Yesterday.... April 9th

[jim a]

Yesterday was April the 9th and I was thinking about the Battle of Vimy Ridge. I think sometimes in this hobby we get carried away with the different variations of a badge... whether it is authentic or not... how much they are worth etc.. and we lose sight of what these badges really represent. My Great Uncle was with the 46th Battalion of the CEF. The nickname of the 46th was the Suicide Battalion... of 5,374 who served in it during WW1 4,917 were ethier killed or wounded... on April 9th 1917 at the battle of Vimy Ridge he was wounded... on April 10th (today) 1917 he died of wounds...

[Tinto]

Hi Jim,
We do remember them.
Visiting Vimy Ridge and the spectacular War Memorial was one of the highlights of our trip to the Western Front.
Regards, Tinto

[wright241]

Jim,
Nice point and well made.
I get a yearly 'reality' fix by re-reading (and I have managed to get my kids to be more aware by getting them to do the same) A Day on the Somme and another one on the 36th Ulster Div. Getting 'anal' over tiny differences does seem totally insignificant when you consider what 'a' badge represents. When we could, had it not been for these guys, all be speaking in a different language.
Out of interest, I met some ex-WWII/Korean veterans (about 9 of them) standing around a local Luxembourg Army info/recruiting office in Dudelange last week and it was a humbling experience saying thanks. Not a mobile phone in sight......... just medals. Language wasn't an issue. Ex-vets here are treated with a lot of respect.

All the best, David

[mad4thcef]

Jim,

Could not have said it better myself!

The first thing I say to people interested in seeing my collection is.

"Brave men wore these"

Also this year in Canada Vimy Ridge Day seemed to get lost in the shuffle.
(Election 2011)

Cheers
Rob