For The Fallen

This was originally posted a few years ago but as I shall be laying a wreath at the War Memorial this morning and stewarding at our WW1 Exhibition this afternoon I don't have time to write a new one for the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. The poem 'In Flanders Fields' always bears repeating anyway.It is so very evocative.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.


By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army




Remembering all those who have given their lives for their country, but especially
Pte Harry Hindley Simpson, 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers killed in action August 1916

and

AC2 Harold Harrison RAF buried in Jakarta War Cemetery, Indonesia 1942 - far from home but never forgotten.


"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"

November

“November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.”

This is just a rather nice little poem to keep things going until next week. Since I got home from Spain I've been really busy with the WW1 centenary exhibition that I'm organizing. It will be on next weekend and also on Armistice Day and then hopefully my life will be my own again and I shall be able to post properly.