The First World War Battlefields of France and Belgium - A short Slideshow of Remembrance
Here’s a short slideshow I cobbled together several years ago of some pictures I took around the Somme Battlefields (France) and Ypres (Belgium). As You can see they were taken with a cheap pocket camera, but I deliberately blurred the second picture as I didn’t want the gravestone to represent any particular person.
Originally posted 2019-11-02 14:30:18.
You’ve done a wonderful job here. These cemeteries are so immeasurably touching and poignant. I was in a small one on Leros once and it was so quiet. You stepped in and it was quiet but not foreboding. It was almost welcoming you to sit down, to read the stories on the stones. The cemetery there is right across the road from where the battle of Leros was waged. Anyway, enough blethers, Happy New Year to you and Ka,y Malc, whatever you are doing. I will be back for more reads on the other side.
Thank you Shey. I hope you and your family have a wonderful New Year and an even better 2024. It goes without saying that I’ve really valued your support throughout 2023 and it’s been an absolute priviledge to meet you, and if there are any stars out tonight I’ll be looking for the one called Shey 🙂
You are too kind. Truly. It is an absolute pleasure to read your blog. It is my kind of travel blog. And it has been a pleasure to speak to you and to hear more of your life and the things you’ve done. Thank you for your very kind words. i truly appreciate them and am touched by them. A great day to you and Kay. I am just bracing for the craziness which will kick in at about 1.30 pm today.
Your words are immesureable Shey. Thank you so much. Hope you survive the craziness in one piece 🙂
Beautiful memorial. I love the ballad you chose as well as your photographs.
Thank you so much. Nothing can really convey the horrors of those times, but at least we should try and remember what happened and try to learn from it.
Brilliant, Malc, no other word for it
I was up in Westminster on Sunday for the Act of Remembrance as I always do and yet again it moved me greatly.
I still play that Eric Bogle song regularly in my set, most lately in Northumbria last week and I never tire of it.
No, it is not an easy subject, especially for those that served but it is most definitely worth remembering “lest we forget”.
A very poignant day for all of us, but will resonate even more for someone like you I’m sure Fergy.
As a matter of interest I saw the Fureys perform this song live – Very moving as you can imagine
A great and fitting tribute to the fallen, Malc, and very moving. I’ll show this to Maddie as she’s taking part in Buckingham’s Remembrance Day parade on Sunday. Well done.
Another difficult one to look at – but we do need to remember what our ancestors went through so that we can make sure it doesn’t all happen again.
Absolutely, Malc. I couldn’t agree more.
Thanks again for your support Alli. You’ll be pleased to know that I’m in the throws of posting something a bit lighter today.
I’ll look forward to it. Keep in touch. 🙂
Very poignant Malcolm
Thanks Sarah
A great selection of photo’s Malc – I love that you used B&W for a lot of them, they really added to the atmosphere.
I just isolated some of the subjects into colour. Thanks again for looking at another difficult subject. I’ll lighten up for the next one
Don’t worry Malc, being a avid study of military History and coming from a sort of Military family, it’s a post I fully approve of. Lest we Forget.. (the sad thing is we seem to all the time).