| Subject: Cynics Unite |
Author:
Dave Parker
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Date Posted: 20:36:18 03/08/05 Tue
Some people look back on their military service and, for whatever reason, they had a terrible experience and wished that they had never joined. Some people look back and, though they didn't have a hugely successful career, think that they got something out of the experience at least but wouldn't do it again. Some people look back on a distinguished and successful career and think that it was the best thing that ever happened in their whole life. We are all individuals and have many differing philosophies in our lives. What we ALL have in common though are the friendships and the camaraderie that developed from sharing such close living, daily toils and, on occasion, dangerous and frightful times.
Because we are all so very different, not everyone will have retained the same memories of that time in their lives (as is so obvious from the disparate and spotty nature of the threads in this forum) and will not have the same abilities to share those memories (again, as is so obvious from the, relatively, small number of contributors on this forum). For this reason, the reunions are unique. They allow us the chance to rekindle the fires of those friendships and acquaintances that the passage of time and distances have forced us to let slip. Those of us that wish to, that is. There are a lot of our fellow travellers who do not share the same sentiments and therefore, whatever their reasons are, we have to respect them.
Also, because of the very nature of the longevity of the Army and this Bty in particular, we must acknowledge the overlapping and rolling nature of friendships and acquaintances. It's not like WWII, for instance, where most people shared the experience for a, relatively short defined, period of time. Some of the members of our Association have enjoyed careers spanning three decades or more and others maybe only a few years. But, whatever the length of service, we are all brothers (and now, sisters) in arms by the fact that we have all served in 49 Inkerman Bty, in WHATEVER Regt and capacity that Bty has served in over the years and is still serving! For this reason it would be difficult, I think, to try set down any definitive book of memories. It would be of great interest to those of us who where around at that time and could relate to the people and incidents quoted but, maybe, not so much of interest to those of us who where not and couldn't! This is where the Reunions and this board come into their own. We can all relate to a bunch of squaddies sitting around with a pint or two under their belts and swapping war stories, after all, it's what we do best and, I hope, will continue to do for a few more years yet. The point I am trying to make though, is that, although the Association is at present, mainly, populated and geared to those of us from the sixties and seventies, we must make every effort to encourage those from the intervening years, and the present, to help support the Association. Who knows, there just might be a 49 Bty OCA holding reunions well into the middle part of this century and beyond? This board is a virtual reunion, available 24/7/365 (I hate that phrase! but so effective) for those of us privileged to be on the net and must be encouraged as much as the attendance of the reunions.
I have to put my cynics hat on though and state that the fly in the ointment in all this, as we have seen so much evidence of in this country of late, is the dreaded Apathy. I am sorry if I seem to be raining on everyones parade at this point but I hate to say that, as has been stated by others on this board, there is something seriously lacking in the youth of today! It seems to be bereft of the pride and self respect that so motivates people to strive for a better world. Selfish, arrogant, greedy and idle are words I should never be associating with Englishmen. Did our parents think that of us? Am I just being an old fart? Is it time we started to take a hard look at ourselves? Discuss!
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