Tag Archives: WW Remembrance

Weekly Photo Challenge – Variations on a theme – Poppy

25 Thursday Jan 2018

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IMG_0430We have a ceramic poppy that sits beside our herb box, on our balcony, in Hobart.

Four years ago, our poppy was one of thousands, planted at The Tower of London, as part of the centenary commemorations of the First World War.IMG_0841A

I was fortunate to see the display at The Tower, on several occasions, as I worked nearby and often strolled to the Tower during my lunch breaks.

Our poppy had several resting places, in our home in the UK, then spent a couple of years in its box. It joined us in Australia last month and is part of our home again.Poppy Collage

There is a website, “Where are the poppies now?” which aims “to reunite digitally the 888,246 ceramic poppies from artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper’s 2014 installation, Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red originally staged by Historic Royal Palaces at HM Tower of London in 2014.” Each poppy represented a British or Commonwealth military fatality during the war.

I “planted” our poppy on the website today, adding to the 30,000 others that have been registered. Ours is one of eight in Tasmania.

www.wherearethepoppiesnow.org.uk

Variations on a Theme

Crochet Poppies

07 Tuesday Nov 2017

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I am making poppies to contribute to a community project.IMG_7238

An installation of approximately 62,000 knitted and crocheted poppies is planned for the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for next year’s Remembrance Day, to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

I was fortunate to see the stunning display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London for the centenary of the beginning of WWI and we own a couple of those poppies. It is an honour to be part of another poppy project.IMG_7460

An idea of two Australian women, to create 120 crafted poppies, just grew and grew. Poppies have been displayed in tribute gardens in Australia, in Europe and at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show in London. Check out the blog of the “5000 poppies” here.

#wearehere

03 Sunday Jul 2016

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“Thousands of soldiers dressed in First World War uniforms appeared in towns and cities across the UK as part of a live public memorial, to commemorate the 19,240 men who died one hundred years ago on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.”

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“The modern day participants were seen walking, some sitting and waiting, all silent apart from the occasional burst of song.”

“Many people described how they had tried to approach the ‘soldiers’ to ask them what they were doing. In each case, the men remained silent and simply handed out a white card which displayed the name, age, rank, battalion and regiment of a real soldier who had died at the Somme on July 1, 1916.”

“The project, marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, was conceived by artist Jeremy Deller and the National Theatre’s Rufus Norris.”

“This has to be one of the most meaningful UK public art projects of recent times.”

The above words and the photos are from the internet.

The following words are mine.

I really wish I had been in the UK on Friday to witness this event. Such a simple yet effective commemoration.

I have various poignant memories and images that relate to WW1 – the daily ceremony of the Last Post at the Menin Gate  in Ypres – Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium – the Tower of London Poppies.

Even though I have not experienced this event first hand, these images are now in my memory bank along with the others.

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

25 Monday Apr 2016

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Thousands of people attended this morning’s dawn service at Hobart’s Cenotaph. All generations, young and old, families, veterans, service personal, ordinary people, all stood in silence for a time of remembrance, reflection, gratitude and commemoration.

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ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. A time to honour those who have served in all wars and conflicts over the years.

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

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This unique start to the day warranted it’s own post. I will get back to the A to Z challenge late this morning.

Remembering Remembrance Day

11 Wednesday Nov 2015

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We are fortunate to own two of the ceramic poppies that were part of the remembrance display at the Tower of London last year.

poppy 1

poppy 2

The 888,246 poppies were placed in the moat of the Tower between July and November. I visited the Tower on several occasions during those months, so saw the progress as the carpet of red grew. It was a stunning and moving sight, an original yet simple statement of remembrance.

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The poppies captured the public’s attention in a way that many permanent memorials do not. Along with the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall, here are two relatively new WW2 memorials in London – Women of World War Two – RAF Bomber Command.

London 1

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Here in Hobart, during 1918 and 1919, a quarter of the city’s population took part in planting 510 trees along a Soldier’s Memorial Avenue in the city’s Domain. A tree and a plaque in remembrance for each of the Hobart citizen’s who died during the First World War.

One hundred years on, some tree’s have been replanted but the avenue is still a poignant and peaceful place overlooking the river, city and cenotaph.

Hobart 1

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Even though the main celebration in Australia is ANZC DAY in April, with a
dawn service and parade, poppies are sold here in Australia and there will be a silence to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, when WW1 guns fell silent.

As we continue to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, it is a time to remember all wars and conflicts, all military personnel involved.

“Lest we forget”.

ANZAC Day Parade

25 Saturday Apr 2015

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As a contrast to the Dawn Service, the parade was movement, noise and lots of clapping.

People began lining the streets an hour before the parade began. Kids sat on the kerbs and there was a gentle buzz of conversation as people chatted with neighbours spectators.

There were marching bands, serving personnel, including crew of HMAS Canberra that has been in Hobart specifically for today.

Veterans and their widows travelled in military vehicles or marched in the parade.

Descendants marched, wearing medals earned by their family members.

Cadets and school kids joined the parade to help represent the various elements of the armed services, battalions, divisions. And to remember all conflicts over the decades.

I find it fascinating that countries celebrate, commemorate and remember in different ways, on different days. In the UK, Remembrance Day is at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, to mark the time and date that the First World War ended. In Australia, as well as Remembrance Day, they mark today, the date of the first landings on the Gallipoli peninsular.

There were poppies present today but the usual emblem on ANZAC Day is a sprig of rosemary as it was found growing wild in Gallipoli. There is a field of poppies at Parliament House in Hobart. I couldn’t find anywhere to buy a poppy so I crocheted my own last night.

This links in nicely with the weekly photo challenge of motion.

Motion

ANZAC Day Dawn Service

25 Saturday Apr 2015

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It was a moving experience to attend the dawn service at Hobart Cenotaph this morning.

As we gathered in the dark, we joined a multitude of people, all ages, coming from all directions, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings and to honour all who have served in all wars and conflicts over the years.

It was a simple but thought provoking service of words and music. A school boy spoke about the meaning of ANZAC Day for students today and how each finds their own meaning amongst the history and sacrifice along with the promise of the future. It was a peaceful gathering, no one rushing away afterwards.

The Last Post was played as the sky lighted with the dawn on a grey Hobart day.

They shall not grow old
As we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
An in the morning
We will remember them
Lest we forget.

My Day in 100 words – Ely and Cambridge

14 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by in 100 word challenge, days out, photography, remembering / musing

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A foggy morning, the turrets of Ely Cathedral are hidden in the mist.

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Through the doors, the Gothic cathedral is light and bright, with a tall nave. The centrepiece, literally, is the stunning octagon.

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Cambridge is a historic university city, with beautiful buildings, centuries old, and the picturesque “backs” of the colleges.

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The city is hectic with shoppers, tourists and students. Bicycles everywhere.

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Just out of town is the American Cemetery. Open space with just the sound of bird song and my feet crunching on the gravel paths. 3,812 WWII graves. 5,127 names on memorial wall with no known grave.

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