Thank you all so much,a little later in the year before Christmas we have a bauble service,when people,not just the usual congregation put a bauble on the Christmas tree in memory of whoever they wish.
Names are read out and families hang their bauble with names attached.
We are having a special tree for Ramsbottom men who were killed in WWl and whose names are to be read out during the service.
The Ramsbottom branch of the British Legion will as always carry the flags
and there is a definitive list of those who did not come back home so we will have every name.
Hopefully some family members will be there as they always are ,proud ,grandchildren etc.
Rawtenstall museum have contacted me and will get back re a copy of Percy Turnbull’s memorial there.
If there is time we will try to get family members organised to put the baubles on the tree,otherwise Legion members will stand in I think.
Lots to do and it is a great privilege to do it,whatever we can do is so little
for so much.
Thanks again everyone.
I include a poem,
Down in the viscous dragging mud they lie
Adding to the mire their youthful blood.
No peaceful graves for them as yet while
Each explosion brings about their savage resurrection
Then see we yet again their ghastly moon white faces
Grinning a mockery of “Grant unto them eternal rest”.
Their feeble comedy of “A Blighty one” seems now a cruel ,tasteless obscene jest.
Into holes “known only unto God “ we push them
Then throw a slimy board across to gain
Another yard of blood soaked Flemish ground,
While screaming shells and bullets vie with the louder,silent cry of
“Dear God will it never end”?
And meanwhile far behind the lines in some elegant chateau
The C.inC plots and hones his foolproof plans
For how to use to best effect the cavalry.
The poor and bloody infantry must prepare the ground
But what he does not see,is the infantry
Are now the ground he’ll send the cavalry over.
In heroic waves they will face the vicious guns
And for cavalry read Calvary but for Judas ,not The Huns.