Orival Wood Cemetery

[Marco]

I’m still unpacking so instead of doing some research myself (which should be not too hard) I thought I might do the forum and myself a mutual favor. I’ll give you a picture and you tell me ‘what-why-how-when’: Drove past Orival Wood Cemetery today at 11:30 and saw a Scotsman in kilt and Philip G. As it happens we were just in time to catch a ceremony which at least mentioned the man in the topic. So ‘what-why-how-when’?

TIA!

Regards,

Marco

[Paul Reed]

Today is 'Cambrai Day' (20th November) - so presume it has something to do with that?

[DaveBrigg]

E A Mackintosh wrote the poem at the foot of my post.

E. A. Mackintosh (1893-1917) served as an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders from December 1914. He played the pipes, spoke Gaelic, and was loved by his men who affectionately called him "Tosh." For his part, Mackintosh returned that love.

On May 16th, 1916, he carried wounded Private David Sutherland through 100 yards of German trenches with the Germans in hot pursuit. However, before Mackintosh could bring him to friendly trenches, Private Sutherland died and his body had to be left behind. Mackintosh's bravery would win him the Military Cross, and in memory of Private David Sutherland, and in recognition of his unique role as 23-year old "father" to his men, he wrote "In Memoriam."

In August 1916, after being wounded and gassed at High Wood on the Somme, Mackintosh was evacuated to England. During his recovery, Mackintosh became engaged. In October 1917, he returned to France, and on the second day of the Battle of Cambrai, November 21, 1917, was killed. He was 24.

Mackintosh.bmp

In Memoriam

by Ewart Alan Mackintosh (killed in action 21 November 1917 aged 24)

(Private D Sutherland killed in action in the German trenches, 16 May 1916, and the others who died.)

So you were David's father,

And he was your only son,

And the new-cut peats are rotting

And the work is left undone,

Because of an old man weeping,

Just an old man in pain,

For David, his son David,

That will not come again.

Oh, the letters he wrote you,

And I can see them still,

Not a word of the fighting,

But just the sheep on the hill

And how you should get the crops in

Ere the year get stormier,

And the Bosches have got his body,

And I was his officer.

You were only David's father,

But I had fifty sons

When we went up in the evening

Under the arch of the guns,

And we came back at twilight -

O God! I heard them call

To me for help and pity

That could not help at all.

Oh, never will I forget you,

My men that trusted me,

More my sons than your fathers',

For they could only see

The little helpless babies

And the young men in their pride.

They could not see you dying,

And hold you while you died.

Happy and young and gallant,

They saw their first-born go,

But not the strong limbs broken

And the beautiful men brought low,

The piteous writhing bodies,

They screamed 'Don't leave me, sir',

For they were only your fathers

But I was your officer.

Can you give any other info about the ceremony? Mackintosh is one of my favourite poet s of the war, but is barely mentioned. It's reassuring to know that he is not forgotten.

[Marco]

Thanks Paul and Dave for your replies.

It was a short ceremony which included the reading of a poem by MacKintosh in both French and English. More pics and a short description will follow.

Regards,

Marco

[Marco]

Please see http://www.xs4all.nl/~aur/News/news.htm for some more pictures.

Kind regards,

Marco

[Julian Whippy]

We too were in the Cambrai area for the anniversary, and we laid a wreath at Louverval, (Cambrai) especially for the fallen Police officers who had joined the Army and fell in the Battle of Cambrai 1917, and the return in 1918.

Lest we forget

[Jock Bruce]

Dave

'Tosh' is certainly not forgotten. A biography was published in 2004 -'Can't shoot a man with a cold' Campbell & Green. Argyll Publishing. ISBN 1 902831 76 4

The image below is the Sutherland family stone in Reay, Caithness. Very flat light means it isn't brilliant -

the bit that matters is:

ALSO THEIR MUCH LOVED SON

PTE DAVID SUTHERLAND 1/5 SEAFS

WHO FELL IN ACTION AT

ROCLINCOURT ARRAS FRANCE

ON 16TH MAY 1916, AGED 19 YEARS

SEE LATE LIEUT MACKINTOSH'S

BOOK OF POEMS FOR HONOURS P.40

[DaveBrigg]

Thanks for that. It's the first time I've seen a page reference on a gravestone. I suppose nowadays you'd need to carve the ISBN too. Looks like you've just solved my wife's Christmas present dilemma

[SOMMESOLDIER]

Hi All,

Many thanks for the thread. I have always liked that poem, but didn't realise who it was about !

Very moving to read the story !

Cheers

Tim.

[Neil Mackenzie]

Picture of his headstone taken near dusk.

Neil

[Derek Robertson]

Cha Till Maccruimein*

(Departure of the 4th Camerons)

The pipes in the streets were playing bravely,

The marching lads went by

With merry hearts and voices singing

My friends marched out to die;

But I was hearing a lonely pibroch

Out of an older war,

Farewell, farewell, farewell, MacCrimmon,

MacCrimmon comes no more.'

And every lad in his heart was dreaming

Of honour and wealth to come,

And honour and noble pride were calling

To the tune of the pipes and drum;

But I was hearing a woman singing

On dark Dunvegan shore,

In battle or peace, with wealth or honour,

MacCrimmon comes no more.'

And there in front of the men were marching

With feet that made no mark,

The grey old ghosts of the ancient fighters

Come back again from the dark;

And in front of them all MacCrimmon piping

A weary tune and sore,

On gathering day, for ever and ever,

MacCrimmon comes no more.'

Ewart Alan Mackintosh (1893-1917) Rest in Peace