time of year is always busy ... Spring, Summer and early Autumn are wonderful ... lots of light - theoretically good weather (as it tips it down outside!) ... and visitors. Then a trip to SA ... oh lucky you ... great to think about as time marches towards lift off!<br /><br />@ Tara - Always lovely to see you and thank you for the compliment. We do need to remember our fallen, and our families who suffered so much ... <br /><br />Thanks so much for visiting and commenting - always love seeing you here - I'm just glad last week was mostly dry for the commemorations - it's been very stormy this week. Appreciate you all ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-62643330295611361752019-06-12T03:25:14.830+01:002019-06-12T03:25:14.830+01:00I'm glad I stopped by for this post. The signi...I'm glad I stopped by for this post. The significance of this time period should never be forgotten. You did a beautiful job with your personal and historical presentation, as usual. Thank you!<br /><br />And thank you for always supporting me =) <br />You're a special lady!Tara Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07587802105993889515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-50907980705025722622019-06-11T21:02:39.958+01:002019-06-11T21:02:39.958+01:00Great post Hilary, well done. Sorry I am not visi...Great post Hilary, well done. Sorry I am not visiting often, so much to do in the garden, trips away, visitors and another trip to RSA in October!!!!! Take care DianeRhodesiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00159888599601532530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-26902087958243252642019-06-11T08:42:46.501+01:002019-06-11T08:42:46.501+01:00Inspiring post. Inspiring post. Kelly Steelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09030019966183220952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-27513132459114496732019-06-11T00:59:14.933+01:002019-06-11T00:59:14.933+01:00I'm reasonably certain the American President ...I'm reasonably certain the American President who signed that state had no idea of what he was signing. I am certain that likely believed the the D in the massive celebration of D Day stood for Donald and the Allies were finally recognizing his greatness...:(troutbirderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14087811292280881959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-82477644182198906602019-06-10T21:56:35.927+01:002019-06-10T21:56:35.927+01:00WW2 was one of the very few 'just' wars ev...WW2 was one of the very few 'just' wars ever fought. However, the casualties were and are heart-stopping. I have visited the war graves at El Alamein and it is gut wrenching to stand there in front of row upon row of the dead, some of them barely older than boys, 20 years old.<br /><br />It's sobering to reflect that we memorialise the martyrs but low grade warfare goes on endlessly round the world. And huge amounts of money are spent developing more and more refined weapons to kill each other. So very saddening that we so easily ignore the lessons from history.Nilanjana Bosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656370320322301943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-14366401065447659732019-06-10T19:08:14.716+01:002019-06-10T19:08:14.716+01:00I think it's important to have these commemora...I think it's important to have these commemorations, otherwise, past history will be forgotten. There are so very few WWII vets left to tell the stories. Their sacrifices must be honoured. They gave so much so we all can live free. Thank you for this, Hilary!Debbie D. https://www.blogger.com/profile/13153118405565035071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-36831959165000150892019-06-10T14:32:56.937+01:002019-06-10T14:32:56.937+01:00@ Elizabeth – I agree the uncertainty of it all mu...@ Elizabeth – I agree the uncertainty of it all must have been really worrying – what was going to happen etc. We had to defend our country as well as do what we could to repel the Nazis from Europe – and thus join with the country to help this necessary cause. Those young men and women did all they could (and more).<br /><br />@ Val – thank you … like so many others my parents were in action … but my London grandparents went to Wales to work on the war effort – thus escaping the blitz, which must have been horrendous.<br /><br />@ Liz – War of any kind is too terrible … and your father, like so many, either never did, or now on occasions felt able to tell some of their experiences. I can understand them wanting to forget those days … we are just lucky to be living in peaceful times.<br /><br />@ Fil – I never paid much attention to the planning or logistics of the War – but recently I’ve been taught so much through these sorts of programmes and events.<br /><br />I must go to Normandy sometime to appreciate the landscape, see some of the War Cemeteries, appreciate the villages and towns … now I’d understand so much more. Like you I sincerely hope we never have another War of any kind …<br /><br />@ Debby – yes we most definitely need to remember and especially remember the allies who came to help us through the War … <br /><br />@ Jo-Anne – yes there were women too … which I always try and mention … they were mostly European (ie living there) – because that’s where they were … but nurses, ambulance drivers from all allied forces did go over to help … my mother was in the Auxiliary Territorial Service … <br /><br />@ Kay – thanks for your note on your uncle … he was part of the charade that Patton and the 3rd Army put on in Kent re a phantom army set up – keeping the Nazis guessing as to where the attack would come from. He then went in the planned launch known as Operation Cobra after the D-Day invasion … so must have had an awful time – but he came back; whereas your mother’s first husband didn’t get back from Korea. Both very brave men … <br /><br />@ Liza – thank you … it sounds as though like others here our fathers kept their experiences to themselves … probably the only way they could go on into the future … <br /><br />Thanks to you all – the remembrances of the sacrifices made are all humbling … let us today hope in the future for a more caring and peaceful world - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-11917947425718967302019-06-10T11:50:01.082+01:002019-06-10T11:50:01.082+01:00Humbling post, Hilary. Thank you. My dad rarely sp...Humbling post, Hilary. Thank you. My dad rarely spoke of his experiences, although I know he was in France.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-18932258113375191192019-06-10T10:29:38.983+01:002019-06-10T10:29:38.983+01:00My uncle was in World War II, in Patton's 3rd ...My uncle was in World War II, in Patton's 3rd Army. He survived the war and lived to old age but he was never the same as he was before war. We all wish for no wars but we should still honor and remember all who have served in armed forces during times of war. My mother's first husband died in Korea when he was 21. I will remember and honor those who have died in wars or "conflicts".Kay G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07228498846814735537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-49659821741298959752019-06-10T04:02:16.096+01:002019-06-10T04:02:16.096+01:00So many brave men and women we often forget all th...So many brave men and women we often forget all the brave women who served and in some cases died for their country. Jo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-50530919112078866052019-06-09T23:22:42.821+01:002019-06-09T23:22:42.821+01:00Important tribute to D Day, Hilary. And just as im...Important tribute to D Day, Hilary. And just as important to remember our alliances so this war doesn't happen again. xD.G. Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292901895982357952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-46223234787310417832019-06-09T23:13:44.045+01:002019-06-09T23:13:44.045+01:00It was such an incredible feat of bravery and must...It was such an incredible feat of bravery and must have been a terrifying experience amid the triumph for those who survived. We've driven past the beaches in Normandy several times and I am always struck by the enormity of what they all achieved, your father included Hilary. What an amazing legacy to leave behind. Great post - I hope that we will never see the need for anything like it again. Fil xFilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027496923235464642noreply@blogger.com