Herald - Issue 397

Page 26 • The HERALD • 29th October 2020 v READ THE HERALD ONLINE: www.herald-publishing.co.uk v A LOCAL HERO by Roy’s daughter, Christine My Father, Roy Housden lived for the last six years at Applemore House, Applemore Hill, Dibden, where he celebrated his 100th birthday on 7th March. Roy served in the army during WW2 as a driver mechanic of a Bren Gun Carrier. He served with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiment and was a Japanese Prisoner of War for three and a half years. Dad went to Singapore and a er his capture he worked on the infamous death railway in Burma. On returning from the war my Father met and married Cynthia, and they were together for 69 years. In 2014, Dad joined us by moving into our family home in the New Forest. Dad broke his hip, following a fall in April, then went on to develop COVID- 19 while in hospital, and a er recovering he now is in the lovely nursing home, e Birches in Totton. He says he is looking forward to next summer when he can sit outside again. He misses his family including the dogs, Harley and Basil and Starsky the horse. Dad wants to be driven around the forest again to watch the ponies or the ships at Hythe Marina. It is so sad that all care home residents are su ering from not being able to see their friends and family due to Government guidelines over the pandemic - I wish to send best wishes to everyone in care homes, who cannot celebrate Remembrance Day as they have in previous years. Roy Housden Remembrance honours those who serve to defend our democratic free- doms and way of life. We unite across faiths, cultures and backgrounds to remember the service and sacri ce of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth. We will remember them. • We remember the sacri ce of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth. • We pay tribute to the special contribution of families and of the emergency services. • We acknowledge innocent civilians who have lost their lives in con ict and acts of terrorism. • Remembrance does not glorify war and its symbol, the red poppy, is a sign of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. • Wearing a poppy is never compulsory but is greatly appreciated by those who it is intended to support. • When and how you choose to wear a poppy is a re ection of your individual experiences and personal memories. What is Remembrance? Lest we forget, the poppy falls again, Each one a symbol of extinguished flame. A life taken to defend at great cost, A dear brother, sister, parent, friend lost. Lest we forget, that poppy deep deep red, Reminds us again of pain, shame and death. Of shattered countries, of lives torn apart, Mutilated bodies and the broken heart. Lest we forget, the poppies bloom and seed, To remind us of sacrifice and selfless deed. For those who gave their future for our peace, In hope that one day all wars would cease. Perhaps we are reminded when we see that poppy red, Of another time, when innocent blood was shed. When God allowed his Son to die upon the cross, Out of love for each one of us, not counting the cost. Lest We Forget by Dorothy Lockyer ASHURST WOOD WW1 ARMY CAMP, 1914 e camp was thought to be near Ashurst train station and the present- day campsite in Ashurst Wood. Established in October 1914 and inhabited by Indian found lodgings in the local hotels, whilst the troops were housed in the tents. They comprised of the 2nd, 5th, and 7th Mountain Batteries, Royal Garrison Artillery. They were then all formed into 3rd Pack Artillery Brigade and were escorted by an Indian Cavalry Unit, one of which being the Bengal Lancers. By 10th December they were ghting in France. troops that were sent to Britain to boost troop numbers in Europe. When they arrived, they were mainly staffed by British O cers who Ashurst Wood WW1 Army Camp 1914 A THOUGHT FOR REMEMBRANCE by Peter G Legg We’re going into battle Our colours ying high We’ll ght for King and country And for freedom we will die. For when the war is over And peace will reign supreme I hope we’re not forgotten And we gave our lives in vain. We sacri ced our youth And our dreams for a family life We brought our loved one’s sadness When we went to war to ght. And loneliness we gave them When bullets found their mark en they knew forever at we wouldn’t be coming back. So it’s not too much to ask for Just once a year to say Here’s to the ones who gave their lives For the freedom we have today.