Interesting gravestones

[lurcherman 887 13,095]

Walked through West Brompton cemetery to Earl’s Court on the weekend some real old graves there and ginormous place, 

[Greyman 28,269]

My local cereal killer lol

[big sid 1,126]

2 hours ago, Greyman said:

My local cereal killer lol

did he stab them with a weatabix or choke them with porridge

[Greyman 28,269]

Well there is more than one so could have been both but l like to think there were sugar puffs involved in at least one of the deaths lol

[gnasher16 30,063]

6 hours ago, tatsblisters said:

I was impressed with how well kept the graveyard was kept and the Chapel. A graveyard near me has to be kept tidy by volunteers as the council would sooner spend money on cleaning up after the Roma Slovaks who have turned a nearby housing area into a rubbish torn shithole.

I believe its one of the biggest if not the biggest cemeteries in Europe just over 1 million people are buried there across 250 odd acres.....you're right its a very well kept place considering where it is !....i know quite a few people who have been buried there over the years so often find myself walking round there with the wife its a lovely walk along some of the lanes.

Yeah if we cant even look after those who have gone before us what chance have those who will go after us got !.....with the current population explosion it does make me wonder how long till we'll have to resort to what the Chinese or Indians is it do and bury people standing up to save space ffs !

Edited March 20 by gnasher16

[low plains drifter 10,415]

44 minutes ago, Greyman said:

Well there is more than one so could have been both but l like to think there were sugar puffs involved in at least one of the deaths lol

Death by diabetes?

[FLATTOP 4,415]

Not so much an headstone but a memorial which I found interesting walking around Walton on the Naze today I met up with a few old retired railway mates for a bit of grub and a few pints and see this.

 

Herbert George Columbine VC (28 November 1893 – 22 March 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Columbine was 24 years old, and a private in the 9th Squadron, Machine Gun Corps, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 22 March 1918 at Hervilly Wood, France, Private Columbine took over command of a gun and kept firing it from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in an isolated position with no wire in front. During this time wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him, but at last with the help of a low-flying aircraft the enemy managed to gain a strong foothold in the trench. As the position was now untenable, Private Columbine told the two remaining men to get away, and although he was being bombed on either side, he kept his gun firing, inflicting losses, until he was killed by a bomb which blew him up along with his gun.

The local leisure centre at Walton-on-the-Naze has now been named after him.

The Columbine Statue Fund

The Columbine Statue Fund, whose Patron is Dame Judi Dench, was set up to raise money for a statue to Herbert Columbine VC in Walton on the Naze. The statue is being created by John Doubleday, the international sculptor and will be erected on 2 August 2014 in Walton on the Naze.

The statue to Herbert Columbine VC was unveiled by Field Marshal Lord Guthrie on Friday August 1st 2014 on the seafront on Walton on the Naze. In attendance was: the Bishop of Chelmsford who Dedicated the statue. The Royal Signals band were there as were The Light Dragoons, Lord Peter and the High Sheriff of Essex. It was a beautiful day and a lovely ceremony.

The project to raise a statue in memory of Private Herbert Columbine VC is also in recognition of his mother, Emma Columbine, who presented her late son’s medals, including the Victoria Cross, to the town of Walton in October 1921. She also donated medals won by her late husband who was killed in the Boer War. These medals were to be displayed for the people of Walton in the council chamber. After the amalgamation of the districts of Walton and Frinton in 1934 the council resolved that the medals should be handed to the British Legion to be displayed in their Club. Due to their increasing commercial value the medals were later deposited in a bank vault and only replicas were displayed in the British Legion Club. The original Victoria Cross and other medals had not been on view to the general public since 1934 but are now on display in the Essex Regiment Museum in Chelmsford Essex.

‘We hope a statue that can be viewed by the community of Walton on the Naze and visitors to the town will be a fitting tribute to Walton’s WW1 hero. We will hopefully have the statue erected by the centennial anniversary of the First World War in 1914.’ Michael Turner.

Available NOW published by Pen & Sword, all author royalties donated to the Columbine Statue Fund

‘Save Yourselves, I’ll carry on’. These were the last known words of Herbert Columbine, shouted at his two companions on the afternoon of 22nd March 1918. At 9am that morning, in Hervilly Woods, France, 9 Squadron Machine Gun Corps had come under intense attack from a heavy force of German infantry. Private Columbine took command of an isolated gun, with no wire in front and began firing. As the German onslaught grew and casualties mounted, Herbert and two others eventually became separated from the rest of their Squadron. After several hours it became clear their position would soon be overrun so Herbert told them to escape while they could. Now on his own, Herbert hung on tenaciously, repelling several attacks, each one deadlier than the last. He was only defeated after the Germans bought up air support and dropped a bomb on his position. Herbert Columbine has no known grave. His death is commemorated on Panels 93 and 94 at the Pozieres Memorial to those missing in the Somme Sector 1918.

I feel very honoured to write a book about such a brave man as my contribution to this very worthwhile project.

 

 

 

[DIDO.1 22,661]

Great great grandfathers younger brother. Killed in the last month of the war. The regiment was on its way out of the line when they fell in to reinforce another action at short notice loosing 6 men. Shortly afterwards they left the line and didn't see action again in the war. So near yet so far. 

We believe from family research that the grave would never have received a family visitor before. 

Edited June 21 by DIDO.1

[DIDO.1 22,661]

When we were young our parents got a 2nd hand sofa from a second hand shop in the next town. Down the back were a handful of post cards written by a soldier to his young son, the post cards were addressed to a house in our village on the next street to where I now live. 

Well we found the grave of the soldier, also killed in the last month of the war. Sadly we could never trace the son or family. 

[DIDO.1 22,661]

On 20/01/2024 at 12:08, mackem said:

 

I've only just seen this little video mackam!! 

I have an interest in the zulu wars as well and of course I've heard of Hitch! 

[dai dogs 1,404]

[Greyman 28,269]

On 21/06/2024 at 21:09, DIDO.1 said:

When we were young our parents got a 2nd hand sofa from a second hand shop in the next town. Down the back were a handful of post cards written by a soldier to his young son, the post cards were addressed to a house in our village on the next street to where I now live. 

Well we found the grave of the soldier, also killed in the last month of the war. Sadly we could never trace the son or family. 

Looking at the plot I would say someone is tending it would the cemetery not have a record ???

[DIDO.1 22,661]

1 hour ago, Greyman said:

Looking at the plot I would say someone is tending it would the cemetery not have a record ???

They are all well tended by the common wealth graves commission I think. All the war graveyards in France and Belgium are beautifully looked after 

[shaaark 10,721]

2 hours ago, DIDO.1 said:

They are all well tended by the common wealth graves commission I think. All the war graveyards in France and Belgium are beautifully looked after 

Went to Ypres with my old man, 2013.

Battlefield Tours.

Can't remember all the places we visited, but those trenches, mini museums etc, was one of the most moving and evocative things I've ever experienced.

And the last post at the menin gate, well, speechless.

Like you say, those cemeteries etc, unless you see it yourself, it's hard to comprehend.

Just to add, and with you having a family involvement,  it'll mean more to you.

Edited June 26 by shaaark

[mackem 26,269]

5 hours ago, dai dogs said:

Coincidental you put that up,I have seen it,if I am in the area the next couple of weeks I will pop in and grab a pic.

 

3 hours ago, DIDO.1 said:

They are all well tended by the common wealth graves commission I think. All the war graveyards in France and Belgium are beautifully looked after 

Thailand,Hong Kong,Singapore,Philippines seen very well kept war graves,if your ever in kanchanaburi pop into the museum near the cem to see the conditions the POW’s who worked on the river Kwai bridge were kept in.

Not a grave but just saw this in the park.