The Tone of Carved Names

Eg Skar Mítt Navn

Today (24 May 2026) has been a hot day – and my hours on yesterday’s road (also in the sun) have (this day) slowed me down. Yesterday’s steps (23 May 2026) on the Salient started at Rifle House (Ploegsteert Wood) where I sought Peacock butterflies amongst the markers. But it was not to be – not a single flutter to be seen. How I miss their eyespots looking upwards towards the lens receiving life from the sun.

And thus my yesterday moves forward from Rifle House to Mesen (Messines) to Wulvergem and Wijtschate. Seven and a half hours on the trails of others – no butterflies but visits with soldiers of the 16th (Canadian Scottish) at Rifle House, La Plus Douve Farm, Kandahar Farm and R.E. Farm. Along the way two stops for cold drinks, ice cream and a large bottle of water that carried me through to my rest point on a park bench at Wijtschate.

At my Wijtschate perch I considered several scripting ideas about my recent Salient travels. There is much to work with but by happenstance on this next day, a day of rest, I am provided with another gift via another kindly act of remembrance when a brass band from Sherborne, England begins to play a tune that needed to be played here surrounded by carved names. I am caught quickly by the tone. There are many people gathered on this lovely evening of warmth watching as the red jackets of the Sherborne Town Band perform. Standing in the background I listen to the notes as they rise within the gate. I have my story, though I must meet with one of them to learn the lesson’s name.

Within this great hall of carved names and as the crowd disperses I find my way to a band member who upon my request provides the sheet music to provide me with its title. I am grateful. Soon I spot the band’s banner and ask if I might photograph it, and then speak with the band’s deputy conductor, Peter, who provides the translation and what it meant to him to perform Eg Skar Mítt Navn within these walls. Truly a heartfelt moment.

The headstones stand in the sun with their names carved across their stone pages. So too at the memorials where people stand and read. They have come perhaps for someone or as a matter of interest they have taken their time to see, to feel. I watch them at the Gate raise their mobile phones to record the events, to take pictures, and to read these names. Heartfelt, like Peter who chose this song (it must be played here) Eg Skar Mítt Navn – (I Carved My Name).

Special thanks to the Sherborne Town Band who made this a very special evening.