There are 53 British & Irish villages ,hamlets.Who had men serving in the forces during world war one. They came back from WW1.Of those 53, 14 had men & woman who served in WW2, every one came back home to. My story is fiction a thread of truth with in.
Then I remembered seeing a T V pregame. About a village who had refused to put a a First War memorial. Cos one villager had been shot at dawn , he'd cracked.
The Village understood , the Army refused to understand. So that Village refused , to have a marmoreal .
Were all remembered on a memorial or none at all. A woman newly moved in , got talking . To cut the story short. A memorial was erected by all the Villages chipping in. The Village were all now happy , as all those who did not come back. Names now proudly showing on there memorial none left off.
So I got to wondering if this Village had a similar story to tell. I came across the the Village pub. Now the local pub , the best place to hear the local story's.
It were a Sunday I recall , so the pub were rather busy. I sat on a bar stool , the land lord. Asked me me what I wonted '' point of bitter please , mate'' , he duly pored me my point of cooking bitter. '' Just visiting '' , '' yes , just passing bye ''
''on a walking holiday '' , '' where you from '' , the land lord ask. I told him '' that back south , then ''. '' Yes back South '' '' got to come from somewhere '' I in humor said. The land lord smiled.
I said '' I was walking around the Village. I saw no memorials to the World One or two? I were a wondering why that was. Thought maybe one was one of those shot at dawn. The land lord went rather quiet , as did the pub. I well got a bit concerned I'd brought up something that had better of been left unspoken of.
The Land Lord , grind '' Nay lad nothing of the kind ''. Then Land Lord called over a studious looking bloke. '' Brian , you know more about it than me ''
Tell this lad why we don't have any war memorials. '' the reason simple '' ''I did not catch your name '' he asked me '' my names Davey '' , we shook hands. Well Davey , you see this Village had no one killed in ether wars '' , '' The Village , had men and woman who served in both wars right enough ''. '' They all came back! ''
We joined by others by now in the pub.Who had been listening to our conversation. One was the oldest about 90 I think. He spoke '' Aye all came back'' '' A live , but not in one peace'' '' their were a pare of twins '' , '' Aye , one had lost his left leg the other his right leg '' , '' Still , as they said ''' at least , we only got to bye one pair of shoos '''' , ''' and one pair of socks '''. The old man , his name was old Billy. '' Me old dad , told me how the twins made a joke of it ''. '' I'm buggered if I could of ''. I '' Were you in World War two , Billy? '' I ask , '' Aye I was that'' '' Three years orderly offisers mess room Belfast ''. '' It were a tough posting '' , he said with an embarrassed half grin.
'' The pore sods coped it all , in both wars ''. '' Some came back with out an arm ,, or a hand or two or an hand '' '' one never what was needed to do is bit in making a baby '' '' some blind or deaf , one was both '' , '' It were those who's minds broke under it all '' ''shell shock they called it then ''. '' call it something different . now. '' P T S '' '' Post Traumatic Stress '' '' I offered '' '' yea , what ever '' old billy acknowledge with. '' One , was said , to brake sticks in to two , even lolly sticks , 'e came a cross. Lay them down like crosses on graves ''. '' Aye they all came back'' '' One were sent to an asylum '' '' Never spent less than a week in The Village , when he got back ''. '' Aye , the 30 came back right enough '' , '' it's reckoned , out of the 30 , about 12 or so seemed '' normal '' Bill , look deep in thought in to his beer ''. The whole pub went , quiet . All were thinking , two lads paying pool , held back their ques from hitting the balls.
The studious , Bryan , broke the spell. '' Theirs a list of the 30 are on the wall of the The Village Church '' '' they have not been forgotten '' '' Aye '' , old Billy was speaking now '' Aye , theres two , each list of the 30 who went of to World War one , other also of 30 who went of to World War Two. '' The others has the names of those when went off to World War two , my names on the list '' '' We all came back , at least we all came back a live ''.
I drank up my point , thank them all. The I went to the Church , opened the door. I look around , tomes of the great and the good I saw. The I saw the two lists. I read the names , but what '' old Billy '' , had said was fresh in my mind. Tear's weld up , as I read each name. I saw old Billy's name. Beside his name , I saw M.M. As I was reading , the vicar came up behind me '' are you all right lad''
'' Yes '' , '' I'm fine thank , you '' '' Just looking at all the names '' Billy '' just been talking , well listening to him at the pub.'' '' told me Bryan about the list of names hear at the church '' '' I am puzzled though '' '' Old Billy side he spent world War two in Belfast , as a officers orderly in the officers mess ''. The Vicar , smiled. '' You just visiting The Village , son? '' , '' I'm on a walking holiday '' , I saw The Village , and had a look around '' '' I noticed The Village had no war memorial''
Bryan and Billy told me about The village had lost no one to both the wars''
'' any way , I'm still puzzled by Billy's name on the World War Two , list '' .
'' Beside his name it has the G C '' Surly thats The Gorge Cross? '' Yes , Billy was
awarded The Gorge Cross '' old Billy drove an ambulance in the desert '' You see old Billy could not kill any one '' But he was very strongly against Hitler '' So had to do something '' So he volunteered to drive an ambulance ''. '' He drove it ,often under fire '' '' one time , he and his best mate. Drove out in to the desert to pick up British soldiers laying wounded. A German was among them. Billy with his mate got them on to their ambulance'' '' During getting the last man on board , his mate was shot and killed out right '' '' Billy could see his mate was dead , but got his body on board all the same '' . '' He manege to get back to the British lines '', '' buried his mate '' .
'' Later in his tent , as he lay on his bed'' '' dozing , Billy had been ordered to stand down , get some sleep '' '' he was dozing in and out and of sleep '' '' When he felt his shoulder being shook '' Billy opened his eyes , swore some choice language I should think!'' . '' At foot of his camp bed stood the German , he and his mate had brought back '' The German had his leg bandaged two crunches '' He stood smartly at attention saluting '' '' You are more worthy of this than me '' '' with that he came up to old Billy and gave him his own Iron Cross first class! '' '' Before old Billy could say a word , the German soldier was gone leaving old Billy opened mouthed and speechless! '' '' a British soldier who had escorted the German P O W to old Billy's tent remained '' '' I take it you did not mind , Billy '' '' he demanded to see you before we took him a way'' He said he wonted to thank you'' '' thats an Iron Cross he's given you! '' '' Well stone me '' '' thats a turn up '' '' YOU SAY A WORD TO ANY ONE '' '' Then I will forget I'm a pacifist! ''
'' Well , old Billy was awarded the Gorge Cross soon affter , not just fore that rescue but fore the many times , Old Billy had drove his old beet up old ambulance and picked up wounded up on the battle field '' , '' Did old billy tell you all that? '' ''Heck no '' , '' Old , Billy told no one , not even me '' '' No that German came looking fore old Billy '' , '' He came to the church to pray , well , got to talking and he told me '' '' no one in The Village knows how Billy got the Gorge Cross , let alone know about the Iron Cross '' Now I trust you will take what I have told you , will go with you'' '' and spoken about in The Village '' '' No of cause I wont ''I'm going back home . Yours and Billy secret is safe with me ''.
I left the church , deep in thought. And made my way home.
Ken D Williams
The Dyslexic Wordsmith
Poetry by ken d williams
Read 530 times
Written on 2012-07-20 at 00:13
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THE VILLAGE
The Village , a nondescript kind of of place. You would pass it bye in the blink of an eye. I walked around , looking around taking pitches. I noticed it had no war memorial. Well now eavrey village smallest of hamlets had one in Britain!Then I remembered seeing a T V pregame. About a village who had refused to put a a First War memorial. Cos one villager had been shot at dawn , he'd cracked.
The Village understood , the Army refused to understand. So that Village refused , to have a marmoreal .
Were all remembered on a memorial or none at all. A woman newly moved in , got talking . To cut the story short. A memorial was erected by all the Villages chipping in. The Village were all now happy , as all those who did not come back. Names now proudly showing on there memorial none left off.
So I got to wondering if this Village had a similar story to tell. I came across the the Village pub. Now the local pub , the best place to hear the local story's.
It were a Sunday I recall , so the pub were rather busy. I sat on a bar stool , the land lord. Asked me me what I wonted '' point of bitter please , mate'' , he duly pored me my point of cooking bitter. '' Just visiting '' , '' yes , just passing bye ''
''on a walking holiday '' , '' where you from '' , the land lord ask. I told him '' that back south , then ''. '' Yes back South '' '' got to come from somewhere '' I in humor said. The land lord smiled.
I said '' I was walking around the Village. I saw no memorials to the World One or two? I were a wondering why that was. Thought maybe one was one of those shot at dawn. The land lord went rather quiet , as did the pub. I well got a bit concerned I'd brought up something that had better of been left unspoken of.
The Land Lord , grind '' Nay lad nothing of the kind ''. Then Land Lord called over a studious looking bloke. '' Brian , you know more about it than me ''
Tell this lad why we don't have any war memorials. '' the reason simple '' ''I did not catch your name '' he asked me '' my names Davey '' , we shook hands. Well Davey , you see this Village had no one killed in ether wars '' , '' The Village , had men and woman who served in both wars right enough ''. '' They all came back! ''
We joined by others by now in the pub.Who had been listening to our conversation. One was the oldest about 90 I think. He spoke '' Aye all came back'' '' A live , but not in one peace'' '' their were a pare of twins '' , '' Aye , one had lost his left leg the other his right leg '' , '' Still , as they said ''' at least , we only got to bye one pair of shoos '''' , ''' and one pair of socks '''. The old man , his name was old Billy. '' Me old dad , told me how the twins made a joke of it ''. '' I'm buggered if I could of ''. I '' Were you in World War two , Billy? '' I ask , '' Aye I was that'' '' Three years orderly offisers mess room Belfast ''. '' It were a tough posting '' , he said with an embarrassed half grin.
'' The pore sods coped it all , in both wars ''. '' Some came back with out an arm ,, or a hand or two or an hand '' '' one never what was needed to do is bit in making a baby '' '' some blind or deaf , one was both '' , '' It were those who's minds broke under it all '' ''shell shock they called it then ''. '' call it something different . now. '' P T S '' '' Post Traumatic Stress '' '' I offered '' '' yea , what ever '' old billy acknowledge with. '' One , was said , to brake sticks in to two , even lolly sticks , 'e came a cross. Lay them down like crosses on graves ''. '' Aye they all came back'' '' One were sent to an asylum '' '' Never spent less than a week in The Village , when he got back ''. '' Aye , the 30 came back right enough '' , '' it's reckoned , out of the 30 , about 12 or so seemed '' normal '' Bill , look deep in thought in to his beer ''. The whole pub went , quiet . All were thinking , two lads paying pool , held back their ques from hitting the balls.
The studious , Bryan , broke the spell. '' Theirs a list of the 30 are on the wall of the The Village Church '' '' they have not been forgotten '' '' Aye '' , old Billy was speaking now '' Aye , theres two , each list of the 30 who went of to World War one , other also of 30 who went of to World War Two. '' The others has the names of those when went off to World War two , my names on the list '' '' We all came back , at least we all came back a live ''.
I drank up my point , thank them all. The I went to the Church , opened the door. I look around , tomes of the great and the good I saw. The I saw the two lists. I read the names , but what '' old Billy '' , had said was fresh in my mind. Tear's weld up , as I read each name. I saw old Billy's name. Beside his name , I saw M.M. As I was reading , the vicar came up behind me '' are you all right lad''
'' Yes '' , '' I'm fine thank , you '' '' Just looking at all the names '' Billy '' just been talking , well listening to him at the pub.'' '' told me Bryan about the list of names hear at the church '' '' I am puzzled though '' '' Old Billy side he spent world War two in Belfast , as a officers orderly in the officers mess ''. The Vicar , smiled. '' You just visiting The Village , son? '' , '' I'm on a walking holiday '' , I saw The Village , and had a look around '' '' I noticed The Village had no war memorial''
Bryan and Billy told me about The village had lost no one to both the wars''
'' any way , I'm still puzzled by Billy's name on the World War Two , list '' .
'' Beside his name it has the G C '' Surly thats The Gorge Cross? '' Yes , Billy was
awarded The Gorge Cross '' old Billy drove an ambulance in the desert '' You see old Billy could not kill any one '' But he was very strongly against Hitler '' So had to do something '' So he volunteered to drive an ambulance ''. '' He drove it ,often under fire '' '' one time , he and his best mate. Drove out in to the desert to pick up British soldiers laying wounded. A German was among them. Billy with his mate got them on to their ambulance'' '' During getting the last man on board , his mate was shot and killed out right '' '' Billy could see his mate was dead , but got his body on board all the same '' . '' He manege to get back to the British lines '', '' buried his mate '' .
'' Later in his tent , as he lay on his bed'' '' dozing , Billy had been ordered to stand down , get some sleep '' '' he was dozing in and out and of sleep '' '' When he felt his shoulder being shook '' Billy opened his eyes , swore some choice language I should think!'' . '' At foot of his camp bed stood the German , he and his mate had brought back '' The German had his leg bandaged two crunches '' He stood smartly at attention saluting '' '' You are more worthy of this than me '' '' with that he came up to old Billy and gave him his own Iron Cross first class! '' '' Before old Billy could say a word , the German soldier was gone leaving old Billy opened mouthed and speechless! '' '' a British soldier who had escorted the German P O W to old Billy's tent remained '' '' I take it you did not mind , Billy '' '' he demanded to see you before we took him a way'' He said he wonted to thank you'' '' thats an Iron Cross he's given you! '' '' Well stone me '' '' thats a turn up '' '' YOU SAY A WORD TO ANY ONE '' '' Then I will forget I'm a pacifist! ''
'' Well , old Billy was awarded the Gorge Cross soon affter , not just fore that rescue but fore the many times , Old Billy had drove his old beet up old ambulance and picked up wounded up on the battle field '' , '' Did old billy tell you all that? '' ''Heck no '' , '' Old , Billy told no one , not even me '' '' No that German came looking fore old Billy '' , '' He came to the church to pray , well , got to talking and he told me '' '' no one in The Village knows how Billy got the Gorge Cross , let alone know about the Iron Cross '' Now I trust you will take what I have told you , will go with you'' '' and spoken about in The Village '' '' No of cause I wont ''I'm going back home . Yours and Billy secret is safe with me ''.
I left the church , deep in thought. And made my way home.
Ken D Williams
The Dyslexic Wordsmith
Poetry by ken d williams
Read 530 times
Written on 2012-07-20 at 00:13
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text
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