In the streets where I live there are poppies in some windows. At the centre of each one, the name of a boy who left that house to go to war, the place he died and the date. It’s the work of the local museum and historical society scouring the war memorials. This area (‘The Alberts’ in Richmond) looks about the same as the day these houses were built in the 1880s. Half a dozen narrow streets of two-up two-downs that used to be a working class community. And that makes these poppies even more moving. Because these boys were my neighbours - the first to be born in these houses. Boys like Percy Martin next door at No 10. Standing on my doorstep I can look across and see him now in his khakis, saying his goodbyes and promising to come home safe. Our street’s only a few hundred yards long. There’s nine poppies in the windows. Seven neighbours never returned but Sidney Jackson at 77 and Percy did come back. Hard to imagine what kind of homecoming it was though. Percy died of his wounds next door in March 1919, Sidney in October. I’ve just had a walk round. Don’t take much more than 5 minutes to do all the little streets. I’ve counted 35 poppies.
That's a class tribute and a fantastic idea. I've watched a film int museum this morning showing those who'd signed up marching thro Darton. Street I walked to school thro. Makes it all the more real.
That's a great idea. I've got the sale records for my house dating right back to when it was built in 1897, I plan to look up details of the people living here during WW1 and WW2.
Was up in Northumberland last week & in far flung places there are war memorials everywhere. (Many not well kept I have to say). Some just 10 people from a tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere. It is really important the younger generations understand the wars in my opinion. There are so many moans about the EU, but I'd personally take what we have now than 100 years ago.
This a million times over "There are so many moans about the EU, but I'd personally take what we have now than 100 years ago".
