Paschendale

In a foreign field he lay 

Lonely soldier, unknown grave 

On his dying words he prays 

Tell the world of Paschendale

Relive all that he's been through 

Last communion of his soul 

Rust your bullets with his tears 

Let me tell you 'bout his years

Songwriters: Adrian Frederick Smith / Stephen Percy Harris

Paschendale lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

This is a song by Iron Maiden, and one I've always liked.

I'm working on a project at school currently, which is using ESRI's Survey123 to collect stories from the Great War, to collect together links between Old Eleans, parents and teachers with the Great War. I've already shared my own family's connection with the conflict at Paschendale, and we now have over 30 entries onto the map.

There are some amazing stories and images already.

Here's a story about George Cope, for example.

He rarely spoke of the war but told us of his reaction when he saw his sergeant carrying a caged canary into the dugout. He thought it unusual to take a pet to war and the sergeant's words never left him. "Laddie, when you see this little bird fall off its perch, you run. Understand laddie? you run."

Harrison Parkinson: an Armistice Centenary project - post #1

I am planning a project for the Centenary of the Armistice in 2018. This is coming up in a couple of months, and we will be having what I am sure is an emotional school service as usual in Ely Cathedral, with the reading of names of Old Eleans.
I am thinking of creating a collaborative StoryMap which students and parents can contribute to, with memories and commemorations of family members. I've produced similar maps before.
My mum has followed our Family tree back hundreds of years, and other family members have also done some sleuthing.
My Great Grandfather, Private (Godfrey) Harrison Parkinson served in the Hampshire Regiment. He was born in October 1883, and died on the 26th of September at Passchendaele (two weeks before the Canadians finally took the village and the offensive was called off). His service number was 15935. He was buried at Tyne Cot, where his name is engraved.
He was awarded the Military Medal. The citation for this, which I discovered kindly posted on a forum was:
"On the morning of July 2nd 1916 Pte Parkinson went out into No Mans Land in daylight bringing in wounded. This he did in spite of the fact that the enemy had been sniping and had shelled them with shrapnel. Altogether, Pte Parkinson brought in eleven wounded men."

Here's the commemorative image which one can download from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.



I will let you know how the map project develops, but why not honour your own relatives' contribution by doing a spot of sleuthing and finding out more about where and when they served during the Great War.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

100 Hearts for 100 Years

A lovely exhibition has opened in the South Transept of Ely Cathedral, where I usually sit for school services.
100 hearts for 100 years is part of the commemorations of the centenary of the end of World War One. It is organised by the Armed Forces Charity SSAFA and has been at several other cathedral venues before this. It will be around for the month of February which, with the link to St. Valentine's Day, is perhaps the best month of the year to be hosting it at the cathedral. Worth popping in if you're in Ely.

Pincushions were made by wounded soldiers to send home to their loved ones. Known as 'Sweethearts' these moving momentos, made with love, proved to be excellent therapy for troops recovering from the horrors that they had experienced. Using a modern interpretation of the theme, the Armed Forces charity, SSAFA Wiltshire, have created one hundred hearts, one for each year since the Great War, which are on display in this exhibition.

Images: Alan Parkinson

Somme100

I'd really like to have seen the #wearehere soldiers who appeared at numerous locations across the country earlier in the week. I sat quietly and listened to the silence on Radio 2, which was ended by  the shrill whistles which signalled the command for so many to go 'over the top' and walk a few paces to their deaths on a day when thousands died. They were a wonderful 'site specific artwork', and very short lived in nature, which adds to their interest and impact.

I've been sharing stories in my classroom, and there have been lots of commemorations. Would have been good to attend the special service that took place in Ely Cathedral.

My wife and daughter were in Exeter this weekend, and were able to see the 19240 Shrouds artwork that was in the news that evening.

Also check out a really excellent CASCADE STORYMAP.

We will remember them....