Mumsnet users share the things they’re grateful to the First World War generation for with The Royal British Legion

[JustineBMumsnet]

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In light of the 100 year anniversary of the end of WW1, The Royal British Legion would like to hear about the ways you’re grateful for those who served, sacrificed and changed our world.

Do you have an appreciation for the incredible women who helped change women’s role in society, leading many more women to work in jobs outside the home? Are you grateful for the medical advances that were made out of necessity that benefit so many today, like plastic surgery and blood banks? Or perhaps you’re grateful for product innovation like the wristwatch, teabags or sanitary towels? Maybe you’d like to thank the children who took on extra responsibilities like helping MI5, even though it meant they grew up too fast?

If you’d like to find out more about the contributions made 100 years ago, please click here.

See what Mumsnet Co-Founder Justine Roberts is thankful for below:

If you have any family stories or photos that make you feel grateful for your ancestors of 100 years ago, please feel free to share these below.

All who post below will be entered into a Mumsnet prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I am so proud or our previous generations for putting their lives on the line in WWI & WWII in order that we are free from German invasion & rule... Thank you! #RemembranceSunday

I'm grateful for this thread!
I've always known about a great uncle who was killed in WW1 but am ashamed to say I didn't know much about him.
Thanks to this thread I've been inspired to speak to some family members and do some googling and have found out the day he was killed and exactly where he's buried. As far as I know no family member has ever visited his grave but I hope to be able to do so one day.

I am grateful that today we don't have to experience what those poor soldiers did - whatever we were fighting for.

I am so grateful for those young men and women who gave their lives for future generations. I cannot believe the bravery and the terrible things that they had to suffer so that we could have our freedom. It was supposed to be the war to end all wars, I just wish it had been

Thankful for their courage and ultimate sacrifice.

I would like to think the war wasn't in vain like keeping future generations safer.

Interesting to learn more when visiting Imperial War Museum.

I am very grateful for everyone who went without, gave things up, made sacrifices for us, I wish the youth of today would step up and have the same values of those who fought in the wars.

I wish to thank all the men in World War 1 who fought for our freedom & country. My gandfather fought in this war but returned a broken man but never spoke of the horrors. I only knew him a little but to everyone who have to go through the horrors of war MUST not be forgotten for their sacrifice

I'm grateful to those who sacrificed for us to live like we do today. They paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom!

For their strength. For the beautiful war poetry

but also for the strong women who did everything while their husbands were gone

I am grateful for the massive sacrifice they made and how brave they were to protect the freedoms and peace we are lucky enough to still enjoy today

For me personally I am grateful to a whole generation of women who proved that we are just as capable as men and could go out to work and better ourselves and not just stay at home and be housewives but doctors, nurses, farmers and whatever else we wanted to do with ourselves.

I'm grateful for all those who sacrificed, my great grandmother lost 4 of her 6 sons and my great grandfather in WWI. To make ends meet she spent years doing other peoples laundry to feed her remaining four children. And although she passed away in 1976, in her 90's she was always a happy jovial lady despite her suffering.

For the young boys who gave up their lives

I am grateful for all those who served, sacrificed and gave us our freedom.

Just so immensely grateful for all the sacrifices made to ensure a better future for generations to come x

For so selflessly giving up their lives, knowing there was every chance they weren't going to survive, to serve their country and protect the people living in it.

Both my grandfathers were at Ypres and the Somme. Both came home and raised families. Neither talked about it much except to discourage their children from signing up.

i am grateful to all those who fought for the life we have today

I am grateful for all the sacrifices that were made to make this better for us

I'm thankful they were brave enough to go to war, I doubt that would happen now.

I am grateful to all the women in the first world war that set out to work in what was classed as a 'mans' job. This would have been the first time man women had worked and I think it shaped history for where we stand today. I class myself as A strong independent woman and have our ancestors to thank for this . When the women stepped in to work whilst the males where at war this also paved the way for our rights as women to vote !! imagine not being able to vote ? Well I am grateful for all them ladies that stepped up at the time and am now proud to say . I am a working single Mother of six children. Thank you world war one ladies

I feel grateful for the immense sacrifice made by everyone. So many didn't come home but every single person was prepared to put their whole way of life on the line. I hate it when even little things upset the equilibrium, like a child being ill or whatever but a whole nation put their entire lives on hold for 4 whole years- some forever. That's amazing and we should all be forever in their debt.

For their presence having to choose to be in a gang and to put their life on the line but not knowing what they were really fighting for and not knowing if or when they will die but not going down without a fight. Having that belief and integrity of withstanding the conditions and torments that surrounded them at the time and still brave enough to carry on.

Knowing that deep down, even though there was that war at the time questioning, will this even be solved after it is over and when they have passed?
Fast forward 2018.. war still continues.

In 1916 conscription was introduced so they didn't have a choice those 2.5 million men

but I admire their honer and bravely and how well they fought and how well the woman left at home took care of everything and just the general spirit of a united nation!!

I am grateful to the people that fought and the sacrifices that they had to make.
I've visited the poppy factory and met and talked to some of the people there, it was really eye opening and makes you realise how greatful you are for everything