I donned my poppy this weekend, and I will wear it until Sun 11th November; I keep it on until remembrance sunday or 11th November, whichever comes later. I am an enthusiastic seller of poppies in my pub, and find that my french customers are usually keen to contribute, expressing their appreciation of the sacrifice made by the British people in the liberation of Europe. Moreover, they often express regret that France has no equivalent to the poppy for the public to show their respect for the fallen and the wounded.
At the end of September I had the honour of attending a ceremony in the Carré Militaire of St Germain cemetery to commemorate Admiral Bertram Ramsay. He is buried here because he perished when the plane taking him to a meeting with Monty in Brussels crashed taking off from a local airfield on 2nd Jan 1945. This moving ceremony was organised as the RN Association of France and the Royal British Legion, along with the french ancien combattants feel him to be one of the unsung heroes of the liberation of France. Recalled to service from his retirement, as Flag Officer Dover he organised the evacuation from Dunkirk, saving 200 000 British and 140 000 french troops. He subsequently planned the Operation torch landings in North Africa and the Operation Husky landings in Sicily. He was Naval Commander in Chief for the Allied Landings on D day when he had 7000 ships under his command. Seventy people turned out to pay him their respects, including the Sous Prefet, the Mayor, The Naval Attaché, representatives of the Marine National, the aforementioned veterans associations and members of the public. As well as the appreciation of Admiral Ramsay himself, much was said of the debt France owes to the British people and to Winston Churchill for the time we stood alone, and much gratitude was expressed for the sacrifice of all the allied troops of all nations who liberated France.
I am from a Naval family - my father and both my grandfathers were regular officers in the grey funnel line, and I wear my poppy with pride. I do however agree that on remembrance day, as well as thinking of our own servicemen and women we should also take time to remember all the victims of war.
