Simon_Fielding Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Anyone help with a photo of Joe's stone? Adanac Military Cemetery, near Miraumont, IV. H. 17. Thanks! Captain, JP Blake:It is with very deep sorrow and regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son,Private Joseph Stokes, of this regiment. He was killed in action on the night of 4thNovember by a shell, during a bombardment of our lines. He was buried close to wherehe fell, and his grave has been marked. I find it very hard to express my sympathy withyou in your terrible loss. It may console you in some small measure to know that hewas killed instantaneously, and died doing his duty as a soldier. He was a good manand a good soldier, and will be greatly missed by myself and his comrades, who had agreat affection for him. Although he had only been with us for a short time, in myposition as officer commanding his company, I had come to know him as a brave man,who set a good example by his determination.1His platoon Sergeant H Russell also wrote:I cannot of course, tell you exactly where he fell, but may say that it was in front of avillage until quite recently occupied by the enemy. He was on a bombing post someconsiderable distance in front of the main part of the platoon, and directly supporting aLewis gun team. Both our own and the enemy’s artillery had been active all day, andtowards evening their shelling became so heavy that I myself thought they werepreparing an attack, but after a short time things became much quieter – in fact normal.It appears that your son had just been sent down the trench to report to the Lewisgunners and was returning when a light shell entered the trench, exploding just behindhim. A fragment caught him in the small of the back, and word being immediately sentup to me that he was wounded, he was found in the trench a few minutes later.However, before either the stretcher-bearers or myself arrived he had breathed his last.You will be glad to know he suffered no pain at all, and he was buried just beside thetrench, a small cross marking the grave. His personal belongings were collected andhave perhaps already reached you. I may say he was one of the most reliable andcheery men and he was very generally missed in the platoon. I trust this letter will provesome comfort to you in your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Pierre Vandervelden has an excellent website (incuding adanac), and he has supplied me with photos on several occasions : http://www.inmemories.com/cemfrasom.htm BillyH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frajohn Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Simon I am going that way this afternoon and will get the photograph for you regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Morning John, Can I be rude and also ask for just 1 please while you are there, if that is OK Charles Edgar Holton SMITH in Grave VI.F.15 many thanks, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 19 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 19 November , 2016 59 minutes ago, Frajohn said: Simon I am going that way this afternoon and will get the photograph for you regards John That would be very kind of you John thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frajohn Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Simon Headstone image as requested. It is hosted on Flickr so you should be able to download. Any problems or you would like a larger image please send me an email address and I'll get it over to you. Kind regards John Graeme You can be as rude as you like, no problem. Headstone image as requested. It is hosted on Flickr so you should be able to download. Any problems or you would like a larger image please send me an email address and I'll get it over to you. Kind regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frajohn Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Thank you Simon for the request, Adanac Cemetery looked rather special today. - I was rather lucky with the weather as the images show.. Regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 19 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Beautiful images-thanks so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeClarke Posted 19 November , 2016 Share Posted 19 November , 2016 Hi John, Absolutely brilliant, many thanks for taking the time and trouble, appreciate it. Quality photograph !! Regards, Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughton Posted 20 November , 2016 Share Posted 20 November , 2016 Thanks from all of us in adanaC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 20 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2016 (edited) Can anyone give an origin for Captain Smith's epitaph? Something to do with contempt for his second love?? seaJane? Any ideas? Edited 20 November , 2016 by Simon_Fielding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghazala Posted 20 November , 2016 Share Posted 20 November , 2016 Brilliant pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandy hall Posted 20 November , 2016 Share Posted 20 November , 2016 Stunning pictures. Mandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fattyowls Posted 20 November , 2016 Share Posted 20 November , 2016 Beautiful photos John, the light is perfect and they have real atmosphere as ever. Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_Fielding Posted 20 November , 2016 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2016 Any leads on the epitaph? aliorum diligens sui contemptor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarsA Posted 20 November , 2016 Share Posted 20 November , 2016 Contemptuous of his other love, is the translation I get. No idea of origin though. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perth Digger Posted 24 July , 2018 Share Posted 24 July , 2018 (edited) Graeme I just came across this thread while following up the inscription on Smith's headstone. I don't know if you got a translation at the time, but I think it means something like: Careful of others, unheeding of his own interests (or, he put the lives of others before his own). A good epitaph for a doctor. Mike Edited 24 July , 2018 by Perth Digger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aengland Posted 24 July , 2018 Share Posted 24 July , 2018 Very good photographs..... and someone who knows how to take a real quality photo of a headstone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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