Favourite Gravestone Inscription

[marina]

We sorely grudged the fact that he was taken away to that better place (Heaven)

That's a nice one.

Marina

[John_Hartley]

I often wonder about the family reasons for an inscription on Manchester's headstone at, I think, Dantzig Alley. It reads "OF THE UNION BANK, HYDE".

I can only think that they were proud of their relative who had made something of himself and got a good job at a bank.

John

[marina]

We grudged him sair

to the land o the leal

(could a pal please translate)

I've managed to track down the original source for this inscription, Kevin:

Land o' the Leal

I'm wearin' awa', John

Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, John,

I'm wearin' awa'

To the land o' the leal.

There 's nae sorrow there, John,

There 's neither cauld nor care, John,

The day is aye fair

In the land o' the leal.

Our bonnie bairn 's there, John,

She was baith gude and fair, John;

And O! we grudged her sair

To the land o' the leal.

But sorrow's sel' wears past, John,

And joy 's a-coming fast, John,

The joy that 's aye to last

In the land o' the leal.

Sae dear 's the joy was bought, John,

Sae free the battle fought, John,

That sinfu' man e'er brought

To the land o' the leal.

O, dry your glistening e'e, John!

My saul langs to be free, John,

And angels beckon me

To the land o' the leal.

O, haud ye leal and true, John!

Your day it 's wearin' through, John,

And I'll welcome you

To the land o' the leal.

Now fare-ye-weel, my ain John,

This warld's cares are vain, John,

We'll meet, and we'll be fain,

In the land o' the leal.

Meaning of unusual words:

leal - the blest, the loyal

bairn - child

saul - soul

haud =hold, stay

fain - loving affectionate happy together

[Jacksmum]

I wish I could find the photo - maybe in Becourt

"He did his bit til he got hit"

[Guest KevinEndon]

Thank you Marina, was it written by Burns? If not do you have the name of the writer.

Again many thanks for bringing the whole poem to our attentions

Kevin

[Katie Elizabeth Stewart]

At Magdalen College, Oxford. I can't remember the exact wording, but it's a beautiful plaque as well: stone, with no gilt or wood or anything, but with roses painted around the edge. It's something like:

'Receive them into your hearts

The Sons of Magdelen

Who fell in the Great War 1914-1918'

[marina]

Thank you Marina, was it written by Burns? If not do you have the name of the writer.

Again many thanks for bringing the whole poem to our attentions

Kevin

Lady Caroline Nairn, Kevin. http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Carolina,_Baroness_Nairne

Beautiful and sad poem. No wonder they chose it for the inscription.

Marina

[cockney tone]

Pal's,

this one caught my eye in Colne Valley Cemetery, Ypres on the grave of 2nd Lt Gibson;

Devoted Son

Staunch lover True friend

Au Revoir

Regards,

Scottie.

[Michael Johnson]

From memory, on a veteran's stone, Halton County Ontario:

"CALLED TO A HIGHER SERVICE"

[andypepper]

If it wasn't so tragic this would be straight out of a Victorian penny melodrama :

"He was his mother's only son

- and she was a widow"

Soupir churchyard, Aisne

[Michael Johnson]

If it wasn't so tragic this would be straight out of a Victorian penny melodrama :

"He was his mother's only son

- and she was a widow"

Soupir churchyard, Aisne

It's about 1800 years older than that:

http://bible.cc/luke/7-12.htm

[ianw]

Devoted Son
Staunch lover True friend
Au Revoir

I like this one - you get a flavour of the whole man. It lives.

[Nigel Marshall]

Here are mine.

Two in the cemetery where some of "my men" lay.

One belongs to a Military Policeman and is on a memorial stone at home and on his actual grave in France, nice continuity. "Waiting in a holy stillness wrapt in sleep, beloved son" click for a photo.

And another is from WWII but still very moving belonging to a Fleet Air Arm Observer. "A spirit that knew not December, that brightened the sunshine of May" See it here..

There are so many that speak volumes to me whenever I see them.

Nigel

[Gunner Bailey]

I recently visited the grave of Sub Lt Dyett (Royal Naval Div), an officer shot for desertion. He admitted to being unsuited for infantry duty and requested transfer to Naval duties many times.

His gravestone inscription is 'If doing well ye suffer this is acceptable with God'.

The irony of this hit me immediately.

Gunner Bailey

[andigger]

"This isn't so bad, once you get used to it."

[ShirlD]

A WW2 inscription in a remote cemetery in Tunisia

Horses he loved

And laughter and the sun,

A song, wide spaces

And the open air

and an old boy in 1918, his school motto

Go Forward

All the inscriptions though bring a lump to the throat, and the "Known Unto God" gets me everytime

Cheers

Shirley

[barrieduncan]

On the grave of Major Patrick Robert Hardinge MC, died of wounds on the 17th June, 1916, aged 23;

'A GALLANT SOLDIER, A PERFECT SON'

On grave of Private H. W. R. Chalmers, Hampshire Regiment;

'WILL GLORY O'ENGLAND EVERY DIE, SO LONG AS WE'VE LADS LIKE THESE?'

[Guest John Favill]

During a 2006 visit to the Cambrai area the following inscription was found on the headstone

for a 19 year old which put me at ease with the unmistakeable feeling that I was not alone.

Is it well with thee? It is well.

[Jon6640]

Any Welsh speakers amongst the pals? I wonder what this means:

[stevem49]

I wish I could find the photo - maybe in Becourt

"He did his bit til he got hit"

You took it for me chuck - Grevillers - W Taylor 9th SF.

He did his bit

Until he was hit

Now let him rest in peace

stevem

[privatewickham]

Any Welsh speakers amongst the pals? I wonder what this means:

I can't speak welsh, but I can tell you that "Cariad" means "Lover", which gives the general flavour I think!

[christine.eden]

Any Welsh speakers amongst the pals? I wonder what this means:

Hi,

I have Welsh connections and have emailed a translation request.

Hope to have an answer for you soon.

Chris ( a.k.a Freddie )

[ianw]

Looking forward to seeing the Welsh translation.

Thanks to everyone who keeps this thread going - I think these personal inscriptions are wonderful and often bring you up short in cemeteries both home and abroad.

Regards Ian

[Jon6640]

Hi,

I have Welsh connections and have emailed a translation request.

Hope to have an answer for you soon.

Chris ( a.k.a Freddie )

Thanks Chris, in anticipation.

Jon

[christine.eden]

Thanks Chris, in anticipation.

Jon

Here you go,

"His obligation to love is more than this and more than those who have nothing."

My niece didn't say if it's a known quote, but it looks like it could be.

Chris.