A Russian / Soviet / Ukrainian and a British / UK / Welsh war hero.

VE Day links and Royal Family / patriotism links. 9 May 2015.

An amazing story from the Guardian newspaper.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/09/ve-day-film-brings-back-memories-for-man-who-danced-with-future-queen

'VE Day film brings back memories for man who danced with future Queen

Ronald Thomas gave up telling people that he danced with Princess Elizabeth in Trafalgar Square on VE Day because they didn’t believe him'

The BBC news report

'VE Day anniversary: Church bells ring across UK' BBC News

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-32670639

And a Prince Harry story from Australia's ABC News. Prince Harry has been serving with the Australian Defence Force (the Australian army) and they've just released some photos

'Prince Harry's Australian military attachment captured in series of photos released by ADF'.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-09/adf-provides-glimpse-inside-prince-harrys-australian-attachment/6457416

Some other links.

The official Government website information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/ve-day-70th-anniversary

VE Day 70th anniversary

Friday 8 May 2015 is the anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day), marking 70 years since the end of the second world war in Europe.

The occasion will be commemorated with events across the UK.

Stage set for VE Day tribute concert in London - BBC News

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32673009

6 hours ago - There will be a star-studded concert in London on Saturday to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

VE Day 70th Anniversary - BritishLegion.org.uk‎

Adwww.britishlegion.org.uk/ VE - Day -70‎

On 8 May We Show Our Gratitude. Remember Those Who Fought in WW2.

Support Our Veterans ·Please give generously

As you celebrate Victory Day in Ukraine, here are some links to related stories in the UK, and some Royal Family interest. VE Day links and Royal Family / patriotism links. 9 May 2015.

[Cover note].

A Russian / Soviet / Ukrainian and a British / UK / Welsh war hero.

I wrote this comment today on a friend's Facebook (a friend from Zaporizhia) who posted this translation and the relevant photographs first.

А это мой дед.... Горжусь..... С Днем Победы!

Me - What does the certificate say, Igor?

Igor - It's an order on rewarding the Medal "For Service in Battle" and the description for what:

"He distinguished himself in battle 10/07/1944. When the breakthrough of enemy defence, he first broke into the enemy trench, threw grenades at the enemy machine gun, killed three enemies. In this battle, he was wounded, but despite the pain, he continued to pursue the enemy, and only after the completion combat mission was evacuated to the hospital. "

It was Victor's father.

Me - Though Stalin's pact with Hitler brutally carved up Eastern Europe and started the War, it is certainly true that the Soviet Union, along with the Western Allies ended it. Putting that aside people are always going to admire bravery of soldiers in battle and this is very impressive - like the stories I read as a child in our stories from the War. I could tell that your father is a strong man - I can see where he gets it from.

Tasker Watkins VC. Victoria Cross (VC) Medal winner, senior judge, and former President of Welsh Rugby.

My father in law, Cardiff bookdealer, Nicholas (Nick) Willmott posted this comment on a Welsh hero of World War II, with a similar story.

Nick starts by talking about a book purchase at a local second hand outdoor market (the Cardiff equivalent of Angolenko market).

A less questionable acquisition during the week, from one of our local

charity shops, is a well-illustrated ‘Fotoreport’ covering a 1985

reunion of the 53rd Welsh Division in ’s-Hertogenbosch. It is perhaps

not surprising that the title-page should be signed by the then Lord

Mayor of Cardiff, and the secretary of the Dutch organising committee,

but I was particularly gratified to spot the more modest signature of

Tasker Watkins (who was seriously wounded during the liberation of

’s-Hertogenbosch). Although a statue of Sir Tasker Watkins VC stands

outside the Millennium Stadium, recognising his eleven-year presidency

of the WRU, his remarkable career, from humble origins and covering

military, legal and public service, is not perhaps as well-known as it

should be.

The circumstances of his winning the VC are such as to have been

represented in boys’ comics. The painting at

http://jonathanhware.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/2/1/16216218/5859117.png?361

gives something of the flavour, and the formal citation can be read at

http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbwatki2.htm The citation was,

apparently, pinned on the wall of the Welsh changing room during the

Graham Henry era. Yet Tasker Watkins was a man of great reticence and

would, apparently, seldom refer to his exploits. And when he did it was

to express profoundly humane values: “You must believe me when I say it

was just another day in the life of a soldier. I did what needed doing

to help colleagues and friends, just as others looked out for me during

the fighting that summer … I didn’t wake up the next day a better or

braver person, just different. I’d seen more killing and death in 24

hours – indeed been part of that terrible process – than is right for

anybody. From that point onwards I have tried to take a more caring view

of my fellow human beings, and that, of course, always includes your

opponent, whether it be in war, sport or just life generally.”

I came across a good story about him which, I think, bears recounting.

It was told at his funeral service by Archbishop Barry Morgan who knew

him towards the end of his life. “After listening to one businessman

speak at a particular gathering on how wonderful he was, how much money

he had made and how we too could be like him if we had the gumption, I

asked Tasker what he thought. He paused for a moment and said, “I think

I would just want to ask him one question” a further pause. I said,

“What would the question be Tasker?” “I would want to ask him, what

would your mother make of all this?””

From Nicholas Willmott's 'Cardiff Bulletin', 15 September 2013.

And there was a Law connection, as I explained in my reply.

I replied:

“I vaguely thought I had heard of Tasker Watkins when Frances mentioned him. LJ Watkins is one of my favourite judges because he gave the leading judgment on breach of the peace (very wide but legally correct unlike Lord Denning's), and pops up giving quite commonsense judgments in the High Court in the early 1980s. Since spotting his statue in Cardiff I've asked my lecture groups a question about it but none have ever got the answer. Having a few Welsh rugby fans in the groups someone should have done but they probably weren't expecting it. The judgement in Howell [1982] is still a leading authority on breach of the peace in England and Wales.”

And why did I decide to correct these materials, because of a tutorial at ZNU a few weeks ago, as I explained to Kateryna Vasylyna.

Hi Kateryna, just put a post on VK that your friend from ZNU Larissa may be interested in. In one of her classes we discussed the Queen, patriotism and World War 2, including the Queen's broadcast to evacuee children which I had never heard. I've put together some links about our VE Day celebrations in the UK, a couple of Royal Family stories (including a Prince Harry story as all your girls love Prince Harry) and some other links and stories. I saw some of the fireworks as I was walking home which were good.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29