spike10764 Posted 28 September , 2005 Share Posted 28 September , 2005 "THE SHADOWS HAVE DEPARTED AND HIS DAY IS BRIGHT" Seen on a WW2 gravestone in Cockermouth Cemetery, Cumbria this week. It struck me as moving and simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 28 September , 2005 Share Posted 28 September , 2005 It is indeed - what faith people had then. Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil1963 Posted 30 September , 2005 Share Posted 30 September , 2005 Whilst tracing the graves of cricketers killed in action around The Somme in early 2000 I found a message in the visitors book for one cemetery from an 84 year old lady who had simple written "to the father I never met" - that brought a lump to my throat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred van Woerkom Posted 15 October , 2005 Share Posted 15 October , 2005 On a recent visit to the Ypres Salient and Northern France (we did Hedley Malloch's War Walk with a Difference!), Aurel Sercu, that indefatigable Fleming, showed us Le Peuplier Cemetery. In it the graves were mainly Scottish and there were many moving epitaphs. Perhaps the most moving epitaph was : 'Some Day I'll Understand'. All the best, Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 15 October , 2005 Share Posted 15 October , 2005 Fred, that is a very apt epitaph for ww1 Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 15 October , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 October , 2005 "Perhaps the most moving epitaph was : 'Some Day I'll Understand'." Perhaps carved more in hope than expectation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted 16 October , 2005 Share Posted 16 October , 2005 21925 Private H.W.Carter, The Queen's 14th June 1917 : "Weep not for me my loved ones dear, I am not dead but sleeping here" 18389 Guardsman H.J.Cobb, Coldstream Guards 15th July 1917: "He was too young to fight and too young to die" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 17 October , 2005 Share Posted 17 October , 2005 Two rather different ones I saw in Salonica: Lance Cpl J Bailey Manchester Regiment This son gave his life Trying to avenge My other two Corporal A Williams 22 Londons Could we have raised His dying head And heard his last farewell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonycad Posted 18 October , 2005 Share Posted 18 October , 2005 One of mine. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 22 October , 2005 Share Posted 22 October , 2005 I was in Shrapnel Valley cemetery, round the corner from ANZAC cove a few days ago and came across an excellent epitaph. I immediately thought that it made him sound like the sort of man you would like to have a drink with, so I called the rest of the group over and we looked at it together A DINKUM AUSSIE, was all it said. I was so impressed that I forgot to take a photograph or note who it was! If anyone can enlighten me I should be grateful and if anyone is visiting in the near future. It was in the section of the cemetery furthest up the valley, about three or four rows back from the wall. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Missinne Posted 23 October , 2005 Share Posted 23 October , 2005 Life is a city of crooked streets. Death is the market place where all souls meet. Quite enigmatic, it was (from memory wish I'd photographed it) on a headstone in Zillebeek Churchyard. Lt. Col. Gordon Chesney Wilson on The Great War in Flanders Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 23 October , 2005 Share Posted 23 October , 2005 Great to see the headstone, Robert - this is one of my favourite inscriptions. Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 24 October , 2005 Share Posted 24 October , 2005 I was in Shrapnel Valley cemetery, round the corner from ANZAC cove a few days ago and came across an excellent epitaph. I immediately thought that it made him sound like the sort of man you would like to have a drink with, so I called the rest of the group over and we looked at it together A DINKUM AUSSIE, was all it said. I was so impressed that I forgot to take a photograph or note who it was! If anyone can enlighten me I should be grateful and if anyone is visiting in the near future. It was in the section of the cemetery furthest up the valley, about three or four rows back from the wall. Jack <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Three words that speak volumes, especially to an Aussie. It was probably the highest thing they could say of an Australian Soldier. Cheers Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 25 October , 2005 Share Posted 25 October , 2005 I was in Shrapnel Valley cemetery, round the corner from ANZAC cove a few days ago and came across an excellent epitaph. I immediately thought that it made him sound like the sort of man you would like to have a drink with, so I called the rest of the group over and we looked at it together A DINKUM AUSSIE, was all it said. I was so impressed that I forgot to take a photograph or note who it was! If anyone can enlighten me I should be grateful and if anyone is visiting in the near future. It was in the section of the cemetery furthest up the valley, about three or four rows back from the wall. Jack <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Jack This epitaph belongs to L/Cpl Gordon Peter CAMERON, 88, 7th Battalion, AIF. He was the foster son of Mr W.H. PEGG, and was a 24 year old Tramway Conductor from West Brunswick, Victoria, who volunteered for service 2 weeks after war broke out. Having once again volunteered, this time to take part in a bombing raid on a crater near German Officer's Trench, he gave his life to a Turkish bomb on the 12 Jul 1915. A Dinkum Aussie for sure! Lest We Forget Frev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Sheldon Posted 25 October , 2005 Share Posted 25 October , 2005 Frev Thanks for taking the trouble to reply and giving me the background. As I thought and as the story shows, a great man and a worthy son of Australia. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombadier Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 From a Second World War grave. O for the touch of a vanished hand And the sound of a voice that's still Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Bennett Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 Also to be be found on the Headstone of Louis McGuffie VC at Zantvoorde Cemetery Nr Ypres Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianw Posted 28 November , 2005 Author Share Posted 28 November , 2005 "Vanished Hand " quote, is, I think, from Tennyson's "In Memoriam". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 Today was the first time I'd ever come across 'The Great War Forum' and was drawn to this particular thread at the very beginning. Reading all the pages has been heart wrenching, keeping my eyes wet throughout. Thank you to all who have quoted inscriptions from War Graves. Although our family lost a couple of members in WWl, a few more in WWll, the majority made it home again. The latter includes both my parents. I am wondering if an inscription was put on a grand-uncles' WWl grave, but cannot determine which he may be within the Commonwealth Graves web site, nor the Scottish Honour Roll. Also not sure which Corps he was with. I'd only know I had the correct David BAIN if his parents and/or wife were mentioned. He is believed to have died at Arras France in 1917, but that is second-hand info from my uncle who wasn't born until 1921, so not sure if true or not. Thank you for this wonderful thread; please keep it going! Toni ~ Ontario Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Bennett Posted 28 November , 2005 Share Posted 28 November , 2005 Today was the first time I'd ever come across 'The Great War Forum' and was drawn to this particular thread at the very beginning. Reading all the pages has been heart wrenching, keeping my eyes wet throughout. Thank you to all who have quoted inscriptions from War Graves. Although our family lost a couple of members in WWl, a few more in WWll, the majority made it home again. The latter includes both my parents. I am wondering if an inscription was put on a grand-uncles' WWl grave, but cannot determine which he may be within the Commonwealth Graves web site, nor the Scottish Honour Roll. Also not sure which Corps he was with. I'd only know I had the correct David BAIN if his parents and/or wife were mentioned. He is believed to have died at Arras France in 1917, but that is second-hand info from my uncle who wasn't born until 1921, so not sure if true or not. Thank you for this wonderful thread; please keep it going! Toni ~ Ontario Canada Can your Uncle not remember anything of the family ? I assume that your relative did not serve in a Canadian Regiment. Do you know where they were from, as there are other ways of getting closer such as the Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDGW) records. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle Posted 29 November , 2005 Share Posted 29 November , 2005 Toni The only David Bain who is listed by the CWGC site as commemorated on the Arras Memorial is Private David Bain SP/3633 24th Bn. Royal Fusiliers. He had a Scottish connection having been born in Methven and resident in Perth. He enlisted in London and was killed in action 30/04/1917. Myrtle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest geoff501 Posted 30 November , 2005 Share Posted 30 November , 2005 "Vanished Hand " quote, is, I think, from Tennyson's "In Memoriam". From Break, Break, Break by Tennyson ? First line of inscription is also the title of a watercolour by Walter Langley (1852-1922) in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Seems to show a widowed fisherman's wife and children. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamienB Posted 8 December , 2005 Share Posted 8 December , 2005 Two WW2 inscriptions that had me near to tears one bright sunny day at Hawkinge: Pilot Officer J.T.Johnston (of Canada), Pilot, Royal Air Force, 15th August 1940, Age 26: WARM SUMMER SUN SHINE HERE WARM SUMMER WIND BLOW SOFT BLUE SKIES ABOVE BE BRIGHT DEAR HEART, GOODNIGHT And... Pilot Officer C.E.Johnson, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force, 28th August 1940, Age 35: TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE YOU LOVE IS NOT TO DIE MY LOVE ALWAYS YOUR WIFE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted 21 August , 2006 Share Posted 21 August , 2006 BELIEVED to be... So brutally killed or so unknown... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Bennett Posted 21 August , 2006 Share Posted 21 August , 2006 The wonderful personal messages that one chances across in CWGC cemeteries never fail to touch the heart. Every visit throws up a number that stay in the mind. My last trip produced the following that brought me up short and put a lump in my throat. A LITTLE CROSS OF BRONZE THE CROSS HE WON BUT NEVER WORE MY SON I'll think of these words when I next handle a 1914 or 1915 Star. Ian, I know it was a long time ago, but did you ever remember where you saw that epitaph ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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