In Memory

Last July I blipped about the 66 Men of Grandpont project: astonishingly moving research into the men whose names appear on the brass 1914–18 war memorial  in a local church. The team of voluntary researchers also created an exhibition which has now been seen in several places across the county. Since then they have made a film, with music composed and played by local musicians. The private view, in the town hall last night, was attended by about 120 people, including those relatives of the 66 men that the researchers have managed to trace.
 
At this evening’s public launch of the film the seating put out in the church was packed. At least another 120. As I hear people talk in awe about their own grandfathers or great-grandfathers having chanced to survive that futile war, without whom they would not exist now (and I am one), I can’t help feeling the ghosts among us – all those unborn people whose grandfathers died before their parents were conceived. Then I reflect that this small brass plaque (seen here behind the display) in one church is one of thousands all over the UK and across Europe. What human destruction and anguish these often overlooked memorials represent.



 
The City of Oxford notice (at the right of this picture) about the homecoming of the 14 Battalion of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry announces their arrival 2.54pm. Exquisite precision after four years of chaos.