14 replies to this topic

[chrislock]

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Whilst searching for a casualty today in Cement House CWGC cemetery I came across this.

Fascinating yet not to everyone's approval I suspect?

Chris

[Sandie]

That's the most decorated I've seen. Plenty have flags, very often Canadian or ANZAC, but I've not seen pennants or ties before.

It's becoming increasingly popular at home. On Saturday, whilst looking for a WW1 grave, we saw several with football shirts, one with a Jack Daniels ice bucket (filled with plastic flowers) and another with a Che Guevara t shirt.

[chrislock]

Too be honest with you I'm not sure what I think but if I imagine the entire cemetery with every grave looking like this I don't think I would be happy somehow. Is this becoming acceptable? After reading Sandie's post, what next? An old Enfield motorbike draped over the headstone or how about a horses saddle?

I also have never seen ties, pouches and the like but yesterday I counted at least a dozen foot balls at the Christmas truce memorial alongside Plugstreet wood and that pleased me no end! It would be interesting to hear the gatdeners views on these developments.
Or is it a one off??

[KevinBattle]

Ah! At first I looked for Australians in Cement House, but only 4 and didn't look like Newbery, so took a punt on Brewer

Name: BREWER, CECIL HAROLD. Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 04/10/1917. Age: 33.
Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers. 4th Bn. attd. 7th Bn.
Grave Reference: X. D. 13. Cemetery: CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of William Henry Brooks Brewer and Sarah Brewer, of 29, Park Rd., Hampton Hill, Middx. Born at Blackburn. M.A. (Cambridge). Science Master for nearly three years at Geelong School, Victoria, Australia.
Explains the Australian connection, flag, old school tie and crest.

May be a touch garish, but there is at least a logic to the mementoes being left and most importantly HE IS REMEMBERED

[roel22]

I like it.
My opinion may change once every visitor starts doing it.
Then again: I do not expect every visitor to start doing it.

Roel

[Sandie]

I don't like it but then it's not my relative.
On Saturday I thought some graves looked like these roadside accident memorials you see everywhere.

We met a Jewish man in France who was visiting the WW1 grave of a distant relative. He was upset by the amount of "building rubble" left on the headstone. He walked away, shaking his head, saying "this is not respect".

[steve morse]

It is wrong

[The Scorer]

Sandie, on 04 July 2012 - 08:04 PM, said:

We met a Jewish man in France who was visiting the WW1 grave of a distant relative. He was upset by the amount of "building rubble" left on the headstone. He walked away, shaking his head, saying "this is not respect".

I thought this was an acceptable way of marking Jewish graves? isn't the reason that many of the families are unable to come, and it's a way of them remembering their family members?

[Jim Smithson]

The Frenchman was not particularly in line with the many Jews I know (one of whom is a Rabbi).  They feel it very respectful to leave a stone on a headstone and are moved by the fact that many of us do so when not of their faith.  They are not sure why stones are left, there being much debate, but nonetheless it is custom.  If you see a Jewish graveyard in Israel you will see many on every tomb but not flowers as that is not deemed appropriate, or so I believe.

I am with those who feel that over adorning a headstone is perhaps a little too much but should we not respect the feelings of those who were there remembering a long lost relative.  As long as it is something that the gardeners can remove at some point in the future.

Jim

[squirrel]

Jim Smithson, on 05 July 2012 - 08:01 PM, said:

I am with those who feel that over adorning a headstone is perhaps a little too much but should we not respect the feelings of those who were there remembering a long lost relative.  As long as it is something that the gardeners can remove at some point in the future.
Jim

I agree with this Jim - this is, perhaps,  the 21st century way of "remembering" and "paying respect".

[Sandie]

I thought this was an acceptable way of marking Jewish graves? isn't the reason that many of the families are unable to come, and it's a way of them remembering their family members?
It is a mark of respect to leave a stone or pebble on the headstone of a Jew (as done at the end of the film 'Schindler's List'). Jewish people see it as honouring a loved one. I think the man we met was upset by the amount of lumps of clay and broken bits of brick etc ("builders rubble") left on the headstone of his relative. I have to say it had caused a lot of discolouring to the white stone.

[Auimfo]

Personally I don't think it's right for items to be either stuck to or suspended from a headstone.   A photo, card, flowers, poppy cross etc left at the base of the headstone is all that's required for a respectful tribute.

Although I accept it was probably done with the best of intentions, in my opinion this kind of display is more about promoting 'we were here' rather than honouring the man who is actually buried there.

Cheers,
Tim L.

[Michelle Young]

I found a piece of plastic superglued to a headstone last year at Puchevillers, with illegible red smudges running down onto the stone; I also found a brass plaque superglued to a stone at Calvaire (Essex). I found a mini cricket bat at Heilly Station left from the current days cricket team. I'm happy with non permanent tributes like photos, flowers, I've left a cricket ball at one grave but permanent fixtures  are a no no.

Michelle

[Steven Broomfield]

In line with the modern rage for mawkishness: every time someone kills themselves on the road a shrine has to be erected.

Tasteless, tacky and unnecessary.

[Sandie]

Although I accept it was probably done with the best of intentions, in my opinion this kind of display is more about promoting 'we were here' rather than honouring the man who is actually buried there.

I think this statement sums up my feelings.
Sandie