Armistice Day … Great War Poets ...

 

The slate stone slab at Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, commemorates sixteen of the Great War Poets … unveiled on 11 November 1985, the 67^th anniversary of the Armistice.

There's an inscription which quotes from Wilfred Owen's “Preface” to his poems:

My subject is War, and the pity of War.

The Poetry is in the pity.

Poets of the First World War
Memorial in Westminster Abbey

Isaac Rosenberg who died on 1^st April 1918 at Fampoux, near Calais, is one of the sixteen poets recorded on the slate.

Rosenberg's self-portrait … he became interested in both poetry and visual art … he has an interesting history – sad, he like so many others, died so young.

Rosenberg's self-portrait

Thinking of what these incredible men and women endured for us … their courage … and suffering.

If … if only … if only … we could respect each other in this world … we are all human … we would live happily together and benefit with this life of ours …

Let's spread peace without destruction of our lives, our culture, our societies …

I list the poets inscribed on the Memorial:

Richard Aldington; Laurence Binyon; Edmund Blunden; Rupert Brooke; Wilfrid Gibson; Robert Graves; Julian Grenfell; Ivor Gurney; David Jones; Robert Nichols; Wilfred Owen; Herbert Read; Isaac Rosenberg; Siegfried Sassoon; Charles Sorley; Edward Thomas.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Remembrance Day - for Librarians ...

 

To remember all who have served for us over the centuries, particularly on this Remembrance Day …

Cenotaph, London (2004)

The Library Association in recent years has uncovered historical information about librarians who signed up and who had fallen during WW1 …

The commemorative plaque

… the 142 members came from libraries in the British Isles, or the Empire overseas …

Acknowledging
both WW1 and WW2

The commemorative plaque consists of five panels of well seasoned English Oak – the particulars are set out in letters of gold: giving their names, their military particulars, together with the name of the library from which they have honoured by volunteering and serving.

Royal Canadian Legion poppy
from 2004

This Memorial is now to be found in the British Library, Euston, London at the main entrance to the reading rooms …

They shall always be remembered

Links: British Library blog post 

in this blog post there are various newspaper articles referring to the Memorial ... 

Edinburgh University Press article

Imperial War Museum article

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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Remembrance … Nothing Changes …

 

We need Peace for all humans who live on this earth, and then hope that all those humans respect each other … while considering, appreciating and giving due regard to our world as our lives unfold …

The Peace Poppy

The 'Tower Hill Madonna' sculpture by Jacquie Binns – artist, embroiderer and sculptor - expresses opposites, inspiring the themes of peace and pain.

The Tower Hill Madonna

Jacquie used these for her reflective sculpture which the commemorative plaque at All Hallows-by-the-Tower, London explains.

Photo credit: Anabel of
The Glasgow Gallivanter

c/o Jacquie Binns' Church Textiles site … 'The Tower Hill Madonna' …

c/o Anabel as the Glasgow Gallivanter blogger – posted about the church on the Footsteps of Pepys …

With thoughts on this Remembrance Sunday

Peace Lily

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Nothing's Changed: Remembrance

 

Anthem for Doomed Youth

written by

Wilfred Owen – September 1917

       What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

              - Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Draft of the poem

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen MC – he died a week before the war's end at the age of 25

(18 March 1893 – 4 November 1918)

Scabious

He had written home including water colour sketches of places, churches and castles; then also the joys he was able to behold … Poppies, Larkspur, Scabious, Ragged Robin and more – despite the absolute trench horror.

Ragged Robin

There's a very good film – Benediction: which brings to life the poetry of Siegfried Sassoon, who was a mentor to Wilfred Owen who also features in the film.

Some links: The History Girls reminding me about Owen's Anthem …

Sight Lines Magazine – film review of Benediction

While the Military Cross – reminds me of my father's award from WWII

Wilfred Owen is buried with his men in Ors Communal Cemetery, Northern France

Where Owen rests in
Ors Cemetery - with his men

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Moment of Silence … Remembrance Day 11th November 2021

 

I have been wondering what to write this year – at least to make us all remember, perhaps in a somewhat different approach to Remembrance Day – which we always commemorate on the Sunday nearest to the 11^th of November – when the Armistice was signed in 1918 … the inauguration of our Remembrance Day was set one year later.

The Cenotaph, London

The world does not seem to have learnt any lessons … and albeit in 2000 I felt we were in a golden era – things have definitely taken a turn for the worse as the years go by.

I was somewhat surprised to read that a blogger from a European nation wondered why remembering Remembrance Day was relevant today – as we only read about it in books … I'm sure their family would have fought in both Wars … it has shocked me.

The University of Leicester's
reminder

We live today in relative peace and harmony because of all the souls lost in War, or hurt by any War– we are so fortunate.

When I looked for a different approach … I noted how the Moment of Silence came about … that period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation – that genuine gesture of respect dedicated to the dead.

It seems to have originated in Portugal in 1912 but was a ten minute dedication of silence … we usually apply the one minute silence – except on special occasions …

… or as we do every year on our Remembrance Day – the two minute silence is held at the Cenotaph … we need to remember those who sacrificed their lives for us to live in peace.

The Peace Lily

There were a great many small commemorations around the British Isles yesterday – the 11^th day – and on Sunday we will observe the formal commemoration at the Cenotaph in London.

With special thanks to all who have allowed us to live today …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Remembrance Day 2020 … one hundred and two years after the end of World War 1 …

 

Over the years I have written a few posts on past Remembrance Days …

 

White Peace Poppy

… this year I am concentrating on the white poppy – the emblem of peace … in today’s world an appropriate remembrance to hold in our hearts.

 

White Wreath for Peace at the
Cenotaph, Whitehall, London: 2018 

Michael Morpurgo – the Children’s author – decided to wear a white poppy alongside the British Legion’s red one … symbolising those who fought, were injured, or sadly died for us in war … keeping us safe …

 

… stating that the white poppy is for our peace … as today remembrance is changing, and will change, as the decades pass since those two world wars.

 

We are grateful for all who stand for us in action and in peace … protecting our families, so all peoples can live in respectful harmony.

 

Michael Morpurgo – best known for his children’s novels such as War Horse and the film …

 

First edition of his novel
War Horse

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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Remembrance Day … Making Peace with Death …

On this day of Remembrance we will all be viewing departures from this life in different ways depending on our life experiences and those of our family members gone before us …

 

A British charity providing financial, social and
emotional support to members and veterans of the
of the British Armed Forces, their families and
dependants; their motto "Service not Self"

… I mentioned in my last post that I went to see an exhibition in 2012/3 about the value of art in communicating ideas about death - back then I wasn’t quite as ready to see it – yet felt compelled that I should …

... but decided to wait until next year to post about it … there’s quite a lot to show and mention …

The Cenotaph in
Whitehall (2014)

So today – I’ll be remembering everyone I've known who has left this world … including the lady I befriended over the years my mother was in the Nursing Centre - she died eleven days ago, two days after her 80^th … 

Eirene - Goddess of Peace

... she had not had an easy life - eighteen years of it had been spent in the Nursing Centre … but with the encouragement and care particularly of the staff, and us, she had a lovely happy birthday, perked up considerably, dying in peace … all we can do for others helps …

Cardinal Newman (1801 – 1890), who has recently been made a Saint (our first since 1615 and more about him anon), stood for the life of the spirit against the forces that would debase human dignity and human destiny …

His Eminence Saint
John Henry Newman in 1881
before his canonization

This today is the simple message I hope we can remember … we need to be compassionate to all and to understand each other …

I watched the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph, … which always brings tears to my eyes reminding us of who and how many have helped through all the War years … 

We Will Not Forget …

Royal British Legion

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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Courage, Commitment and Bravery … D-Day 2019

The moving commemorative events held this week on the 75th anniversary of D-Day … were only the start of the end ... 

50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day 1995:
Lancaster Bomber dropping poppies in front
of Buckingham Palace

... it was another 11 months before Victory in Europe could be formally acknowledged, when Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered its armed forces.

Military Cross

One hundred years ago today my father was born, twenty-five years later he was on shores of France … he fought for Britain, the free world, his life and for others to live … he was awarded the Military Cross …

… like many, my parents, did not talk about their Army experiences, but certainly their lives were affected, then they lived on with their families … until their time came.

Painted in the middle of the
Second World War
Navy, Air Force, Army personnel
depicted, but we must remember
all the others behind the scenes

I’m sure my family would endorse all elements of the 2019 D-Day Proclamation that ceremonially commits its 16 signatories:

“To work constructively as friends and allies to find common ground” even where their opinions differ and “to work together to resolve international tensions peacefully.”

The Proclamation was signed by:  

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the USA.

… and states:

"Over the last 75 years, our nations have stood up for peace in Europe and globally, for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law.

We re-commit today to those shared values because they support the stability and prosperity of our nations and our people.

We will work together as allies and friends to defend these freedoms whenever they are threatened."

Allied Invasion Force on D-Day 1944

I, on my own behalf, and everyone who reads this blog would encourage us all to be humble, remember what they were willing to give – we have to preserve this brave and courageous generation’s legacy of Peace and Freedom.

Let Us Not Forget ... 

My detailed post (in the A-Z format) on the 70th anniversary in 2014 can be found here ... 

I'd like to add a note to this post:  One thing I've learnt is - we need to understand history, the different peoples of this world, their culture and customs etc - before we go expecting others to be like us ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Remembrance Day … 100 years after WW1 ended …

A lot has and will be written about the 100^th anniversary of that dreadful time in our history … I am going along the same route with a slightly different emphasis …

On Victoria’s harbour front are moving memorials to Canada’s War Veterans … while we also find a Peace Garden …

The Homecoming Statue ...
Inspired by Gratitude

In honour of all veterans, all peoples damaged by war, their families … the women, children, elderly, newborns … us – their futures … we will care for all in this world wherever we will find them. 

We should remember mother earth … the environment and all that inhabits it – also often severely damaged or destroyed by war … 

I am wondering, as I never asked – funny how these questions come to us too late – why my mother went into caring in the latter half of her life (as it happens for the elderly – she was highly respected) … and whether it was because of the loss she experienced as a child, in WW2 and the subsequent overwhelming grief.

Remembrance - may we never forget

Let PEACE be amongst us … and be their memorial to our future …

Should you want a succinct post on the Armistice 1918 - please read Mike's A Bit About Britain article ...

and another very appropriate post by Sarah Zama on 'The War to End all Wars' - the 1920s period ... where the Great War began to colour so many things in Europe ... 


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Remembrance Day ...

It is now ninety-nine years since the end of World War One - but the echoes of lives lost, bodies injured, families torn apart still impact our lives today - as so they should ... 

I am going to quote from words written by Emily Hobhouse in 1923 pointing out the futility of war ... which I think are more pertinent today ... as we do not seem to have progressed very far ... 

‘It is astonishing that though so long a list of the world’s greatest thinkers in all periods have pronounced against war, yet (to this time) no statesmen has appeared capable of abolishing it as a means of settling disputes … 

Great therefore will be the statesman who takes his stand on Permanent Peace … He will teach the world that Peace is not a mere absence of war; that it is not a passive ‘do nothing’ existence … but rather an agreement to join together in work of mutual interests … 

In a word he will substitute Co-operation in place of Competition …’

‘Histories should be re-written showing how mistaken statesmen have invariably been in leading their countrymen into war, and how little is gained and at what enormous cost.  

The attention of youth should be fixed on the really great men of history – thinkers, poets, discoverers, scientists etc, who have laboured to advance civilization, not destroy …’

‘Only in South Africa is there a monument to the civilian dead, often the main sufferers in war.’

Emily Hobhouse 1923

(Permission granted to reproduce these words by Jennifer Hobhouse Balme – May 2016)

 

In our difficult present times … we need to

… remember others

… encourage our leaders to co-operate

… bring peace

… let us all live together in an harmonious world – global, region, country, area, town and parish – everyone supporting and encouraging each other … sharing and giving joy to the world.

May we be and remain at peace this Remembrance Day weekend … with all our fellow humans …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories