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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: River Tyne Lass on Monday 12 November 18 10:55 GMT (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
I am starting this post to ask what you did on Armistice Centenary Day? Did you participate in any Commemoration Events?
I was en route home through the centre of Newcastle in the morning so I went to the Armistice Service at the Memorial in Old Eldon Square. To begin with I started out standing at the railings area just off from the Monument but then decided to try to get a better view. Despite being told that there was too big a throng to get through at the square I then decided to try anyway. I managed to find a good spot at a local café and joined some others standing on chairs to see over the tops of heads. My view was quite good so I was pleased at that.
Beside me was a small boy who seemed to be with his Grandmother. Just before the service started he was keen to be up to see what was going on but Grandmother told him there was nothing to see yet. I was quite amused when he retorted. "Well, what's everyone looking at then!" When the service did start I was amused again when he held a small meerkat toy aloft and moved the head right and left so that this toy could 'see' all that was happening. ;D ;D
I found the service quite moving and especially enjoyed the bagpipes and the drums playing.
After the service, I was able to meet up with my sister-in-law who had also been amongst the throng of people but standing elsewhere. We went to St Nicholas' Cathedral to listen to the joyful pealing of the bells which was in commemoration. This started at mid-day and was going to go on for four hours. We also looked around this beautiful and ancient Church. There was an exhibition on called 'There but not There'. It looked quite eerie in that in certain light you could imagine you were looking at the 'ghosts' of dead soldiers who had returned to sit in the pews.
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I went to the service in the village church, as I do every year.
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How did they do the ghost soldiers, are they holograms? (sorry if I'm a bit thick, not up on technology :( ) They look very atmospheric, I'd love to have been there.
I used to attend Remembrance Day services at local War Memorials, but these days watch the events at the Cenotaph on TV. Yesterday afternoon Ithought I'd try to find Mum's uncle, killed in WW1who has eluded me for years. And yesterday, Mum's birthday, I found him, my great-grandma's son by her second marriage - I hadn't looked into them before. Francis Bertram Eastwood (Uncle Frank), went to France with Leicestershires; He was awarded the Military Medal on March 12th 1917 and was killed by a sniper's bullet on 27th December 1917. The Leicestershire Regiment's war diary records: "He scarcely missed a day since the beginning. Was shot in the head and killed outside 'C' Company Headquarters in Northampton Trench" [at Cambrin]. He was buried at Cambrin Military Cemetery, his death reported in the London Gazette. Three days earlier, they had enjoyed a "fine Christmas dinner of fresh pork, plum puddings sent from England, and plenty of beer".
So pleased to have found him, on the 11th of all days. Mum was 5 years old on 11th November 1918. She thought they'd stopped the war because it was her birthday; I like to think she was right...
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Thank you for your posts ToTH and susieroe.
This is indeed serendipitous that you have managed to find your Great Uncle Frank on yesterday of all days. He must have done some courageous act to be awarded the Military Medal. It is very sad how he died but on the upside you have been able to find out how this happened.
Co-incidentally, it was my late Father's birthday yesterday and he was also five years old on that date in 1918. His Uncle John had died that year on 5th February 1918. He had been gassed in France and developed stomach cancer. He died at 5.10 pm at the Military War hospital at Napsbury, St Albans, Herts on 5th February 1918. He was buried in Sacriston, Durham. I don't know if my Dad ever remembered meeting this Uncle but he later inherited a war plaque in commemoration of him and I have now likewise inherited it. One day this will go to my son and likely on again to my Grandson.
That is lovely that your Mother thought the war had ended because of her bithday. :)
The 'ghosts' are made of what seems like toughened plastic. However, at a short distance in the dim light of the Cathedral these do look like holograms or eerie ghost soldiers returned and sitting in the pews. :o
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=764598.msg6163621#msg6163621
ADDED: This link of mine show a photo of the Commemorative plaque for my Great Uncle John.
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Good afternoon,
I was at our local church as usual with the standard. Church was full to bursting with people standing at the back.
Moved outside to the war memorial at 1045 for the act of remembrance and again a lot more people than usual attended that part. At the end the vicar said " the Victory has laid on tea and biscuits" for those who want to go over. They are expecting about 30 which is roughly the number we get each year. There were more than twice that yesterday.
I didn't go over as I had to go to the other local church and lay the wreath there.
John915
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River Tyne Lass, that is a beautiful plaque, you must be very proud of him. A coincidence indeed, your dad being exactly the same age as my Mum.
John, when you say 'the Victory' do you mean a pub or...the ship?
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Susie
The acrylic silhouettes and metal outlines you might have seen when you are out and about are part of the 'There but not there' installations.
Each seated acrylic silhouette represents a man who did not come home
https://www.therebutnotthere.org.uk/
There's lots of useful information on their website.
Their facebook page has details of where thay have been
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Remembered2018/posts/?ref=page_internal
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Went to the memorial from the London Regiment (Prince of Wales Civil service rifles) at somerset house and laid a wreath in memory of my Great Uncle John. Thanks to Cousin Chris, Wife Becky, Daughter Roisin, Son Conor and Sons girlfriend Suraiya for joining me. Also many thanks to Stephen from Somerset house who arranged the service.
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I watched the ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Cenotaph in London on BBC World TV in the morning. In the afternoon I attended the service or remembrance organised by the Paris branch of the Royal British Legion in Notre Dame Cathedral – very moving and very crowded. Lots more people than when I attended in 2014 for the centenary of the start of WW1.
And all day I thought about my father and uncle both of whom survived the Great War. My uncle, Arthur Dickinson, first went to France early in 1915 at the age of 17, and, three years later, during the heavy fighting in August 1918, he gained an MC. My father, his younger brother, went to France in the spring of 1918, aged 18, and was wounded, though not seriously, in August and November of that year. He was then part of the British army of occupation and was billeted in Vettweiss in Germany.
The documentaries shown on TV over the past four years have really helped me to understand the extent of the horror these young men went through. They didn’t talk about it and we didn’t ask the many questions to which we would now like to know the answers.
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What moving stories you have all told!
I found it very uncanny that you found your gt. Uncle Frank on the 11th susieroe, it's almost as if he'd waiting around for just that right moment!
I attended the service in our village church, as I do every year, it felt somewhat different this year to those previous, not sure why! It was well attended by villagers ( there's only total of about 220 people living here) and we went out to our memorial and three wreaths were laid in memory of the fallen. It is sad that from our small community there were two lots of brothers who lost their lives and in total there were 10 young men who didn't return.
Our WI have been busy knitting poppies over the last two years and they've all be put on chicken wire and start half way up the outside archway down the wall all along the edge of the path to the memorial around it and up the fence in front and woven along. One of the wreaths laid was made from knitted poppies too. It's been up for over a week and looks very striking as you walk along. Next year hopefully we'll have more to go up the other side of the porch to meet in the middle.
My two great uncles served in the RE's, joining up together in 1914, sadly one, Frederick James Harriss died in July 1918, so it's him I remember especially. I inherited from my grandfather a photo of Freds grave which had been sent home to his mother. In 2014 whilst we were on holiday in France I went and visited the cemetery and laid some flowers, I found it a very moving experience. Just a small place outside Tourgeville down a quiet lane but beautifully kept and very tranquil.
I was lucky enough to buy one of the poppies that had been on display round the Tower and it sits in my conservatory in a tall glass jar filled with pebbles and grasses from the garden. Something I shall pass on to my grandsons.
Caroline
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I went to my church as I do every year. We have 4 war memorials in the church all from churches which have combined on closure with the one I attend. My church has no war memorial of it's own.
On one of the memorials is a lady who was a nurse in WW1 who sadly lost her life in Egypt when the wagon taking the nurses back to their billets got stuck on railway tracks. The lady was safe as the front part was past the tracks she jumped off and ran back to help those on the back but was struck by a train and killed. She was late mentioned in dispatches.
My father served in the Royal Signals in WW2 and as usual since his death 25 years ago I take Dad's medals in my handbag to the service. He always went to a Remembrance service wearing his medals but as he said, "To remember those who didn't return".
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I went to the War Memorial in Holmfirth at 10:45 expecting there to be perhaps a reading & the last post at 11. Disappointingly nothing had been organised - this year of all years. About 40 of us gathered and observed the silence.
In past years there has been a church presence but this year they held a service at their normal time in the village centre church & were to move on to the War Memorial at 12.... [12 - what does that commemorate?] . We were told this by a lady who came out of the café at the Memorial Hospital outside which the War Memorial stands. Other years too there has been a gun somewhere in the valley to signal the start & end of the silence but not this year. Apparently there had been a lone piper at 6 am but I had seen no publicity for this although I had looked at the church website.
I do feel it is important to have an event [however small] at 11 and for it to be totally inclusive, ie non-Christians & non-military welcome and involved. I will try to organise something secular myself next year [not on facebook so advertising will have to be done the old-fashioned way with posters & word of mouth]. I may have to have the last post on a recording but there were a lot of disappointed people there on Sunday.
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The retirement village I live in had an egg and bacon brunch followed by a short remembrance service. Our last post was provided by YouTube.
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Unfortunately, being a university student I have quite a big assignment due in on Thursday, so I spent most of the day working on that (should finish today)! However, I did make sure between 10:30-11:05 I watched the ceremony at the cenotaph. Afterwards, I watched the leftover part of the ceremony from my home town over Facebook Live.
In the run up to the service, I published an article about those on the Creech St Michael War Memorial as well as those who moved away and died. If anybody is interested, here is the link http://findingmypast.weebly.com/csm-war-memorial.html (http://findingmypast.weebly.com/csm-war-memorial.html). I felt it was important to share with my fellow villagers. Over the coming year, I am hoping to compile a list of servicemen from the village who served in World War 1.
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Went to our local RSL Hall for the minute's silence (we only have one minute's silence here in Australia rather than two as you do in the UK). It felt a bit odd because it was at least 11:05 before they called the one minute's silence and a poor old chap collapsed in the midst of it so there was some noise with people rallying around to help him. Considering the number of people who attend our Anzac ceremonies, I thought it was a poor turnout especially for this anniversary year.
In the afternoon I went to our local cinema to see the Peter Jackson film "They Shall Not Grow Old",
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7905466/ I was quite disappointed and surprised given the good reviews that there were only 7 people in the cinema.
All in all, a bit of a disappointment attendance wise.
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In the run up to the service, I published an article about those on the Creech St Michael War Memorial as well as those who moved away and died. If anybody is interested, here is the link http://findingmypast.weebly.com/csm-war-memorial.html (http://findingmypast.weebly.com/csm-war-memorial.html). I felt it was important to share with my fellow villagers. Over the coming year, I am hoping to compile a list of servicemen from the village who served in World War 1.
Have you added them to the Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War website? The aim is to add details to facts about each person who served so that they are more than names. Information can be added until March 2019. You can also create an entry for the village if there isn't one already in the Communities section.
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/about
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Thank you everyone for your posts on this subject - I have really enjoyed reading all your accounts of what each of you did on this historic occasion.
Thank you dawnsh for adding more on the silhouettes installations - these were quite mesmerizing to see in the Church. As I say at a little distance away they did look like returned ghost soldiers. It does make you quite sad for those Church members and sometimes bell ringers who did not return.
I am currently reading a very good book about the first Armistice day called 'Peace at Last - a portrait of Armistice Day 11 November 1918' by Guy Cuthbertson. This encapsulates what happened in various areas throughout Britain and the rest of the world in the lead up to the Armistice agreed upon and throughout that historic day.
http://www.offtheshelf.org.uk/event/peace-last-guy-cuthbertson/
Thanks for adding the website link Maiden Stone. Thankfully, there seem to be so many websites now where we can add our war ancestors information and see to it that they are not forgotten.
This is another one which I came across on a thread of Greensleeves recently. I am sure she won't mind if I mention this again and add her advice to take a hankie before you look at it.
https://www.everyoneremembered.org/?seg=UPAEOR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuJqVg-DT3gIVCrXtCh1LTg10EAAYASAAEgJ1qfD_BwE
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In the run up to the service, I published an article about those on the Creech St Michael War Memorial as well as those who moved away and died. If anybody is interested, here is the link http://findingmypast.weebly.com/csm-war-memorial.html (http://findingmypast.weebly.com/csm-war-memorial.html). I felt it was important to share with my fellow villagers. Over the coming year, I am hoping to compile a list of servicemen from the village who served in World War 1.
Have you added them to the Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War website? The aim is to add details to facts about each person who served so that they are more than names. Information can be added until March 2019. You can also create an entry for the village if there isn't one already in the Communities section.
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/about
Thank you, Maiden Stone. I will do that now. I have added a few relatives already, but really must get round to adding more. :)
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I did what I do almost every year: stayed in and kept my own silence.
I don't attend church, and I dislike the way that these events have become intertwined with religious affairs.
IMHO most wars are started by religious intolerance.
If there was a secular memorial service, I would attend.
Just my (honest) views.
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Well, thank you for your honest views. These are welcome too. You observed the day in your own way. I do attend Church but I agree that sometimes trouble is started by those misrepresenting religion for their own agendas.
Since you have said what you dislike I will continue with what I dislike ..
I sometimes dislike the phrase that someone laid down their life for their country. From all I have learned about the Great War I would say that in many cases people's lives were laid down for their country. I think there is a difference. I imagine that most people would not want to voluntarily give up their lives and there often doesn't seem to have been much choice when conscription came in and anyone who left could end up shot at dawn. Not to mention those who were sent over the top seemingly just to use up a bullet sent from the other side - some stood no chance and they likely knew it. I pity the poor service men who may have been suffering from unrecognized Post traumatic stress. Some of them mere boys and not long out of school.
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I also dislike the phrase "made the ultimate sacrifice", as I feel that for many there was no choice at all but to do what they were ordered to do. This is not to distract from the heroism of those who put their lives at risk for the sake of others.
Not quite on Remembrance Sunday, but on the previous Friday evening our village film club showed the 1969 film "Oh! what a lovely war" as a tribute. Some disapproved of this because of the attitudes displayed (I remember the shocked response of some when the play was first put on over 50 years ago by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop), but most were moved and at the end sat in silence for a few minutes.
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Well said River Tyne Lass, if everyone was to know the horror and unwarranted bloodshed that happened and the lies that where told back then and even to this day, I don't think people would be so happy to see WWI represented as the Great War or even have it dressed up as a proud occasion. I remembered all the young men who lost there lives in a very cruel way. May they all rest in peace.
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Well said River Tyne Lass, if everyone was to know the horror and unwarranted bloodshed that happened and the lies that where told back then and even to this day, I don't think people would be so happy to see WWI represented as the Great War or even have it dressed up as a proud occasion. I remembered all the young men who lost there lives in a very cruel way. May they all rest in peace.
It was called "the Great War" because it was massive in scale - fought on 3 fronts and at sea, involving millions of combatants from many countries on both sides - not "Great" as in magnificent.
Don't forget the women, who were all volunteers.
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Gillg and KerrillI I agree. Since reading and researching many Great War stories I personally think it would be be truer to say in many cases - not that so and so had made a supreme sacrifice but rather that they had been 'supremely sacrificed for their country'. Although, this doesn't have the same 'noble' ring, does it, that no doubt some might have preferred or perhaps might still prefer. Due to conscription, pressure to join up (shamed/use of white feathers) and the prospect of being shot at dawn of they left - I do not think we should kid ourselves that our ancestors may have willingly given themselves up to be slaughtered.
Of course, I am still extremely proud of them all. These people who served were indeed a 'doomed youth' as described by the poet Wilfred Owen. I am not surprised by those who experienced breakdowns. I do feel sympathy for many who ended up shot at dawn. Perhaps they may have been stricken with terror and could not go on and perhaps that is why they deserted? I do think that not everyone may have been capable of mentally reconciling themselves to certain death and leaving their families behind to their fate.
Perhaps a breadwinner may have worried about if their family might have to go into the workhouse, or their spouse being obliged to remarry/children having to be brought up by a step-parent in the case of their death. All not nice eventualities to have to contemplate.
I do agree that a lack of sympathy for those who were shot at dawn still seems to persist in some to this day. However, I think if we try to put ourselves in their shoes by trying to imagine our worst fear and then thinking that we had no choice but to face this perhaps we might get a tiny bit of understanding at least about what they may have gone through.
I have no ancestors who were shot at dawn but I do have some sympathy with those who were, considering our knowledge now of post traumatic stress. I do now wonder whether instead of thinking about whether we should be asking for a pardon for those shot but rather asking for a pardon for those who arranged this to be done. Perhaps forgiveness is more to be required of them?
Maiden Stone , thanks for mentioning the women - the women also played a huge part in the Great War - either serving or keeping things running on the home front.
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River Tyne Lass your comments have a great resonance that I'm sure others feel too, I certainly do.
When I think of all those young men who lost their lives in such a futile way it makes you want to sit down and cry. They were effectively lambs to the slaughter by being given orders by people who sat in Whitehall being untouched by the reality of what the actual conditions these soldiers were in.
So many young men who joined up in the first place who thought it was going to be a bit of fun and over by Christmas how their hearts must have sunk when it just continued on until 1918.
Those who did return must have felt completely shattered by their experiences and no counselling in those days for PTSD just get on with life! I had two gt uncles who joined up in 1914, one lost his life finally in July 1918 having survived being gassed twice and the other survived the war, my cousin his daughter said that he was a shell of a man and mourned the loss of his brother and felt he'd not done his job of keeping him alive, a terrible thing to live with like so many others.
As you say for those poor souls who deserted they must have been at their wits ends and to then be shot a terrible way to have their lives ended.
Mans inhumanity towards their fellows is barbaric and in war situations seems to become far worse.
I feel we owe it to all those who died such terrible deaths to remember them always.
Caroline
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Maiden Stone , thanks for mentioning the women - the women also played a huge part in the Great War - either serving or keeping things running on the home front.
I attended a beach commemoration - "Pages of the Sea" on the morning of 11th November.
A huge sand scuplture of the face of a well-known person who had a connection to the area was created. Folkstone's was Wilfred Owen because he embarked there. The face on another beach was of a woman who was a nurse, I think.
Participants could also make life-sized figures in the sand to represent people who left Britain's shores. Templates in the shapes of "tommies", kilted soldiers, nurses etc. were provided. I chose a tommy outline because I was remembering my GF, his cousins and my uncle, who were all soldiers. Anyone who didn't have a personal connection could select someone from the "Pages of the Sea" website if they wanted or just do a generic figure. A young woman said she wanted to make a female figure.
The foldable templates reminded me of stretchers. One of grandad's cousins was in army medical corps so he would have seen many stretchers.
Walking through the serried rows of figures when leaving the beach, I tried not to step on their "bodies".
The crowd taking part on Sunday were of all ages including families with children.
I attended the service at the war memorial, a few minutes walk from the beach. Rain poured throughout the service; the clergyman remarked at the end that it was appropriate weather and that we had to put up with the rain and mud for only a short time, not for weeks on end, year after year like the people of a century ago.
I returned to the beach to bid farewell to the sand-ghosts. Tide was half in and the giant face sand scupture had gone. Two people rode horses past me along the beach. I was momentarily upset that the horses were walking over our people. That feeling was immediately replaced by the thought that it was appropriate for horses to play their part.
Although I was soaked and the contents of my pockets and bag were sodden by the time I arrived home, the poppy on my jacket wasn't affected by the rain.
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Thanks for these posts Caroline and Maiden Stone. My thoughts exactly, that they were lambs to the slaughter. Many I am sure would have had no clue of the reality they were going to face. That is very sad to read about your Great Uncle's stories. This goes to show that even when the war was over the effects could be devastating and lingering for the 'survivor' and their families.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6376869/Portrait-Wilfred-Owen-carved-sand-UK-beaches-tribute.html
Maiden Stone - those sand exhibits were amazing! I didn't know about this before hand and didn't get to see these until I saw some of these in the local papers. What a poignant write up you have written of your days events!
What took place during your day does sound timely and meaningful to the event. I think the clergyman was right to point out that the weather on the day of the Centenary needed to be out up with in light of what conditions were endured by those who served during the war. Also, the horses walking over the ghosts in the sand must have served, as a remembrance of those poor horses who also went to the slaughter both during and after the war when a decision was taken apparently that it would be too costly to try to get them back home. :'(
I have attached a link which will hopefully show some images of those marvellous sand exhibits.
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I was on a flight from Amsterdam to Heathrow and was approaching Essex at 11:00.
The Netherlands was neutral in the Great War; their remembrance day is associated with WWII, so little happening at that end.
Announcements were made on board, and everyone respected it. Landing was delayed because Heathrow closed for the 2 minute silence.
Nobody complained.
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I was privileged to be able to march past the Cenotaph in London.
A proud, yet bittersweet moment, remembering all who gave their life but, in particular, remembering nine of my own friends who were killed in more recent times.
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Fortunate to be able to watch the entire event on Sky news from South Africa, sadly not much is done about armistice day in this neck of the woods.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6376869/Portrait-Wilfred-Owen-carved-sand-UK-beaches-tribute.html
I have attached a link which will hopefully show some images of those marvellous sand exhibits.
Rows of profiles made by individuals can be seen in the photo.
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Are those lines in the sand showing profiles of other people's war ancestors Maiden Stone?
Thrudnut were you one of the successful ones who had applied to be one of the thousand who walked past?
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Are those lines in the sand showing profiles of other people's war ancestors Maiden Stone?
Yes.
Folkestone was the setting for most of the "Home Front" Radio 4 drama series which finished a 4 year run last Saturday. Shorncliffe Camp was in Folkestone. Soldiers marched down Slope Road for embarkation. (See BBC Radio 4 Home Front website for historical background, photos, interviews and all episodes.)
Beach portraits and a video of the day are on Pages of the Sea https://www.pagesofthesea.org.uk
Estimated 1,000 people took part on my beach according to local paper.
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Hi River Tyne Lass.
No, I march with former colleagues from the RAF Squadron I served with. Even more poignent this year with it also being the 100th anniversary of the RAF.
It is always a very humbling experience. Did you manage to get tickets to march past?
Thudders
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Thrudnut I am sorry to read that you had nine of your own friends in remembrance who were killed in more recent times .. this must have been especially hard for you in this circumstance.
Although I did tell others about the opportunity to obtain tickets on here I was not able to apply myself unfortunately, as my work shifts would not have made it possible for me to go. On the day itself I had just finished a row of nightshifts. I was determined to make the most of that day though and I decided to attend the Newcastle events as I knew I would reach the centre of Newcastle at around 10.30 am. I didn't want dash home and sleep through that day of all days - after all none of us will be around to commemorate the Bi-centenary. I also wanted to be in a remembrance frame of mind regarding my own ancestors who were killed and the many I have researched in a voluntary capacity.
That must have been a very moving experience that you got to participate in the march as you did.
Maiden Stone, what an amazing turn out there was on your beach - I think this is wonderful that so many have got involved this year especially.
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At 8-34a.m. On Armistice day I welcomed my grandson into the world!
A special day for a very special boy!
So at 11-00 am I stood outside the hospital on my own to resepect the two minutes silence and remember all those who sacrificed their lives, including members of my own family
My grtgrt uncle Sapper William McMillan Chalmers who was killed on the first Dau of the battle of Loos on 25th September 1915
And those that survived the war:
My Grtgrandfather (his brother) Alexander Chalmers who was on a minesweeper and in a letter to his daughter in 1918 wrote "I have done away with a good few Germans and avenged my brothers death"
My Grandfather Thomas Carmont
My GrtUncle James Henry Carmont who was awarded the Military medal
We will always remember them!
Beannie
I am a member of The Manchester General Cemetery transcription project and was supposed to be putting a list up of all the soldiers, either commemorated on family graves or on CWGC graves in the cemetery and to lay a wreath. Another member of the team put up the list and I went on the Monday and layed the wreath.
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Congratulations beanie on the new twig for your tree. You won't forget his birth date.
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Congratulations beannie, a very special day for you :)
We're more often than not enroute somewhere on November 11 but I was able to attend the local centenary service and recorded the live coverage of the city one at the Auckland War Memorial Museum to watch later. So poignant this year with over 18,000 crosses, one for each NZer lost in WW1, displayed in the grounds. I was able to wander among those a few days before the 11th, quite moving.
We also have a cross for each of the names on our local cenotaph and a white dove for each of the 26 men is released one by one as their names are read from the Roll of Honour.
We had fine drizzle for the morning but the turnout was pretty good, I managed to knock my camera setting while juggling umbrella but realised quickly, though effect of this one I quite like ...
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I had organised a residential harmony singing weekend so, just before eleven o'clock on Sunday, there were sixty-five people gathered together, having a final re-cap workshop with the group who had been teaching us. I had decided that rather than have a formal silence, we would sing an appropriate song as the hour approached and had planned that into the programme for the morning. I also made it clear that if anyone wanted to observe the silence their wishes would be respected and that they could leave the room for as long as they needed. Nobody left. Most of us had to stop singing at some point or other, as our emotions got the better of us. When we had finished the song we automatically fell silent, possibly not for two minutes but certainly for long enough to reflect on the significance of the day. It was a very moving moment.
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Congratulations on your new Grandson, beanie .. what a memorable occasion he chose to make his entrance on!
By the way one of my ancestors - Jacob Conroy- was also killed in action during the Battle at Loos on 25 September 1915. He was only in his twenties.
mare I do like the effect on the photo which makes the image look quite stand out in the way that it seems like part photo and part painting.
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I took my Basset Hound & Newfoundland to our local Service at the war memorial .... it was well organised and very moving - the basset joined in when the Bugler played the 'Last Post' ..... everybody seemed to appeciate it, whilst me & the Newfy tried to hide !
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I took my Basset Hound & Newfoundland to our local Service at the war memorial .... it was well organised and very moving - the basset joined in when the Bugler played the 'Last Post' ..... everybody seemed to appeciate it, whilst me & the Newfy tried to hide !
Your Hound was doubtless paying tribute to animal war casualties.
I took my dog to church once. She slept through hymns.
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Indubitably !
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I took my Basset Hound & Newfoundland to our local Service at the war memorial .... it was well organised and very moving - the basset joined in when the Bugler played the 'Last Post' ..... everybody seemed to appeciate it, whilst me & the Newfy tried to hide !
Aw that is so cute. I would love to have seen that. :-*
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Lostris, I think that is lovely that your dog joined in (on behalf of the 'fallen' of the animal war dead, no doubt ;)) and made a contribution. Although, if I had been that bugler it would have taken a great feat to have suppressed my chuckles and carry on playing. ;D.
Where I was standing in Newcastle there was a great throng. I and several others were standing on chairs to see over heads. I don't know if any filming was taken of our part of the crowd but if so a small meerkat (toy) would be seen over the tops of all the heads. A small boy seemed determined that this toy should 'see' all that was going on and held this aloft and moved this around left and right in an excited fashion all during the event.
This did make me smile that this little boy seemed so intent on getting his meerkat involved. ;D ;D