The Unknown Warrior: 100 Years Since The Outbreak Of W W I.

[ChillDoubt]

This is the moving story of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, sometimes called the Unknown Soldier. I have posted this in News as it will be relevant over the next week or so and the subsequent commemorations marking the start of The Great War that will follow.
I still find it incredibly moving that a man unknown is so respected and revered that his is the only tomb within Westminster Abbey upon which it is forbidden to walk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cYWv1l2zGY

[ChillDoubt]

Further info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Unknown_Warrior

Lest We Forget

[woofgang]

did you also know that now that people can be identified by their DNA, there need never again be an unknown soldier?

[andy-hughes]

woofgang - "did you also know that now that people can be identified by their DNA, there need never again be an unknown soldier?"

It would indeed be possible to disinter the remains and find out the identity of the solider, but that would be to destroy the entire ethos of the selection abd burial of the Unknown Warrior - one to represent millions.

I am sure that such a move would never be contemplated by modern society - the myth of the soldier must remain forever.

[Peter Pedant]

.

// did you also know that now that people can be identified by their DNA, there need never again be an unknown soldier? //

One recent disaster ( not military/naval ) involving prolonged immersion, forensic dentistry came out on top ( DNA too degraded )

[kvalidir]

I imagine the man himself would not prefer to remain a faceless myth, he would rather have his identity back even in death, especially in death perhaps, although prior to now I do see the beauty in having a single unknown person to represent millions. Even if we knew his identity he would still represent those millions equally well, it's not some romantic fairy tale, it's someone killed horribly, torn away from their family and imho he ha a right to be recognised for who he is not mythologised.

[kvalidir]

Great video btw Chill.

[woofgang]

I wasn't thinking about disinterring any of the existing Unknown Soldiers that are around the world, my comment was about future unidentified servicemen, but, on reflection, I think that I agree with kval.....in the war cemeteries in France there are many "soldiers known only to God" I wonder if any of them will ever be identified. Of course it would be much more difficult to identify them without anything definite to match the DNA to.
I have a vague memory that it was said on QI that US soldiers' DNA is now collected and registered?

[ChillDoubt]

So, Remebrance Sunday is almost upon us.
Anyone doing anything particularly special, abroad to maybe Belgium, attending the Cenotaph in Whitehall?
I'll be going to the local service along with my brother(ex RAF) and young ChillDoubt, who has asked to join us for the first time ever and he feels that the centenary service is something he should definitely be a part of.

[ChillDoubt]

Remembrance, even.....

[Brenden]

I will be watching on television, remembering my father who served in the eighth army at El Alamein, and crying when Nimrod is played ( we had this piece of music played at his funeral).

[ChillDoubt]

Hats off to your father Brenden, we owe him and his comrades more than we can ever repay.
Nimrod is a beautiful piece of music, so befitting of such occasions.

For anyone interested, the piece in the OP is Benedictus by Karl Jenkins, from The Armed Man.

[jno]

I don't know, andy hughes - his family might prefer to have him identified if possible. The ethos of the unknown soldier was a necessity in the age before DNA; now it may be a bit of a luxury, if families want to know where their loved ones are.

[Butterbun]

Great video ChillDoubt. I found it very moving. I will be watching it all on TV.

[ChillDoubt]

Not long in from the local service where I was fortunate enough to meet up with a former comrade I hadn't seen for some 26 years.
A few pints and a lot of laughs afterwards.

[ChillDoubt]

Would just like to add, having been to my local service on Sunday and observed the 2 minute silence today at the local memorial, I would like to mention 2 former colleagues who died in service and who were uppermost in my thoughts last Sunday and today:

Cpl David Wright, 1st Bn The Royal Welch Fusiliers and
Cpl Colin Dryburgh, Corps of Royal Military Police.

There are many kinds of sorrow
In this world of love and hate
But there is no sterner sorrow
Than a soldier's for his mate

RIP

[Zeuhl]

chill

may 'their name liveth for evermore'

jno

the whole point of the Unknown Warrior is that he was the only body repatriated and many have no grave at all, anywhere. So those bereaved can if they wish, treat the unknown warrior as their own

- because he could be.