Photo of the Week 2024-11-11

 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them

 

For the Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal 

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

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.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; 

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, 

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, 

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, 

To the end, to the end, they remain.

 

                                                                         Laurence Binvon

 

 

Note: Photo by John England, processing & treatment by Doug England
 

 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-11-11

Lest We Forget

  

DJE

 

We Will Remember Them ...

On the eve of Remembrance Day, Wellington County Museum and Archives holds a tribute where candles are lit an placed at the base of white stakes bearing the names of the fallen from Wellington County.

This year I decided to attend and document the occasion and it was cool and windy when I arrived just as sun was dropping below the tree line. Covering the front lawn there were row after row of tributes to the fallen. I made this image as the last remnants of sunlight kissed the poppy adorned name cards, each placed on it's white stake.

At the going down of the sun ... We will remember them.

I walked along each row, reading the names, the ages, locations of burial and came across the name William A. McLean, not familiar to me but William died the same day as my grandfather and they are both buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Holland.

As darkness fell, I stood off to the side watching people arrive. Some came in groups, some in pairs and others alone. All were given candles and made their way out onto the lawn to place them at the base of a white stake as the moon rose in the sky.

Slowly the rows began to glow with candles. I imagined that some who came were family members, other simply those who cared to remember and pay tribute. It was good to see a variety of ages, some families coming with children. As time passed and darkness blanketed the lawn, the volunteers assisted and began to fill in the each of the rows to complete the tribute.

 

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. 

DJE

Photo of the Week 2013-11-11

Lest We Forget

Their names were Belrose, Adair and Schmidt, Lyons, Adams, Spears and Leonard ... and oh so many with the name Hopkins.

I took the time to visit the Cenotaph in Tobermory, Ontario this weekend in advance of Remembrance Day. The number of white crosses standing in tribute, each adorned with a name, Canadian flag and red poppy, measured the sacrifice this small community made for the future... Our future... My future.

As I walked along beside the crosses, reading names, I offered my abiding appreciation to each and every one of those honoured there and to the thousands upon thousands who also made the sacrifice.

Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

Theyfell with their faces to the foe.

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.

DJE

            

Photo of the Week 2012-11-11

I decided to post a day early this week in recognition of Remembrance Day.

Another dawn they shall never see ...

This weekend I had my shooting planned around Remembrance Day activities in Guelph. It started with a 9:00 am ceremony at John McCrae house where I had the pleasure of meeting Derek, a British Veteran of Malaysia and we spoke briefly of some of his memories.

The image that stands out for me from the day's shooting was one I took earlier at the cenotaph as dawn broke, before the day's events had begun. The memorial, a Canadian flag and single cluster of red poppies were striking in the early morning light.

DJE