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Lest we forget

I love all these poems. Thank you for posting them.
I also loves the lyrics and the melody to The Green Fields of France. probably the original version best.
 

Lest we forget: Binyon’s Ode of Remembrance

On an autumn day in 1914 Laurence Binyon sat on a cliff in North Cornwall, somewhere between Pentire Point and the Rump. It was less than seven weeks after the outbreak of war, but British casualties were mounting. Long lists of the dead and wounded were appearing in British newspapers. With the British Expeditionary Force in retreat from Mons, promises of a speedy end to war were fading fast.1666359513090.png

 
We went once on pilgrimage, to lay a wreath, as his parents had been dead for decades, and were amazed at the flowers on the grave? The local people had been placing wreaths and flowers since the 20's we were told, and they treated us a honoured Guests, very gratifying!! we found hi main Regimental grave yard about 30 miles down the road, and asked if he could be moved to be with them, and we were told NO!!!
 
Yes Janice, I wrote to the War Graves Commission, and asked why he was so alone, and why he was where he was., They wrote back, and said that the "Officers", day book , related to a small skirmish, in the road to the little cemetery, and that Prt, Hones was shot and mortally wounded right outside the gates. The Regt was retreating and so left his remains, for the Germans to inter, so it appears they buried him in that place. Because the rules of war were such, that men were buried where they fell, and the larger battle happened, where the main cemetery was located, they would not move him, to be with his mates, sad really!!!
 
Yes Janice, I wrote to the War Graves Commission, and asked why he was so alone, and why he was where he was., They wrote back, and said that the "Officers", day book , related to a small skirmish, in the road to the little cemetery, and that Prt, Hones was shot and mortally wounded right outside the gates. The Regt was retreating and so left his remains, for the Germans to inter, so it appears they buried him in that place. Because the rules of war were such, that men were buried where they fell, and the larger battle happened, where the main cemetery was located, they would not move him, to be with his mates, sad really!!!
That is a very touching account of a brave soldier in WW1 it is so sad he is not at rest with his mates.
My grandfather (on my fathers side) fought in WW1. He fought and survived the Somme and in another action was awarded a pension from the House of Lords for saving the life of a member of a titled persons family.
 
Hi Lyn, yes its very sad, but was of its day, my mates killed in the, "British Army Policing operation of the Aden Protectorate", 1964/67. were buried in (Silent Valley Military Cemetery), which I believe has been desecrated by the present war, were not returned home as of its day. My Mothers father ,George Adam, was in the 1st Black Watch, wounded at Loos 1916, Wounded at Passchendaele 1918, then joined the RIC , and was killed in 1921 aged 27.
 
Gets a mention here
 
Gets a mention here
thanks Janice......wondering who made them
 
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Sorry misunderstood. The suggestion on ebay (not sure how reliable the info is) is the Birmingham Mint made them.
 
I am told the sketch is circa 1921 It shows the ghost of a fallen soldier looking at the names of his fellow fallen.
The memorial was commissioned by City of Birmingham Gas Department in 1921. The monument has are the names of all the fallen who joined the forces.
On the monuments are the words "Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten".
 

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I am on the case, been making some enquires today , will advise when I have more information.
I have (somewhere) a programme and picture of a memorial stone to the fallen of the Coventry Gas workers.
Update the memorial was designed by Walter Gilbert and made by H. H. Martyn and Co in their Cheltenham Works.
The memorial is in storage at present and requires some minor restoration work.
 
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