Tower Poppies and the Imperial War Museum Library

The installation 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' at the Tower of London has generated a lot of publicity along with calls for it to be kept. I was lucky to have visited the poppies at the Tower back in September (still very busy but nowhere near the mad rush that was to come). I found the installation very thought provoking and moving. Certainly many of the people around me commented how beautiful it was and yet how tragic as every poppy represented a life lost. 

When I got home that evening I decided to check out if there were still spots left to help plant the remaining poppies. As I had left it fairly late the spots were all filled but the organisers had just opened up spots for removing the installation. So today I will be going along for a three hour shift to help remove the installation.

If anything comes from this years remembrance day and commemorations, then it will at least be healthy debate and a better understanding. The media have loved the Tower Poppies as they can write piece after piece either praising or criticising them. This has got people talking about the role and style of remembrance which is only a good thing.

On a final brief note there is a petition regarding the funding of the Imperial War Museum and planned closure of its Library and study center.
Please take a moment to check out and sign the petition.
Petion is Here

Battle of Mons and the first VC of the War

 This weekend saw the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Mons. I was fortunate enough during the summer of 2012 to go on an in depth recce of not only Mons but also the route of the subsequent retreat. When people remember the Great War it tends to be 1916 onwards (with perhaps the exception of the battle of Loos). I found the recce to be fascinating as we covered such a large distance and such a varied set of engagements, from infantry battles to cavalry clashes to large engagements such as Le Cateau.

Plaque at Nimy Bridge (Authors Collection)

The plaque above is from the location just under Nimy Bridge where Lieutenant Dease and Private Godley won their Victoria Crosses. While these were the first of the war they would not be the last to be earned on the retreat that began after the Battle of Mons (only one day later Captain Grenfell would earn his during the action at Audregnies and Captain Bradbury would earn his during the engagement at Nery). 

Mons saw the much smaller BEF come into contact with the German 1st Army, that the BEF were able to put up a fight and extricate themselves shows the professionalism of the regulars and reservists. 

The grave of Lieutenant Dease at St Symphorien (Authors Collection)

Lieutenant Dease is buried at St Symphorien which is a remarkable Commonwealth War graves Cemetery. Behind German lines for the vast majority of the war, it is laid out in a very different manor. It also features the first and last BEF and Canadian casualties of the War. 

Private Godley survived the action at Mons, was taken prisoner and survived the war being present with his Victoria Cross by the King in 1919.

Micheal Gove goes "over the top"

First blog post of 2014 and after some thought it became obvious to me what the subject would be.

As many people will have seen Michael Gove entered the embattled conflict for the nature and purpose of the First World War Commemorations.

Michael Gove has managed to get quite a debate going on the cause of the conflict and who was to blame. The debate has been wide ranging and very interesting covering so many aspects of the final years and months leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. Insults have been hurled and battle lines drawn leading to a feel of the Left vs the Right for the heart and soul of the commemorations.

Michael Gove took a swipe and the Blackadder Caricatures that are prevalent when it comes to general knowledge of the First World War and British involvement. This has drawn in not only Baldrick (Tony Robinson) himself but Boris Johnson and a host of academics. In many ways I agree with Michael Gove to a certain extent, although left wing propaganda is perhaps a tad harsh and antagonistic. I really enjoy Blackadder goes forth and have watched it many a time and chuckled at the same scenes time and again just like many other people. However, I remember Blackadder being used at school and also by a rather clueless college teacher as a teaching aide about the First World War. Yet the views that Blackadder presented were not challenged or expanded upon to give a rounded picture.

This is where the real danger lies for the public understanding British involvement in the First World War. Without knowledge from the teachers to point out and separate fact from fiction we will regress back down the tired path of Lions led by Donkeys and war poets being the voice of history.

BBC News featured a very interesting piece featuring Professor Gary Sheffield and a London based German TV presenter discussing the differences between British and German approaches to the First World War. Professor Sheffield came across very well and made a very good argument as to why we need to challenge perceptions of lions led by donkeys and why the First World War anniversary is such an important event to the British public.

The centenary represents a real chance to remember the sacrifices of all involved, regardless of blame for starting the war and also a chance to engage another generation of future historians. If by 2018 there is a better understanding of the First World War, how it was fought and why it was fought then I think it will have been worth all of the fuss. 

11 November 2013

Another year and another remembrance Sunday full of debate relating to the wearing of the Poppy, the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, foreign policy and the ugly spectre of burning poppies. Each year the debates tend to run along the same lines. Next year will be very interesting with the anniversary of the Great War and the draw down of all forces from Afghanistan. I expect there will be a lot more commentary about what the poppy symbolises, the 'lost generation' and hopefully a lot less relating to Britains foreign policy of the last 12 years.

As we approach the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War the annual Poppy Appeal has become a broader battleground. Parties from both sides of the fence and those with no real interest the political aspects of wearing a poppy have become increasingly vocal.
Last week the national media was full of commentary attacking each view on why the commentator would or would not be wearing a poppy. I think that debate on wearing a poppy is healthy and not something you should stifle even if I disagree with some reasons for not wearing one. The fact that we have a choice to wear a poppy and the fact that we are allowed to decide a reason for wearing one should say a lot about our society. For myself I wear a poppy in remembrance and to support the work of the Royal British Legion. This is especially important given the increase in take up of it’s services over the last ten years due to increased military activity in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

There was a very good article that I read on the website of the Wallstreet Journal. While I knew a little about the Cenotaph and how it was originally meant to only be temporary, the article filled a gap in my knowledge and gave me a better understanding regarding its design and construction.
The article can be found here.


I would also like to advertise a friend’s writing blog as he has written a very short story based on the morning of the 1st of July 1916. He is a budding author so if historical fiction is something that interests you please check it out.