Below is some Poetry pertaining to Remembrance Day, written by members & guests.

If you have written a poem that would be appropriate for this page, please email it to Richard for publication.

The first poem written by David J Knight, is a friend of Branch committee member Richard Veal, and visited the club in 2012. The poem can be found in a frame at the entrance to the Room of Remembrance.

For Those, by David J Knight

For the many thousands that have died, for the grieving families that have cried.

For those that gave what they had to give, so we in peace and safety could live.

For the men and women who continue to serve, our remembrance is the least they deserve.

The Landings, by Richard Hamilton-Veal

A soldier falls and lays in the sand,

his comrades cannot help him, as he is now in gods comforting hands.

Like many before him, and many more will follow,

the horrors of war, death brings so much sorrow.

The Poppy, by Catherine Hamilton-Veal

In a field, a lowly poppy gently sways.

In a field that’s filled with wheat and maze.

In a field that once was filled with sorrow.

In a field heralding a better tomorrow.

Those men, who gave so much.

Those men, whose hearts they touch.

Those men, who gave their all.

Those men, will always stand tall.

The poppy is our Reverence.

The poppy is our Penitence.

The poppy is our Deliverance.

The poppy is our Remembrance.

Faded Poppy, by Stuart Mayne 1949 - 2014

It's only a faded Poppy, son

a reminder of years ago

when brave young men

left hearth and home

to go and fight the foe.

The Poppy is a symbol, son

of those who never returned

they gave the ultimate sacrifice

so lessons could be lerned.

But what was really learnt

from those brave men's demise

No one learnt any lessons

as you hear the widows cry.

It's only a faded Poppy, son

as it lies there on the ground,

just like the lads who lost their lives

and peace was never found.

The politicians who monger war

but never go to fight,

just send the lads, they will do the job

with a steely might.

The Sacrifice, by Lisa Hall

 In rows we stood

So proud and tall

To serve our country

One and all

In rows we stood

Our intentions clear

To give freedom to

The ones so dear

In rows we marched

Our futures bleak

Aware of the dangers

From the enemies we seek

In rows we marched

Stories growing more

Trying to forget about

What the future had in store

In rows we fell

How afraid we were

Men of all ages

Falling near and far

In rows we fell

The fear of feeling cold

Men of all backgrounds

Their stories never to be told

The Choice of Freedom, by Lisa Hall

The clock stands still

But time moves on

The voice of reason

The voice of wrong

Was nowhere to be seen

Was nowhere to be found

Those many lives of men

Lost on the war ground

The sound of silence

The emptiness of cries

The voice of heartache

The voice of lies

So many men fighting

Wanted to give

The rights of others

The freedom to live

VC, by Neil Howell 15^th March 2013

Remember those who die in foreign lands,
who give their lives that liberty may thrive,
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands.

Those who’ve stayed behind all understand;
those shell-shocked souls who make it home alive
remember those who die in foreign lands.

James Ashworth had the guts to take command.
He died so that his men survived,
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands

Sitting lonely with the letter in their hands,
shedding tears, partners, lovers, wives
remember those who die in foreign lands.

The bronzed VC cannot replace the man
who paid the price when fate connived,
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands

Salute the brave who’ve made the stand,
those who’ve fallen, those who have survived.
Remember those who die in foreign lands,
shedding blood in arid Afghan sands.

 L/Cpl James Ashworth died while on a patrol in June last year

A British soldier who died in southern Afghanistan last year as he protected his colleagues from a grenade blast is to be awarded the Victoria Cross.  The UK's top gallantry medal will go to L/Cpl James Ashworth, 23, of Kettering, Northamptonshire, who was serving with 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.  The VC has been awarded 10 times to UK soldiers since World War II and only once before for bravery in Afghanistan.  L/Cpl James Ashworth was killed while on a reconnaissance patrol to disrupt insurgent activity in the Nahr-e-Saraj district in June 2012.  Speaking at the time the death was announced Capt Mike Dobbin, commander of Reconnaissance Platoon, Nijmegen Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, paid tribute to L/Cpl Ashworth's actions.  "He was killed while fighting his way through compounds; leading his fire team from the front, whilst trying to protect his men and he showed extraordinary courage to close on a determined enemy," he said.  "His professionalism under pressure and ability to remain calm in what was a chaotic situation is testament to his character."  The VC is the British military's highest recognition for gallantry and was first bestowed on troops during the Crimean war of 1854 and 1855.  The medal is made by London jewellers Messrs Hancock from the bronze of cannons captured from Russian troops at the siege of Sevastopol during the war.