The Men Who Came Home – A Memorial Part Three – The Guards Regiments

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Magicfingers

Grenadier Guards reservists await their medical examinations in August 1914.  Continue reading →

Posted in Soldiers | 11 Comments

British Military Headstones – Personal Inscriptions No. 2

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Magicfingers

The second in our sometime series looking at the personal inscriptions inscribed on headstones in British military cemeteries, this post features forty four epitaphs, the majority on the theme of remembrance.  Continue reading →

Posted in Headstones | 6 Comments

The Men Who Came Home – A Memorial Part Two – The Cavalry

Posted on January 5, 2021 by Magicfingers

British cavalry pictured at Nery during the retreat from Mons, the photograph probably taken on 1st September 1914.  Continue reading →

Posted in Soldiers | 10 Comments

The Men Who Came Home – A Memorial Part One

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Magicfingers

So it’s a new year, and, thank heavens, 2020 is behind us.  Lots of interesting stuff coming this year, whether I manage to get across the Channel or not, because there are still loads of places I have visited that I have yet to feature on this site.  However, we begin with a very important post that, although short, has been a long time in the making.  This picture shows smiling Tommies at Fleurbaix in May 1916, in the weeks leading up to the Battle of Fromelles.  Every photograph of men such as these, at least for me, begs the question, somewhere in the back of my mind, as to the circumstances of their fate?  How many of these seven men survived the war? How many survived the upcoming battle?  Did any of them live happily ever after?  Continue reading →

Posted in Soldiers | 3 Comments

Poperinge Part Eleven – Gwalia Cemetery

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Magicfingers

Before we begin a new tour, and we really shall be doing so soon, here’s an addition to our tour of the Great War sites in and around Poperinge.  We’re a couple of miles to the north east of the town today, and that’s Gwalia Cemetery in the distance.  Continue reading →

Posted in Poperinge | 16 Comments

Christmas Greetings

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Magicfingers

Somewhere, the future’s brighter.  Have a safe one, folks.

Posted in Miscellaneous | 8 Comments

British Military Headstones – Personal Inscriptions No. 1

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Magicfingers

There is one aspect of British military headstones that we have yet to consider, and that is the personal inscriptions sometimes to be found at their base.  The majority of headstones have no personal inscription, but a significant number do, and as, for some pilgrims, these are the most poignant aspect of a cemetery visit, it would be remiss of me to ignore them.  Continue reading →

Posted in Headstones | 14 Comments