Today is the anniversary of The Battle of Agincourt a historic feat of arms in which a rag tag, sickly army of English, Welsh, Scots & Irish decisively defeated a numerically superior French army. It has been immortalised in book and most importantly in a play and yet now I would imagine there is not a person in Britain under the age of 18 who has ever heard of it.
However, this year and probably for years to come, it is more significant to me personally, as it would have been my Grandad’s 86th birthday. He died this year on the 9th January.
He was many things in his life, not least of which was; apprentice, soldier, husband, worker, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was loved by all and was the quintessential ‘gentle’ man.
And yet
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Apart from his family, that of which he was most proud, was the time he stood on the wall and said “This far and no further’” with his band of brothers.
Happy Birthday Grandad, Rest in Peace and Thank You
Thomas John Lee
25th October 1923 – 9th January 2009
Royal Marine Commando 1941-1946
‘Per Mare, Per Terram’
.
3 comments:
Good Man.
The greatest generation.
Agincourt today - aaaah, I missed it. Have to do a post on the longbow.
Post a Comment