General Chat

On this day the 22nd of May 1941 the British light cruiser HMS Fiji was bombed & sunk by German aircraft in Suda Bay off the Island of Crete

Of the total crew of 764, 241 were killed as a result of this action. The 523 who survived spent some 12 to 20 hours in the sea before being rescued by HMS Khandahar & Kingston who came back during the hours of darkness,
The rescue took this long, as the ships that were in the area at the time of the conflict were ordered not to stop pick up survivors, as they were in danger of being attacked themselves.

This is to remember all those who were killed at that time and those who were injured and many of the survivors suffered from their injuries for the rest of their lives.

We should never forget the sacrifices that these people made, in this action and all others that have made these sacrifices in all conflicts

Lest we forget, we will remember them.


George

Yes, we must never forget those who made the supreme sacrifice,

May they rest in peace and rise in Glory.

I have visited the war cemetary in Suda Bay and whilst its a tragic reminder of the cost of war it is situated in the most beautiful location and if you holiday on the island of Crete I would urge you to pay a visit and spend a few minutes in quiet thought and reflection

Thanks for this George, we don't all know about these things, those of us born after the war. Respect to all those lost, and those who returned but with lives changed forever.

Crete is one of the places I want to visit so I would certainly try to visit the cemetery.

When I went to Kefalonia I visited the British Cemetery there, and it was a lovely place, very peaceful and very interesting, altho sad. Many graves of the families of British forces people who died of cholera and such, little children and sometimes almost whole families it seemed.

Lizx

I noticed the name of one of the rescue ships, HMS Khandahar - how many of our men lost there so many years on.

So, so sad.
I have just been reading letters from my family 'stock' of historical relics...
I found a letter from one my father's friends who served in Korea.
I have read it so many times in my life, but realised today that when we read something like that we see it differently each time.

I read it when it was brave... I was 11.
I read it when it was interesting... I was 25.
Forget the periods in between, I read it today and felt the futility of war... all that sadness..... I am 70.

And we learn absolutely NOTHING.
I think the only way we really understand is when our own sons and daughters go to war.
God bless them all.

Deanna X

Thanks for the replies so far, i posted this as My Dad was on HMS Fiji at the time, fortunately he survived, although he did have injuries causing him to be in hospital for six months and his injuries did affect him for the rest of his life. he also lost two of his best friends in the incident who had been in the Royal Navy with him since 1938

George

Thoughts and prayers to all those brave men and women who gave their lives for us.

My Dad was out in the far East during the 2ndWW and kept his memories and photos of this time in his live in an album which I found when clearing the house after he died earlier this year.

They looked so young and full of life.

God bless them all.

Teresa

Yes Teresa they were beautiful young men weren't they?
and as you say, very brave too.
I get very angry at the way some young people behave towards old men.
They don't seem to be able to look at them and see the young man in them.
Well lads, we have news for you.
You too will look different when you get old, so enjoy your good looks... while you have them.
Deanna X

Hi Hope that i am not intruding here but thought that i could, if i may put up a Poem that i learned in school.

The Mother.
I do not grudge them Lord, I do not grudge my two strong sons that i have seen go out ,
To break their strenght and die, they and a few,
In bloody protest for a glorious thing,
They shall be spoken of among their people,
The generations shall remember them,
And call them blessed,
But i will speak their names to my own heart
In the long nights,
The little names that were familiar once
Round my dead hearth,
Lord, thou art hard on mothers:
We suffer in their coming and their going
And tho' i grudge them not, I weary, weary
Of the long sorrow -- And yet i have my joy,
My sons were faithful, and they fought.
Lily.

Dear George

Hello

Thank you for putting this post on.

I think more young people are taking notice of
historical events and can relate to them when they listen to war veterans talking.

Sending caring thoughts to all those affected by this event.

Take gentle care
Very sincere wishes
x

Lily, those are lovely words, very sad but so many mothers can relate to them over all the years of battles and wars etc

I often wonder what my Dad saw, he was in Palestine and Burma among other places during his military service, he was demobbed in 1945 I do wish I had written things down or asked him more about where he went etc We have his medals, my son has two, my nephew has the other two, Mum let them choose in turn but being only 7 they didn't know really what they were choosing.

I must find the ones my son chose and check them out, they are still at my house I think. So many untold stories.

Lizx

LIzx

That was touching Lily.
Thank you for telling us about it.
Deanna X