BessieFinknottle
People here are mistaken if they think wearing red poppies aren't a political and divisive symbol. I know it's natural for British people to want to support their army, but there are many people living in the UK from places where British soldiers were the invaders, a colonial power, and a destructive force. They have absolutely no wish to support the British army.“
We buy our poppies in remembrance of my grandfather, Edward, who served in the First World War, joined up at 16, gassed at the Battle of the Somme at 17, then served as a Fire Warden during the London Blitz during World War Two.
We also wear them in remembrance of my husband’s German grandfather, Paul, who fought and died in World War Two.
I’m 58 and can still remember Edward. He was a lovely grandad, a gentle soul, who grew the most spectacular dahlias in his south London garden. My mum, born in October, 1939, told me that he screamed at night for as long as she could remember. That was just her dad, who was the most beautiful soul she ever knew.
Mr husband, obviously doesn’t remember his grandad, he died before he was born. His mother does, though. He grew the family’s vegetables in their garden in Heilbronn and played the accordion. He taught my husband’s mother, too as a very little girl.
These gentle men, who I know would have been friends in better times, were not imperialists or war-mongers. They did what they were convinced by “their betters” that fthey had to do, for their families first and foremost.
World War One was a f**king disgrace, we can all agree on that - now. Edward didn’t know that, though. He did what, as a simple, working man (child, by today’s standards) his “superiors” told him he must do and for that he lost his life and my MIL her father.
Edward did what any man would do and was completely justified. World War Two was, I think anyway, one of the few justifiable wars in human history. People were fighting for hearth and home (a lot more besides but that would need the whole of Mumsnet) and I for one are still incredibly proud of them and what they did for the generations who came after them.
I don’t know from your post if you are a British born person, live overseas or are a naturalised British citizen.
I suppose that doesn’t really matter actually.
If you live here and benefit from our freedoms and democracy (yes, it’s imperfect but we have a semblance of it, at least) then you owe an enormous debt to those faceless young men who died in their millions to give you what you have now.
We wear our red poppies with love and pride and will do so until we die.