With memories never to be forgotten

Watching this afternoon the film The Dambusters, a war film which should be seen by all, I thought of the young braves lying in our cemetry who lost their lives in the first world war. I never walk to the top of our village hill without saying a thankyou to these lads. The Dambusters brought thoughts to my heart and head of the millions of people of all ages who lost their lives all because of one single man Hitler. Unbelievable isn't it?


(I would like to add, my own grandfather was gassed in France, as was Gunner Knott – when he returned his life was impaired by this, and he was never a well man – these brave souls never ever received any compensation for their disabilities) - however he always said after doing what he did, drive a mule and cart to the trenches to collect the dead bodies, he only thank the Lord he was able to return to his wife and family.)
Yvonne – February 2008

THE YOUNG BRAVES

When I reach the top of Tothill, in our village of Minster, I always say “hello” to a lot of young men. They do not reply, but they would if they could, they all only had short lives, too young they died.
I will list their names at the end of these lines, the gravestones stand silently and in this head of mine.
I imagine the fear in their young brave hearts, knowing there was a strong possibility from this world they would depart. Try to see their faces, I bet they were handsome chaps, I imagine their family’s sadness when they did not come back. Every village and town has a place where memories like this lie, why oh! why, do we have to have war, when young men like this die.
The years of these tragedies were 1916-1918, and things have not changed since then, we are still losing, in war, world-wide, such brave men. I could quite believe the number of names I read etched on the stones, of course none of these men to me were known. Yet as I stood there reading the names, I felt a sense of gratitude somehow, all the souls of these young men, thanking me for not forgetting them now. The wind blew about me up there on the hill, everywhere I looked was so peaceful and still. I am
25
not quite sure if all these men did in Minster reside, all I know they are buried here, and that fighting to save us all, they died. Around fifty names I have read, and I would like to name them all here, on one gravestone I read the following words, written clear.

Flight Sub-Lt. George Harrison Heriott, age 20, killed whilst flying off Westgate – Nov 6th 1918.
I feel if I don’t list them all, I would not be painting the true and realistic scene, so here I go, it shall be so:-
G. Fizpatrick aged 20, Royal Engineers, 14/11/1918 J. Douglas – Sapper – 14/11/1918 T. Balmer – 3/11/1918, L. Andrews, aged 19, Machine Gun Corps – 12/9/1918. E.J. Key – royal engineers – 19/12/1918, A. Audus – aged 27, E.C.Dennis, E.W. Spear, J. Stanley, T. Fowler, W. Howel, C. Anderson, Sapper C Riggin //17/1918. F. Sewell 20/10/1918, J. Overthrow – 23/9/1918, A. Williams 11/7/1918, T. Collinson 18/6/1918, K. Murray, Royal Artillery – Hasbridge aged 22 – LLB Guns, Royal Engineers J.H.Willets – aged 22 – 31/7/1918, W.J.Short, aged 23 – 2/10/1917, J. Whiteside aged 22, T. Owens, aged 28, T.R. Cattell 14/12/1918, J. Jewitt aged 26, Sapper J.T.Jones, A. King, Royal Engineers – 10/3/1918, Doug Whittier aged 24, r.N.Air Service 20/7/1916. J. Goble – G. Hall 25/12/1916 (Christmas Day) – M. Grist 21/2/1917, Sapper Trottman aged 28 24/12/1916 (Christmas Eve), J. Dickson, Sapper J.A. James, Flight Sub-Lt. R.N.A. Service aged 21 – 3/11/1917. P. Taylor aged 33 – 25/6/1918, Sapper E.W.Spear 12/7/1918, Sapper J.H.Stanley 27/7/1918, Sapper I.C.Combellack 3/2/1919, Sapper G.Wood 20/1/1918, Sapper J. Johnston 4/7/1918, S.J.Pitcher Sergent. F. Isaacs, aged 36, 3/12/1918, Peter Stack Sapper aged 25 -3/2/1917, P. Cogan Sapper – 17/12/1916, Sapper J.M.C.Donnell 6/12/1916, Royal field Artillery B.O’Rouke 23/9/1916, Sapper H. Sharpe 21/11/1918, H.M.C. Garry 27/7/1918, Sapper, J.J.McCarthy Sapper 31/10/1918m J.M.Roberts Sapper 4/2/1919, J.J.Coates Sapper 1/10/1918, E.A.Whalley Sapper 29/5/1918, J. Healy Pioneer 27/3/1918, Sapper T. Mahoney, J. Lee 22/8/1917, Sapper Pioneer Corbett 12/7/1017, H. Jamison Sapper 12/3/1917, H. Jamison 21/1/1917, J. Monoghan Sapper – 4/2/1917.

Yvonne (now 2012 - please God we never have another war affecting Europe as a whole or world wide)