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General => Armed Forces => World War Two => Topic started by: alftabor on Monday 17 March 08 05:33 GMT (UK)
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After 67 years I might find out what happened to my Uncle
Leading Seaman Gunner Frederick (Arthur) Tabor
wrecks of the Sydney and her destroyer Kormoran have been found in territorial waters off the Coast of Western Austalia
My uncle whom I saw some three weeks before his disappearance
has haunted my imagination for most of my Life
Closure maybe even description of the last hours of is life
Requiescat in Pace
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Alf, I am very pleased for you and all the families of those lost on the Sydney. I am sure there will be more information as time passes now that the ship has finally been found.
We will remember them.
.....dee
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We all owe a great deal to those who fought for us in WW2 and who thus enabled us to have the freedoms we still have.
It is good that closure may now be possible for those who had family members on the Sydney.
We all need, as we are thankful for what was done for us in WW2 , to remain vigilant to the tcurrent hreats to our liberty lest their sacrfice be in vain
charlotte
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We do owe them an enormous debt and hopefully now their families may find closure and peace.
RIP
Caz
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Here's a fairly brief but comprehensive report on it. I caught just a bit on the news tonight but unfortunately we had guests so couldn't get all of it.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=a4tpuENydOng&refer=australia
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Perhaps at last we may find why none of her crew survived. There has always been much speculation. They deserve our respect for their supreme sacrifice.
Let's also hope that any analysis which follows is more accurate than the initial references to Sydney as a heavily armed battleship. This ship was only a relatively lightly armed light cruiser.
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Re Imber's remark that our respect is needed for our armed servicemen- there is an item in this weeks Weekly Telegraph saying that because of the nastiness/abuse of some of the public towards the soldiers/airmen in Peterborough, the commandant of the local base has told them not to wear their uniforms in public if off duty.
The Queen is said to be very put out- as am I.
Why don't the local police stop the public from abusing our servicemen? If we allow this sort of thing we allow disorder to grip our country. If people don't like things in Peterbrough they should go and live elsewhere. Our freedoms and our respect for order and those who protect us are very important. We need to be vigilant and speak up before it is too late.
charlotte
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Re Imber's remark that our respect is needed for our armed servicemen- there is an item in this weeks Weekly Telegraph saying that because of the nastiness/abuse of some of the public towards the soldiers/airmen in Peterborough, the commandant of the local base has told them not to wear their uniforms in public if off duty.
The Queen is said to be very put out- as am I.
Why don't the local police stop the public from abusing our servicemen? If we allow this sort of thing we allow disorder to grip our country. If people don't like things in Peterbrough they should go and live elsewhere. Our freedoms and our respect for order and those who protect us are very important. We need to be vigilant and speak up before it is too late.
charlotte
I'm speechless, this is outrageous!! >:( >:( >:( >:(
Caz
PS Couldn't agree with your comments more Charlotte!
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Cazza- This below is online- got it by googling Peterborough AND uniforms. Not the original I saw in the W. telegraph but same topic.
Fancy some weak sooks[ "Officials"] saying "It's not worth antagonizing people"- unbelievable.
Maybe the person who said this is a descendants of Neville Chamberlain.
charlotte
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Peterborough RAF Uniform Ban
The Defence Secretary says he hopes RAF airmen in Peterborough will soon be allowed to wear their uniforms freely about the city again.
It's after we broke the story exclusively on Hereward FM on Thursday that bosses at RAF Wittering have told them not to - because of the abuse they've been getting.
"This is not a situation we should not tolerate," defence secretary Des Browne is quoted as saying.
"It is a great shame that some individuals in this community don't respect our forces, who are daily doing a great deal for this nation."
Bosses at RAF Wittering told personnel not to wear their uniforms in the city a couple of months ago after a number of them had been given verbal abuse.
Officials tell us several incidents led to the decision and they say it's not worth antagonising people.
"I live in Peterborough and go to work in the morning," one airman told us, on condition we protected his identity. "I have to go in civilian clothes, change into my uniform when I get to work, change back when I come home - so I don't offend the community."
An urgent investigation has been launched by the MoD - it's also reported the Prime Minister has ordered a police crackdown.
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Beggars belief..what is the world coming too. :(
Caz
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I sympathise and agree with all these comments, especially about the 'Sydney'.
But - about the RAF uniforms - just who is it abusing the airmen?
When I was a young teenager I lived in a Shropshire village near an airfield, which was still run by the RAF (I think until about 1958). The airmen often used to come to the Saturday Night Hop at the local Village Hall, and there were often 'scraps' between them and the local lads. No-one blamed either side, it was looked on as a kind of tribal warfare between the young men, and because there was never any serious injury, (more a kind of rattling tail feathers at one another), everyone tolerated it, and avoided it if possible. Bit like a school playground fight. I wonder if it is the same in Peterborough, but the press have blown it up to sell papers? Not living in the area or having heard the reports, it just sounded the same scenario to me, rather than outright disrespect for our Servicemen?
giraffe
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giraffe,
I doubt very much that this is just a scrap between the young local lads and the servicemen. If that was so there would not be this ridiculous political sensibility- that has been going on for years but not with this reaction. That it has happened at this time, I'd guess, without knowing the details of the populace of the district, that the abuse is coming from those who dislike to airmen being overseas fighting- to put it very obliquely. I don't think this is about uniforms per se , but about the freedoms we treasure and which we must be vigilant to maintain.
It would be good if the local Returned Servicemen's associations, could be mobilised to turn out at the Peterborough War memorial for some commemortation assuming there is a local war memorial. Such a turn out would give the local servicemen some encouragement and be a force to show that many in the town suuport our armed services and are appreciatibve of what they do fo us to maintain our freedoms.
charlotte
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Charlotte
I agree with your comment about 'putting on a show'. My home City (Worcester) did this for our Soldiers, and there was a big turnout to see (and presumably support) them. Like you though, I don't know any details of the incident at Peterborough, but it is a big city. I wonder if the same kind of thing happens at other places where there are barracks nearby?
giraffe
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giraffe,
Expressing appreciation seems to be the very least we can do for our armed forces. A couple of years ago I was present when a soldier who had been on active service told the story about when he had been in an airport lounge in uniform a woman stopped by him and said something like "Thank you very much for what you are doing for us and tfor he country" . He said it had meant far more to him than anyone could imagine coming spontaeously from a stranger.
Perhaps we could tell others about this and start a "Thank a serviceman" campaign. WE need to make our iews known to politicians and also to the troops individually as well as collectively.
Off I go to look for a soldier!
charlotte
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Charlotte,
I think that is a lovely idea, but I am so sentimental I could only give them a written note - if I tried to say it I would probably bawl my eyes out!
Anyway, when you find a soldier/airmal/sailor save one for me? Mal f course!!
Just a thought, what about our Servicewomen too?
giraffe
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Hi giraffe, I used the term serviceman in the sense of " human being".
Looked all around today when out and couldn't see any service person in unfirm.. drat.
If you find one first, try to say heelo and thank you- I'll bet you can do it without tears- think what it might mean to them.
charlotte
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Charlotte,
I promise I will the next time I see one, though I wonder if more than one Barracks has given its service personnel the same order as the Peterborough one, as uniforms do seem thin on the ground around here. Of course, they could be abroad . . . . .
giraffe
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Hi girraffe,
Just learned that giraffes have no vocal chords so maybe you'll have to hand over a thank you note as you said you might!
Still no luck finding a soldier.
charlotte
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;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D