Sunday, August 24, 2014

"Blood Swept Lands And Seas of Red" - The Tower of London



When we read of deaths during wars, it might seem difficult to think of the great numbers of those who have died.  World War I began in 1914 and to commemorate the one hundred year since the start of the war there is an amazing display at the Tower of London which is still being completed.  The artist, Paul Cummins, has made ceramic poppies and the idea is that by November 11th (the date of the end of World War I in 1918)  there will be 888,246 poppies filling the moat around the Tower of London, one for each of the British and British Commonwealth soldiers killed in the war. He has entitled this: "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red".

If you would like to see some amazing photos of this display, then I urge you to look at the post by Chel at Sweetbriar Dreams from England.  You may find her post just here.   Chel kindly gave me permission for this link. Thank you, Chel!


In case you might wonder why the poppy is used for remembrance for veterans, it is due to the poem written by Canadian John McCrae in World War I.  He was struck by how quickly the poppies grew around the newly dug graves at Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,

   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

 

39 comments:

  1. Yes, I've been reading about this absolutely visually stunning memorial art installation being mounted at the Tower of London. It will be a sea of blood by the time it's finished, just like the real war. I intend to do my own post on it, in due course. It's the best commemorative thing I've seen so far about WWI.

    Every Canadian school child learns to memorize "In Flanders Fields." I can still recite much, if not most of it, by heart nearly 50 years after having learned it.

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    1. I agree, Debra, I think it is an amazing work of art and one that I hope will make people think.
      I know that most of my regular commenters would know this poem, but if anyone happened on my blog, I wanted to have it on here. Poppies are not grown very often in the South, the photo I have here was taken in England.

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  2. If a poppy was done for every man, woman and child who has died as a result of "armed conflict" (who determins when it is called "war"? Does it depend on the number of countries involved, or on war having formally declared by at least one government?) in this century alone, the Sea of Red would cover a huge amount of land. We don't even know the exact number, do we, with so many civilians involved whose deaths are often not registered, especially in countries where, it seems, human life doesn't count for much in the first place.

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    1. If anyone stumbles upon my blog, I hope that they will know that I do not want to glorify war but I always want to remember and honor those who have served.
      People also die after wars are over, and yet their deaths can be attributed directly to the war that they lived through...Richard has a close relative who died 14 years after the end of World War II, and yet, his family are certain it was a direct cause of the war.

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  3. Kay, whilst the work of art will appear incredible and following on from what Meike said, the dead of the last century from the two world wars was about 88 million and that was just two of the wars during that century. The horror of war which is ever present has always appalled me and I find man's inhumanity and ability to kill in the name of a god or nationalism or for any other reason on that scale completely beyond my comprehension.

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    1. The horror of war...I hope that people can understand the sacrifice that men and women have made in the wars that have been fought. One of my earliest memories is of my mother tenderly holding a folded American flag and clutching a Purple Heart. Her first husband died in Korea and it was not even a "war", but a "conflict".

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  4. Hi Kay...beautiful post! I think this installation is one of the very best of the WW1 commemorations...it really brings home the scale of the destruction & loss. I don't know if you've read my last two posts, but I think you would enjoy them. Sorry I don't comment much at the moment, but I always read & enjoy what you write! Much love xx

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    1. Oh, my dear Rachel, that is one of the most moving posts I have ever read! Thank you so much for telling me of these posts. I am so glad that you left flowers and a note that the Underground Station for your relative.
      Just as I stated above, there are those who died later, after wars, and no one knows about them...unless WE tell them!

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  5. Hi Kay, That is a breath taking site. I love the poppies poem. xoxo,Susie

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    1. Does it not just make you gasp that the sight of it? I was amazed, I truly was and still am....I know you must know the poem too, my sweet Susie! xx

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  6. Amazing art, and sad memories. War is so awful, i wish there were no need for anyone to defend against the aggression of others.

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    1. Amazing and sad, I agree. I hope it makes people think.

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  7. I too had to learn that poem. I must have been about 15 and it was part of my GCE (as they were called in those far off days) - I can still remember my tutor saying - "politics and religion have a lot to answer for." Even to this day I wont have anything to do with one and tread very warily around the other.

    The sea of poppies is just beautiful but is a stark reminder of the worst that humans can do to one another. xx

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    1. John Donne was not just a great poet but a wonderful Anglican priest as well..."No man is an island"..."Every death diminishes me". I believe that too.

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  8. That would be a touching thing to see. Incredible!

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    1. I hope you were able to see Chel's post and her photos, they were really something.

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  9. I've seen pictures of this on the news and it looks absolutely amazing - such a wonderful tribute. (Love your header photo!). x

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    1. Thanks, Julie!
      Ha! I decided that header had too much ME in it, so now I have changed it! xx

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  10. The array of ceranuc poppies is mind-boggling. When I saw the coverage on TV through our news bulletins it took my breath away. Wonderful.

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    1. I missed it somehow, and only saw it on the blog that I had a link to...and it took my breath away too!

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  11. Very emotive and a great idea. I must have missed that on the news. The best artworks start from such simple concepts yet are breath-taking and instantly memorable. 20 years from now I'll still remember that installation.

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    1. I KNOW!! When I saw this, I thought why can't we do something like this in America, something that would honor those who died and also help charities at the same time. The poppies will be sold for 25 pounds each with the monies going to various British charities. Something beautiful, something memorable....

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  12. Oh my word. What an amazing piece of art.

    There is such a wealth of sadness to the writings and poetry of the Great War. So many lives, so many hopes and dreams, extinguished in the muddy fields of that dreadful conflict.

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  13. Sue,
    Once in the 80's I was in a very small English village and when I visited the church , there was a memorial to those who had died from there in World War I.
    I was shocked at the long list of names. It must have taken away almost all the young men from just that one spot. I have never forgotten that.

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  14. Yes, I saw that; it is just amazing, and also so sad. Trust you are keeping well, dear friend -- I am so honoured that you still have those pins lol!

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    1. Yes, amazing and sad at the same time.
      Oh yes, I think I am okay these days, just getting older that is!
      And of course, I have your lovely pins! I am just sorry that the first ones went astray! xx

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  15. I've been following this project and find it stunning. What an amazing visualization of how many died.

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    1. Yes, and not only that, but the artists have the poppies for sale and the proceeds will go to British charities.

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  16. We just got back from England and we saw this project, it was incredible.

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    1. Oh, thank you very much for telling me that!

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  17. Thanks for the mention on the link Kay. I do hope you can experience it for yourself soon. Take care xx

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    1. Thank you, Chel! When I do, you know I will do a post about it!
      Have a great week ahead! xx

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  18. This is the first time I have responded to anything like a 'blog' but I just wanted to say thank you for publicising 'Blood swept lands ...'
    My father survived WW1 and WW2, otherwise I would not be here.
    I served for 12 years,1965-1977, with the UK Royal Air Force Regiment, during the 'Cold war'. I lost one friend to terrorists. He rests in Aden.
    Two of my proudest days have been spent planting some of these poppies. I think my Dad would have been proud as well, had he still been alive to see me.
    I met some wonderful people who were on vacation from USA who gave up an afternoon to take part in this beautiful work.
    There were people from other countries as well. I even spoke with a lady from New Zealand.
    Thank you all.
    Even Ex service men and women shed tears at the sight.
    Thank you to everyone for all the kind words.
    May your God bless you and your freedom.

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    1. I am honored that you left this comment here. I can't thank YOU enough for your service and for your eloquent words to honor all those who have given so much.
      I was able to see this in London just recently and I have read that the volunteers are only there on Thursday and Sundays...we were there on Thursday, the 11th of September, another date that is memorable for me and for all Americans.
      I will do another post about this.
      Thanks again for leaving this comment. I truly appreciate it.

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  19. Kay G.
    Your reply has touched my heart, (pass the tissues).
    Forgive me but I must ask some questions because Thursday 9/11 was my second shift.
    Did you plant poppies?
    If so, did you have your photo taken with one of the Yeoman Beefeaters?
    If Yes, did an ex-RAF man stand next to you?
    I have a photo of a lady in a red top, standing next to a Yeoman, and she looks quite like you.
    Did we meet? ? ?
    Ron

    (sykes.r@btopenworld.com)

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    1. Hey Ron! I didn't know that anyone could volunteer and plant the poppies! So, no that wasn't me! We think the time that we were there was about 11am on the 11th, we saw the volunteers placing the poppies. In fact, we were glad that we got photos that we did because it looked like a whole army of volunteers came out while we were there! If you were on the 2nd shift, I would think that means you were there later in the day!

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    2. Oh, and I meant to say, since we were there on the same day, that makes me want to say "It's a small world"!

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  20. Hi Kay, You are right, it is a small world.
    On 11 Sept I was on the afternoon shift with about 150 other people. One was a lady from Ohio. I had met another lady from South Georgia on 21 August and just got the two ladies/events confused.
    I have about 40 photos, mostly taken 'Down in the Moat'. Would you like copies?
    Also, I intend to visit the finished project and take more photos, would you like some? I probably wont get into the moat that day but I will see it from the tourist angle like you did.
    In my first message to you I said this is my first ever contact with a blog and I don't do social media, so if I send this under anonymous, again, it is from me, 'Ron UK Veteran.'
    ps. check your email

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    1. Yes, please do send me some photos of the finished project. I would love to see it.
      You say you don't do social media...you do now ! HA!
      You will have your own blog before you know it...start thinking now what you want to call yourself.
      If I can do a blog, ANYONE can....you might see mine is the most bare bones one you will ever read, too much stuff on it and my little computer goes down!

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