May Holiday #6

[debris4spike]

Over the 4 days of visiting Commonwealth War Cemeteries I spotted a lot of interesting graves ... here are a few, and yes they are all in their individually named folders on my pc, but here they are just an idea of the many, many thousands who died "for King & Country.

May they R.I.P.



I followed some of my grandgathers steps ... maybe this was a friend of his, as most of those he went to France/Belgium with did not return

A lot is spoken of the "Christmas Truce" of 1914, but still men lost their lives (ironically my Granddad died on Christmas Day 1978)



Not all Generals were in safe places



John Kipling - Rudgard Kipling's son.  He was listed as missing until recently.  Eventually his name will be "smoothed" off the wall here -



The Queen Mother's brother (who also needs his name removed from the same "missing" wall




A WWII grave in the midst of WWI

Enemies in life, comrades in death

I don't understand the inscription as it is very long, and there are stict rules as to how many letters were allowed (I must look into it, and get back to you)

Another Northants soldier ... but also he joined the RFC (later the RAF), and earned a VC

A member of the US Infantry

Staff Nurse N. Spendler


So, all I have now to post is one of general images of cemeteries,  to see how they are "all the same, but different"


They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them

Comments

[brunettepet.livejournal.com]

I didn't know John Kipling was listed as missing. Did they find his remains recently? My Boy Jackis a superb, devastating film.

[debris4spike]

I have yet to see the film, I will admit.

Yes, when he died they "lost" his grave due to poor listing when they were re-organising cemeteriesnear the end of the war, and then again in the 20's.

However more recently thy were re-looking at this cememtery details when they were buring some newly found casualties, and reaslised there was only one officer listed ... and it was the right age, right rank etc to be John Kipling.

Apparently his father spent a lot of the twenties raising money and awareness for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (as it's now called)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I wonder if the long inscription was added later? I am now imagining a stonemason creeping in when he knew the gardener/grave keeper was away and adding it!

[debris4spike]

Hee ... love to think of the stonemasons working by candle light!