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| 18/05/26 11:25pm | [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, [10] ] |
| Subject: Re: U-Boats | |
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Author: Keith Greenway (IRON CROSS / IRON GRAVE) |
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Date Posted: 14/08/07 7:04pm In reply to: Des Taff Jenkins 's message, "Re: U-Boats" on 14/08/07 8:11am We were working on a the title of "STEEL COFFINS / IRON GRAVES. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR VIEWS, Some response from a test, prior to release, held us back from releasing this previously. WE DO NOT CONDONE, ANY ENEMY ACTIONS. However, found a lot of bad feeling towards an assumed - support in a away of U.boat crews, never our intention, TORPEDOES TOOK AWAY THE LIFE BLOOD OF OUR DESCENDANTS ALSO, We merely state that any loss of life is tragic and all mothers must grieve for their sons. etc. Kinsale First International Centre to Grieve Maritime loss. “Steel coffins” They were only doing their duty, some say. Like many of us, they were sailors, they had done what we would have done, fought to the last. German mothers, wives and sweethearts would now weep for their dead. They had found a grave in the Atlantic; this vast graveyard of ships and men of many nations. An estimated 700 U-boats and 30,000 crewmen were lost at sea. Whatever your views, this is still a tragic loss of life. They, the Kreigsmarine of Germany sailed in Steel coffins, to coin a phrase, although the enemy, still someone’s children and missed by families in the homeland, we can never best be pleased with the war time actions of the U. Boat crews, however, we cannot not mention those that sought Iron Crosses, but received Iron / Steel Graves. How many from all sides, countries, nationalities perished during conflict? How many sailors met my fellow Welshman Davey Jones, How many from both forces, have no known grave but the sea? Seamen from all sides, reside with Taffy Jones, in his Locker, fathoms below, the Med, the Atlantic, the Cruel Seas. But, whatever your view, your religion, your nationality etc, if you are a relative where can you go to grieve, say goodbye, lay a flower or a wreath? With nowhere to lay a poppy, a simple floral tribute, how can you get close to a wreck to say goodbye? Maybe shed a tear? Though, many have cried. During the history of the maritime side of the Second World War, the sailors of the British Merchant Navy had to face these iron/steel subs and bravely face torpedo and murder to keep Britains's "life-line" open. The Merchant Navy suffered proportionately the highest casualties of any of the Services in the Second World War, approximately 30,000 of the 185,000 seamen who served being killed. “Let those who come after see to it that their names are not forgotten”. The Irish War Memorials Project “If Blood was the price and we had to pay for our freedom then the Merchant Ship Sailors Paid it in full” Norman Date / Hon Secretary/ Merchant Navy Association Bristol UK "There are no graves: no crosses: no where a loved one can shed a tear: We should remember them." David Simpson No poppies wave above our heads, or mark the place where we must sleep Below the oceans wild and wide, our resting place is in the deep. The Merchant Seamen Brian G. Redding In modern times, with modern pressures and indeed a modern life, it is to easy to forget, not care, maybe not know. It truly is for those who come after them to ensure that their names are not forgotten. To make certain that there is somewhere to grieve and shed a tear. A place or places: to lay a wreath, a poppy, say a prayer or shed that tear. We at www.ss-tregenna.co.uk are committed to both find and nominate those places. During the wars, large numbers of seamen were lost without trace while others were buried in foreign lands, too far away for their friends and families to pay their respects. We at Tregenna nominate Kinsale, Co. Cork to be the first International Centre to Grieve Maritime loss. We have made an unofficial launch to this effect, off the Old Head of Kinsale. The Old Head is notable for being the nearest land point to the site of the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915. In 1915 the inquest into the sinking of the Lusitania was held in Kinsale. QUOTE: "We were out here one year with the Merchant Navy Association from Barry Dock in Wales, all strong men who had seen and experienced a lot at sea themselves and lost companions and relations during the Second World War and they all had tears in their eyes”, Seascapes News Summary - 12th May 2005. We at Tregenna Web Site, are not an authority that are best placed to commission such International Centre’s to Grieve, but ask the Mayor of Kinsale and her Councillors to both accept our nomination and to act in the interests of all seafarers and loved ones, in adopting the concept and ensure that all Countries and peoples have one place in their homeland in which to grieve for those that cannot come “Home from the Sea”. On the 11th April 1912 the newly built Titanic called to the port of Queenstown, (now known as Cobh) near Kinsale on her maiden voyage. Titanic had set out from Southampton and called to Cherbourg before continuing onto Queenstown. Kinsale has deep and direct connections with the ill-fated "Titanic." And the aftermath. With Kinsale's long tradition with the Sea the town’s Mission to Seafarers. Sea Sunday is always an important day for the town and it's inhabitants, past and present. Kinsale clearly already remembers its Maritime tradition and history, especially all “Souls Lost” We nominate Kinsale as our first Ambassadors and International centre to grieve. LEST WE FORGET. The Merchant Seamen I hope you will find the poem worthy enough to pass on to as many Merchant Seamen as possible? Brian G. Redding. We at www.ss-tregenna.co.uk decided to take the poem to the Old Head of Kinsale. It just seemed to be the right place to launch our promotion of the picture and poem on behalf of Brian G. Redding. We had earlier decided to tribute “All That Have No Known Grave But The Sea” with both crosses and poppies. There was a lot of grieving in Kinsale at the time following recent Maritime loss of life in its fishing community and it was felt that it was the wrong time to promote the poem / picture or proposed concept publicly at that time. We all share your loss and losse’s. At the SS.Tregennas proclaimed “World’s First Centre For Grieving Maritime Loss”, The poem Merchant Seamen was read on behalf of the author in a private ceremony. A prayer was read and a tears shed. And a promise made: “That we who came after you, will see to it that your names are not forgotten”. "There are no graves: no crosses: no where a loved one can shed a tear: We should remember them." David Simpson The Merchant Seamen Brian G. Redding No poppies wave above our heads, Or mark the place where we must sleep, Below the oceans wild and wide Our resting place is in the deep. Out of the night torpedoes came, To start the roar of flash and flame, The stink of burning oil and then, The cries of all the dying men. We ask you not to call us brave, For we volunteered 'tis true. We gave our lives so you could live, And asked no thanks from you Armed forces from around the world, Put their lives upon the line, Just the same as we did. Having faith in the divine, The wolf packs now no longer roam. And peace then brought the hereos home. No poppies wave above our heads, But we are gone and long dead. So let us not forget the crew Of merchant ships in battle too. The merchant seamen played their part, Remember them with all your heart [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |