What does the poppy mean to you?

What does it mean to me?

It means Lance Corporal Ernest Walduck 5th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, a man who volunteered under Kitchener's first call for 100,000 volunteers on 7th August 1914.
It means Boesinghe, a nasty little corner in the Ypres battlefield on the Yser Canal where the 5th Battalion were transferred in Spring of 1915 to support the veteran and much denuded 4th Infantry Division of the British Expeditionary Force who were slowly taking over the positions from the French who had been thrown back by German advances in April.
It means all those who toiled at the Essex Farm Advanced Dressing Station where Ernest was rushed sometime around 18th May 1915 after receiving an unrecorded injury.
It means all those who travelled with him on the casualty train that he sadly died on in a railway siding somewhere in Northern France on 20th May 1915 whilst being transported to the coast to be shipped back to England.

Lance Corporal Ernest Walduck was my Great-uncle, I never knew him but when I wear my poppy, his death, no matter how seemingly pointless, is not forgotten and by being remembered and honoured marks his sacrifice.
 
A mighty post, MightyTen, I salute you, your Great-Uncle and his comrades. Very moving, I wear mine with pride even though it meant lowering myself to stoutly explain why to some workshy oik in the pub who decided it worthy of comment.
 
I wear a poppy for my Uncle Don, my Dad's older brother who I never got to meet.

He lost in life in action during the advance into Germany in the last months of the second world war in Europe - he was nineteen years old.
 
Sudden said:
I guess my point is that ideology isn't the only reason people are signing up (on both sides) to fight. Also why people, including on this thread, draw a distinction between the Nazis and the German Soldiers generally.
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I didn't make the claim that it was the only reason and I was quite clear in making the distinction, I raised the point re: Nazis early on in the thread. My point was to dispute the point re: thinking our lot is any different to their lot. When it comes to fighting Nazi Germany in WW2 I think there is a distinction to be made, both the clear distinction between the Nazis/SS vs our lot and the rather subtler distinction between one side including people choosing to fight on ideological grounds vs people who have signed up to fight regardless despite their country being in the wrong.
 
I wear one for my maternal grandfather that I never got to meet as he went off watch to grab a brew just as a German torpedo arrived in the galley.

Able Seaman Albert “Bertie” Sewell, killed in action aboard HMS Phoebe off the cost of West Africa on the 23rd of October 1942.
 
The poppy is a symbol of remembrance of the Allied soldiers and innocent civilians that lost their lives during war.

It is not a symbol of remembrance for the Nazi / SS / Taliban. If you think so, you should be keelhauled.
 
If I am truly honest with myself. Very little.

I've never been able to "correctly" appreciate the sacrifice and honour and/or remember others efforts in a societal way. I can only contribute, account and be responsible for my own actions, outcomes and reality.

Like others; I have and do contribute into appeals but have never taken anything in return or worn a poppy or any item of remembrance, faith or attribution.

I guess; this is what you get when you mostly subscribe to existential nihilism!

Ho-hum!
 
To me it serves as a reminder of those who did so I can.

I sort of wish I had more to add but its really that simple. I prefer not to complicate it with anything else beyond that.
 
Bengaboy said:
The poppy is a symbol of remembrance of the Allied soldiers and innocent civilians that lost their lives during war.

It is not a symbol of remembrance for the Nazi / SS / Taliban. If you think so, you should be keelhauled.
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Do you see it as a modern thing, that its for the remembrance of Allied soldiers who lost their lives during WW1/WW2 etc? Or do you see it as something which encompasses all British combat throughout the ages and is to remember all British fallen troops in all battles that we've been involved in, whether we were on the "good" side or the "bad" side. I know that many folk only consider it as remembrance of 20th century onwards fallen
 
adolf hamster said:
Its a symbol to remember the poor sods who had to die in the name of political idiocy, and its for all sides, not just our lot, because thinking our lot is any different to their lot is the reason the whole damn lot had to die in the first place.
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Makes me think of one of the final episodes of Band of Brothers.

For myself. As a 3rd generation immigrant (grandparents part of the Windrush generation) I see it as a way to pay my respects to those who died to stop the progress of a regime that would've no doubt wiped my family from existence. A £1 every year is nothing compared to what they had to give up. Eternally grateful for the privileged life I get to live.
 
To me it is a mark of respect to the boys who's lives were cut short or indelibly scarred. Thousands never got to step foot back on home soil and all their hopes and dreams were taken from them.

It is a reminder of both the horror of war but also the bravery that was shown in conditions that are unimaginable. I have no idea how so many mustered the courage and got through it really. It makes me feel pathetic some of the things I moan about compared to the heroism shown by teenagers 100 & 75 years ago.
 
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Tombstone said:
Do you see it as a modern thing, that its for the remembrance of Allied soldiers who lost their lives during WW1/WW2 etc? Or do you see it as something which encompasses all British combat throughout the ages and is to remember all British fallen troops in all battles that we've been involved in, whether we were on the "good" side or the "bad" side. I know that many folk only consider it as remembrance of 20th century onwards fallen
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I personally see it as a modern thing. "Back in the day" the British were not nice, invading countries and making them our own.

WW1 onwards, we have tried to stop tyranny from pervailing. Bear in mind during this period there was a guy who thought the world would be better by killing certain races of people. We stopped pure evil.

You can argue that Iraq / Afghanistan are slightly different, but the thought of the soldiers of helping get rid of the Taliban in order to help the locals makes the soldiers / sailors / airmen intentions pure. Perhaps not the Government.

In recent times, you could also argue that the poppy reflects the fallen of fellow NATO Armed Forces.
 
Bengaboy said:
I personally see it as a modern thing. "Back in the day" the British were not nice, invading countries and making them our own.

WW1 onwards, we have tried to stop tyranny from pervailing. Bear in mind during this period there was a guy who thought the world would be better by killing certain races of people. We stopped pure evil.

You can argue that Iraq / Afghanistan are slightly different, but the thought of the soldiers of helping get rid of the Taliban in order to help the locals makes the soldiers / sailors / airmen intentions pure. Perhaps not the Government.

In recent times, you could also argue that the poppy reflects the fallen of fellow NATO Armed Forces.
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That makes sense, I think most people see it as applying to armed forces post1914 rather than inclusive of British forces pre1914.
 
Avenged7Fold said:
I put a few quid in each year but don't waste a paper poppy. Recently though I have given the White Peace Poppy guys more of my attention. It isn't an opposing symbol but rather stands for all casualties of war including civilians and promotes an idea of pacifism, with the proceeds going towards anti-war campaigning and education.
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That is rather naive, they're not a charity and most of the bulk of the funds go towards paying the salaries of the people behind the thing.

It just undermines the existing appeal set up by a genuine charity. It's like holding a straight pride event on the same day and close to a gay pride event or an "all lives matter" counter protest/march to rival a "black lives matter" protest/march.

I don't have any issue with a charity being set up to promote peace, but a non-charity organisation deliberately hijacking the campaign of an existing charity in order to sell a rival poppy at the same time of year in direct competition with them is dubious.
 
dowie said:
I didn't make the claim that it was the only reason and I was quite clear in making the distinction, I raised the point re: Nazis early on in the thread. My point was to dispute the point re: thinking our lot is any different to their lot. When it comes to fighting Nazi Germany in WW2 I think there is a distinction to be made, both the clear distinction between the Nazis/SS vs our lot and the rather subtler distinction between one side including people choosing to fight on ideological grounds vs people who have signed up to fight regardless despite their country being in the wrong.
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Fair re. it not being the only reason - I thought that was the implication but apologies if that wasn't the intent.

Agree that there is a distinction to be made there, but also agree with the other poster that a lot of people likely didn't prescribe to that ideology and there the difference is minimal between the British/Allies side and the German/Axis side.

As for country being in the wrong - I imagine a lot of them didn't see it that way, particularly after the treaty of Versailles and it's impact. Whilst the Holocaust is a different kettle of fish in that I can see no justification for it, I can see why they thought war itself would improve their lives. The economic penalties were so harsh that it made it a more viable alternative.

Perhaps a topic for a different thread though. Don't mean to derail this one.
 
I have recently been tidying up my Parents house.

I have found loads of WW1 stuff of my Grandfathers.

Medals, Aerial photographs of front lines, Maps with hand drawn details of trench lines.

Mentions in dispatches (Several of, some signed by W. S. Churchill)

He never talked about it when I was a child, Never!

:/
 
Tombstone said:
The poppy to me actually signifies something that it probably wasnt intended to.

To me, the poppy signifies those who have died fighting in wars and by that, I mean all sides. I see it as an emblem for soldiers who have picked up arms for their country, on both sides, and gone through the horrors of combat. I think it was only supposed to represent British forces but to me its a symbol for all.
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Same for me.

I do wonder how long it will be (if there are no major conflicts) before the annual event ceases or is it now like Christmas/Easter where it'll always be straight on the calendar.
 
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