Soldier and Diploma in a train, in November 1940.
" If it  wasn't for us you wouldn't have a war at all "  
I've had no experience of direct war. 
All wars are the result of a failure of diplomacy. And its diplomats  that have to try to reconcile the previously warring parties. 
Trying to prevent and then cleaning up. 
But I've visited a number of  cemeteries in this country and abroad: In Falklands   Flanders, Japan, Malaysia and even in the Arizona in the US.  US where 23 RAF trainees who died are buried,    and am familiar with the photos of the serried ranks of rectangular stones, curved top and not even a cross.  
Santiments regarding  the dead have altered little in 2400 years.
Go tell the Spartans stranger passing by that here obedient to their laws we lie
480 BC
When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today. 

If Josef Stalin, sending thousands to their deaths in his own country,  right about one thing it was that the death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic. " 
Ban on repatriation during the war understandable.   But afterwards when the [policy was confirmed there was an outcry.  Bereaved not allowed top choose their own preferred headstone. It never occurred to the bereaved that the dead would belong to the State  
Commission wanted cemeteries to speak with one voice.
To allow a variety of headstones would destroy the impression of a great army. One voice one death one sacrifice. Fought and died together in one common cause. 
  Must have all deaths equal whether the casualty was a general or a Private , the son of a marquis ora washerwoman. 
66 letters at3.5d  a letter.  Commission tried to control what was said on the headstone. Storm  of protest. 
NZ decided on no inscriptions _ infringing the principle of equality.
Canadians paid for them all. 

The snorkellers. Story. 
To ensure that war does not recede into a distant historical memory.  This poppy is a visible sign that we are not forgetting.
As the philosopher said   " Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. " 

 


