Lest We Forget - Friday 6th June 2014

Good Morning Friends,

Today, for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and I wanted to make a card in remembrance of those brave troops who gave their lives for us.

It's a simple Easel card: I created the poppy background paper using a single digital stamp and the main poppy stamp is by Hobby Art.

Let us never forget the sacrifice of these brave people. 

A personal reflection: My parents were older parents...a good 15 years older than most of my peers. The war was partly the reason for this, but had it not been for the war, they would never have met. My dad had emigrated to Canada aged 14; when war broke out he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers and fought in Italy and Holland. I have his medals and his battle record framed and every time I pass it, I wish that I had talked more with him about his experiences, but he passed away when I was in my 20's, married and no longer 'Daddy's Girl'. I was able to talk to my Mum at length about her experiences here at home, but I should have asked Dad more questions. Dad didn't take part in the landings, he was in Italy, although one of my uncles did.

The wonders of the internet mean that I am able to look up and read about every battle he was involved in from Ortona to Arnhem. He met my mum when he was in England on leave visiting his mum. He had been sent here to recover after being wounded. Dad remained in the army until the war ended and he was de-mobbed and then he returned to England and married my mum in 1948. I know he would have liked to return to Canada, but Mum was one of 11 siblings and didn't want to leave. Mum loved children, but over the next 12 years she suffered a succession of losses  and then had a son who lived only a short time, before I came along as, so you see, quite late in life...a child for a new decade away from the war, the 1960s... It didn't matter though, I never noticed growing up, they were amazing parents. 

Dad did eventually convince Mum to visit Canada, after they retired and she loved it. They stayed over a year and Dad was able to claim his Service pension and reconnect with some old army buddies. I am so pleased he got to go back, because I think in his heart it was always home.

I really wish that Dad especially was still here to celebrate today with our nation. I know many of his Canadian comrades were there, including Lawrence, whom they stayed with when Mum and Dad went back to Canada. Sorry to have gone on a bit, but it's at times like these that I really appreciate what they all went through, as have the service men and women who continue to fight for us -  and how important it is always to remember.

Sapper L C Bateman 1632, Royal Canadian Engineers 1940-46.
The photo is dated on the back May 27th 1944

Thanks for stopping by,

Love and Hugs,

Carole X

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