Remembrance Weekend Bits.

No worries Kev ,thanks for the praise on the dio and yes it was originally a scene with a panther on it until it warped when the sun shone through my magnifier.Hence why i had to change it. We obviously had mixed visions on this. I even asked some retired servicemen if the medals were OK as i didn’t have a clue and i was told that these medals represented a good mixture of servicemen,s achievements.

Oh dear.

Andy, if you read my post correctly you would have seen I was praising your incredible modelling skill, far exceeding any of my meagre efforts. The title, Grandad Shares His Memories, implied to me that it was one man’s memories and that was why I expected to see medals appropriate to one man’s service.

Now you have explained it I can see what you have done and understand why. If I remember correctly you originally had a different idea for the layout? A scene from the war itself?

It is an incredible piece of work and if I have caused any offence I sincerely apologise to you for that. my criticism was meant to be purely constructive.

Regards,

kev35

About the diorama Lest we forget.

Derek.

I’ve seen the progress of that diorama on one of the modelling forums and it is stunning, such incredible groundwork. The one thing that lets it down is the miniature medals he has added. It is at best an unusual combination, more likely an impossible one. I cannot see anyone qualifying for an Aircrew Europe Star with Battle of Britain clasp, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and a British War Medal from the Great War.

I’ve personally had quite an emotional experience this evening as I attended an evening in the trenches event at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum. The premise is that groups of around 20 are taken down into a reconstructed section of trench to observe life in the trenches on a cold November evening. Talks are given on the various scenes you come across. Can I just say that these are amongst the best re-enactors I have ever seen. The noise of explosions, gunfire just a few feet away from you and the representation of casualties is outstanding. Not only do you see the trenches from a British point of view but from a German one too. Having learned something today at the Museum that I never knew about my maternal Grandfather made the experience even more personal for me. if this experience is ever offered again I can tell you that it is worth every single penny of the £6 fee.

Regards,

kev35

When i read the above post i was slightly annoyed,I built this diorama and just to put the gent in question straight This diorama was built in memory of all the servicemen that have given or risked their lives for all of us in any war and in any service, Hence the medals from just a few. Lest we forget i thought explained that.

My Remembrance Day was spent at the service held in the Nottinghamshire village of Screveton, where, in 1944, an Airspeed Oxford from Wymeswold and a Lancaster from Syerston collided over the village.

There are actually two services held there, one at the village church, followed by the other which is held at the memorial stone to the two aircrews.

Afterwards, we headed to Newark where the Lancaster’s bomb aimer, Pilot Officer David Winchester McRuer is at rest, and then to Burton-on-the-Wolds, where the Oxford’s Instructor is buried, Flight Lieutenant James Addison Hawkins.

A very nice, and thought provoking post.

This is where I was on Sunday afternoon. Last but one post:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1950562#post1950562

At Stow Maries

Hating the false sincerity and bull**** politics of my town parade where it’s a bunch of self important ******s laying wreaths and not a single casualties name is read out I decided to go where it’s about the name son the memorial. berghapton, a place I have no link to, researched, restored and re-dedicated their memorial about five years ago and this was where I’d come into the picture. Chris, one of those involved, used the Great War Forum, same as I and he invited me along. It was a bit special too as they’d found loads of names of people who should have been on their and they were added. We’ve been to a couple of Remembrance services there since and, with a welcome soup at the village hall afterwards, my girls knew straightaway where they wanted to go. They usually get a job too…

I didn’t tell Chris I was coming. I picked up my dad, the girls were with me and when i collared him in the car park he was over the moon – he said it made his day that we’d turned up and promised a job for the girls if there were ‘spares’.

Oh, Crhis got a random call from me once. I found one of his villager’s Victory Medals at a car boot sale by chance. The story was in the village magazine so I go there and I’m recognised and welcomed like a villager. That’s nice. Anyway, too many words.

Who are these crosses for? Two of the villagers. They ALL get one and their names are read out. These were the jobs, again, for my daughters.

You see they understand. They care too. They’re a real credit. How could they not? They go or return thinking about a name or two each year and the first they attended was in the church I’d photographed the newest war casualty during his wedding a couple of years before. hey know a name and they know about the person who bore it.

Then we took dad home and went to see George

George wasn’t nineteen again on Sunday though. George used to sell the poppies in my village when i was a little kid and he’d come to a service or two with in the past. Sadly George had joined my Two Minute Silence this year. Where I’d had a poppy from him at the age of my daughters this time he had the poppy from my jacket.

Then we went a-wandering. It was time to visit P/O Moxey, after a quick hello to Francois whose bench sits around my parents, repossessed to avoid damage from the Red Lion.

Who is Moxey? Just a fella from the war. A random one. If you’re unfamiliar with his name you may want to look here:

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=66

ten years it was since I’d been here. My eldest was 5 1/2 months old then. She left her poppy with him.

The urn has an inscription upon it. From your mates. That’s personal.

I guess the inscription is defining.

The girls were in no rush to go home so we meandered, found some soldiers, some sailors, some airmen, some civilians, some reservists…all war dead from both wars. It was quite a day.

I’ll leave you with a gravestone. We saw this as we drove towards Percy Moxey’s grave. A family, together in spirit if not in body. The poppy was not ours.

…and so we came home and I, who rarely drink, poured one. You either know or you don’t but suffice to say this was the final memorial of the day, taken at the going down of the sun.

On the 31st of January 1916, Zeppelin LZ61 (L21) of the Imperial German Navy, Commanded by Kapitanleutnant Max Dieterich had set off to bomb Liverpool. Poor navigation saw the crew identifying Midlands towns as Liverpool. After causing damage and casualties in Wednesbury, further bombs were dropped over Walsall. One bomb landed in the centre of the Town at Bradford Place. The subsequent explosion damaged several buildings and several splinters struck a tram. One of those injured was Mrs. Julia Slater, Mayoress of Walsall, who was aboard the tram at the time. Several weeks later she died of shock and septicaemia from the injuries received. The cenotaph now stands on the site of that explosion and the damage has been left unrepaired on one of the buildings to this day.

In the afternoon I went for a drive to Cannock Chase. I was somewhat surprised to find no wreaths in the Commonwealth Cemetery but perhaps they share the Remembrance Sunday Service with the German Cemetery? I went down to the German Cemetery anyway to have a look.

I suspect the two internees were victims of the flu pandemic of the Winter of 1918 and 19.

Regards,

kev35

Sunday morning saw me having a meeting with the Church Warden at my local Church and the site of the Memorial I am researching. Then it was on to Walsall Town centre for the parade and Service at the cenotaph. Attendance seemed to me to be even greater this year.

Just a few pictures of the parade and the Cenotaph.

I found this particularly moving…..

It reads “In Remembrance of David Collins, 2nd Battalion RRF. Once a Fusilier, always a Fusilier.”

Regards,

kev35

That’s a not unreasonable thought and in a way I agree. However November 11th has always been about Armistice Day for me and to a lesser extent the Second World War. The remembrance of those who fell in subsequent wars is secondary, and I do not mean that their sacrifice is, secondary, of course.

I think it is about scale and circumstances. The sheer numbers, many still teenagers, who fell in close armed combat or in proximity to it to little or no strategic purpose has always struck me more forcibly than any other combat.

I appreciate the loss from WW1 and WW2 and I watched many interesting programmes on Sunday. Most of which were about WW1.
I was quite surprised, perhaps a little sad that more recent wars were not mentioned especially Afganistan. A soldier died on armistice day in Afganistan. Just an observation, nothing more.

Just wanted to share an experience in an out-of-the-way CWGC cemetery towards the southern end of the Somme.

We left the car and walked a few hundred yards. The cemetery was by no means as pristine as most, and worst of all we thought, the moles were running riot. Hills and runs everywhere, something I can never recall seeing ever before.

Then we started to read the headstones.

A good proportion of the casualties buried there were tunnellers

Moggy

I’ve not got any photos to share but I was talking to my dad earlier about family on his side who had past been in the wars, finding out about my Granddad’s cousin who served in world war and was in a prison camp occupied by the Japanese army having to survive by drinking his own urine … 🙁

I also found out about nana’s uncle who also served in the world war I believe, his medal is downstairs and holding it kind of brought a feeling of honour and respect for him and all the other people who have served in the UK Forces.

Then it might not be anything but my dad showed me his medals for 7 years service in the Royal Navy, including a medal for service in the Fights of Northern Ireland.

Derek.

I’ve seen the progress of that diorama on one of the modelling forums and it is stunning, such incredible groundwork. The one thing that lets it down is the miniature medals he has added. It is at best an unusual combination, more likely an impossible one. I cannot see anyone qualifying for an Aircrew Europe Star with Battle of Britain clasp, a Distinguished Conduct Medal and a British War Medal from the Great War.

I’ve personally had quite an emotional experience this evening as I attended an evening in the trenches event at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum. The premise is that groups of around 20 are taken down into a reconstructed section of trench to observe life in the trenches on a cold November evening. Talks are given on the various scenes you come across. Can I just say that these are amongst the best re-enactors I have ever seen. The noise of explosions, gunfire just a few feet away from you and the representation of casualties is outstanding. Not only do you see the trenches from a British point of view but from a German one too. Having learned something today at the Museum that I never knew about my maternal Grandfather made the experience even more personal for me. if this experience is ever offered again I can tell you that it is worth every single penny of the £6 fee.

Regards,

kev35

This diorama was displayed at the IPMS Scale Model World competition at Telford.

Entitled “Lest We Forget – Grandad Shares His Memories”

I thought it was rather good and very appropriate.

Kev.
There were thousands of such women. More often than not, they buckled down and got on with life-
Andy

My grandmother was one such. My grandfather left for war in 1914 when my mother was 2. He didn’t return and my grandmother brought my mother up selflessly and without complaint despite many tough years. She never spoke of her husband and as a teenager beginning to understand about those years she divulged nothing to me.

I am sure she was one among thousands who did just as Andy has described. As I grew older and after she had died I wish she had spoken because then I wanted to understand.

Well said !

Since my name was mentioned in an earlier post by Kev, I thought I’d just comment – most especially as my son and his pal have just called in for breakfast en route from Padderborn to Bovington for a four-week course. They mentioned that they would be at a Remembrance Day parade there tomorrow, and spoke of the names of a couple of their pals, lost in Afghanistan on their recent tour, are now on a memorial there. They were two very thoughtful young men as they silently ate and drank after talking about them.

For me, and not just because of this, but my work 24/7 immerses me in stories that make me think and remember every day. I don’t need to buy a poppy to do that, and in fact I don’t buy one or generally wear the paper poppy of this particular week – instead I wear a small enamel one in a jacket lapel all year. Oddly, I kind of felt an accusing look from a poppy seller just yesterday because I wasn’t wearing one and she knew me and my involvement/interest – and although I happily drop money in their tins I rather feel that the insincerity of, say, the BBC stance on everyone pretty much having to wear a poppy rather puts me off. I don’t need to wear a poppy to remember, I do that all the time that I write and research. And I do that everytime I look after the village war memorial as I did this morning, and will tomorrow.

I challenge anyone to read all this without a mist of tears – a humble thank you, one and all for these enduring memories of selflessness and heroism.

Kev.
You might say those women were the lucky ones–if they found a man–or love again.
The maiden aunt and the old spinster–often the butt of jokes (perhaps by those who should have known better) were more often the result of the loss of a sweetheart.
There were thousands of such women. More often than not, they buckled down and got on with life–often giving their love vacariously through nieces and nephews, who were substitutes to the children they never had.
In fact, the story goes that my Grandmother was equally sweet on both Syd and Percy Reynolds, but that choice was reduced by 50% in September 1918.

Thoughtful stuff.

And Rob.
Lovely pictures–as ever.
I really must get to Green Park to see the Bomber Command Memorial.

Andy

Some fantastically powerful images there. The Australian memorial at night is just stunning.

Richard, that’s a very useful link to know. Two of the 83 Walsall men you refer to are on the local Memorial I am researching. I found them the hard way.

Andy gave us Vergissmeinicht earlier in this thread. Today I’d like to offer something written by A E Housman in 1895 and published in 1896. I’ll explain why I think it particularly appropriate after you’ve read it.

A Shropshire Lad: XXVII

‘Is my team ploughing,
That I was used to drive
And hear the harness jingle
When I was man alive?’

Ay, the horses trample,
The harness jingles now;
No change though you lie under
The land you used to plough.

‘Is football playing
Along the river shore,
With lads to chase the leather,
Now I stand up no more?’

Ay, the ball is flying,
The lads play heart and soul;
The goal stands up, the keeper
Stands up to keep the goal.

‘Is my girl happy,
That I thought hard to leave,
And has she tired of weeping
As she lies down at eve?’

Ay, she lies down lightly,
She lies not down to weep:
Your girl is well contented.
Be still, my lad, and sleep.

‘Is my friend hearty,
Now I am thin and pine,
And has he found to sleep in
A better bed than mine?’

Yes, lad, I lie easy,
I lie as lads would choose;
I cheer a dead man’s sweetheart,
Never ask me whose.

I find it particularly poignant as for almost every soldier who died during the Great War there was a wife or sweetheart waiting at home. As I’ve researched so many Great War casualties now it becomes clear, from the letters exchanged just how fragile life was. You often find on the CWGC entries the additional information that Pte. Fred Smith was the husband of Annie Jones (formerly Smith.) So many widows seem to have married again between the deaths of their husbands and when the CWGC (then IWGC) registers were compiled.

Regards,

kev35