大象传媒

My father died 5 years ago and amongst his things I found this. I thought it appropriate for the time of year when we remember all those who fought, and still fight, to keep us free.

"The Goubelatt Plain in Tunisia, North Africa is where the main crop of wheat is grown in that country. It is ripe and ready for cutting about the beginning of May. At the end of April 1943 one of the last big battles in North Africa was fought on the Goubelatt Plain. I remember standing there looking across this big plain with golden corn, almost up to the arm pits, splashed with bright red from the poppies that grew with it. A popular song of the time came to my mind - "When the Poppies Bloom Again I'll Remember You", and I thought of the First World War where my father fought and of Flanders where the poppies bloomed - the very place where poppy day started, the day we call Rememberance Day.

I lost friends, both killed and wounded on that corn-filled plain, and I believe the harvest was lost too. It was the last big push for Tunis by the 1st Army in North Africa and I will always remember the lads who were there - they were so young and full of life.

We should all remember them and be thankful to God that we are able to live here in freedom because of their sacrifice".

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