Remembrance Day: Two minutes of silence at 11:00

Question

For the past few years, I've tried to make sure that I play Terry Kelly's "A Pittance of Time" at least once on Remembrance Day.

It's particularly poignant for me this year, since I read the military records of my great uncle, Earnest Welch, who, like so many others, lied about his age to get into the Army. But poor Earnest just wasn't big enough or strong enough to take the rigours of Army life. He always seemed to be in sick bay due to some injury or other, just during training. And then he died in Kamloops, hundreds of miles from home, just a couple of years after the war ended. I never knew him (he died even before my mother was born), but I feel so sorry for him. I wonder what he would have been like if he had lived long enough for me to have met him.

Comments

Great song, I always remember the 11th of the 11, I try to stay home so that i can properly observe the silence and reflect on the sacrifices of our soldiers who fought and died and also the many who returned with injuries both mental and physical. If I go out the number of people who just ignore the 11th of the 11 is staggering. The small country school that my daughter first attended had a little plaque for each soldier that had been killed in WW1 and WW11, that had attended the school. For such a small school the number was quite large and every 11th of the 11, the school held their own remembrance.  As far as I know they still carry on this tradition.

Answer 1

Greg, I, too, have come across relatives who served so long ago and there are few or no stories to complete the profile as I would like. We honor them best we can, just as you have here. Thanks for sharing Earnest’s story with us.

Answer 2

Wow Greg,  thanks for sharing  "A Pittance of Time"...... have always been moved by the song and Terry's collection of veteran pictures is moving too.    

Greatly  appreciated.

Peggy