When We Are Absent One From Another

Thread Four

A group of British Legion veterans carrying their branch colours stands outside the Menin Gate, Ieper Ypres), Belgium. A lone chair sits along side. — An empty chair at Menin Gate.
Have you news of my boy Jack? Not this tide.
When d’you think that he’ll come back?
Not with this wind blowing, and this tide.
P. Ferguson image, August 2018.

Near to the early evening the bells call, an announcement of faith or on this day of the Great Pilgrimage a note for every unit, every battalion. The notes grow faint as if to start speaking the names of all who are recorded here.

Standing near to four Yorkshire men, their banter speaks to their time with the service. As the parade moves by they speak the names and nicknames of regiments, light infantry, cherry pickers and others.

I move on, across the canal to bring myself closer to the British Legion flag bearers who have carried with them their identities from across the United Kingdom. The branch names are many, the people are many, they have come to remember, they have come not to forget. I watch them struggle with spoken words, come to terms with names on the wall…well done boys, well done girls…to absent friends…this day at Ypres (Ieper).

——-SNIP——-

Previously published Pipes of War website, 8 August 2018