Tag Archives: Great War

Pictures from the Brownhills Centenary Remembrance Service for the Battle of the Somme

Sadly I was at work and couldn’t make the Brownhills Centenary Remembrance Service for the Battle of the Somme yesterday (Friday, 1st July 2016) – but reader and top friend of the blog David Evans did, and he was kind enough to provide the following emotive account and photos.

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Walsall Wood Roast Rocester

Fantastic scenes at Oak Park last Tuesday evening (2nd February 2016) as Walsall Wood smashed their way to a 6 – 1 victory over visitors Rocester – congratulations to the Woodmen on a great victory!

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Why we fight

In the anger, outrage and recrimination over the plans to curtail the annual Remembrance Sunday parade in Walsall Wood which came to light last week, it’s easy to lose sight of what Remembrance is about.
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Local history events this week

Kate Cardigan Gomez from the wonderful Lichfield Lore is really going some with her local history group, Lichfield Discovered – in the next week they have two events, one of which is tonight, and on an appropriate Great War theme, with author Joss Musgrave Knibb.
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Live and Let Live

Since it’s Remembrance Sunday, I thought I’d publish this piece today, written by David Evans – as many readers will know, David has a particular and enduring interest in the Great War, and has worked hard to record the effects of it locally – from the stories of men who fought, like Cecil Arthur Burton and David’s Great Uncle, Levi Cooper, to more esoteric aspects like the Messiness model at Brocton on Cannock Chase.
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Military speaker to tell story of the South Staffords in the Great War

This is just a quick note to flag up what looks to be an interesting, engaging and relevant talk by an excellent speaker coming up at Walsall Local History Centre next Monday evening, when Major Ted Green (Retired) will present an illustrated talk entitled ‘The South Staffords in World War 1’.

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They didn’t like it up ’em – Wood battle Rocester to win

Walsall Wood FC entertained Rocester yesterday, for what was the last game of the season – and coupled with the World War One tribute, it was a great spectacle – not only that, the Woodmen thrashed Rocester, to finish a great and unique season on somewhat of a high.
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Walsall Wood Great War commemorative event this saturday

Walsall Wood FC entertain Rocester this Saturday, for what will be the last game of the season – and it promises to be be a cracker, not just for the soccer, but for the spectacle itself, as the match will be staged in commemoration of the the local folk who fought in the Great War.

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A beautiful game

In recognition of the day, the Young David Evans sent me some rather wonderful photos a couple of days ago – as readers will know, David has a particular interest in the wars in Europe, and has strong connections to Messines and the place where the celebrated First World War Christmas truce and football match is believed to have started.
Image very kindly supplied by Jean Claude Joly

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When the fighting stopped

Earlier in the year, reader and friend of the blog David Evans suggested I run an article about the truce at Messines over Christmas in 1914. This outbreak of humanity in the midst of one of the bloodiest wars the world had ever witnessed, captured the popular imagination for years. The idea of opposing sides downing weapons and joining in a game of football in no man’s land is enchanting and solid, and has featured in many forms of pop culture – from rock music videos to films and books.
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A corner of a foreign field

In the approach to Remembrance Sunday, I asked reader and contributor David Evans if he would like to write a piece on his experience of the war cemeteries he visits in northern Europe. David kindly obliged.

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The Fallen of Walsall Wood: a project

Since it’s Remembrance weekend, I thought I’d share with you a project that top reader and contributor David Evans has been working on. David has gone through the roll of honour for the First World War on the Walsall Wood memorial, and listed the entries, and what he can find out about them, in spreadsheet format.
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When darkness loomed

While looking for interesting stuff for the weekly pictures from the past feature, I happened upon a wonderful selection of pictures taken in or around Cannock Chase during either the Great War or Second World War. The Chase back then … Continue reading

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They left in their trains and their troop-ships

We should never, ever forget. It’s easy to say, and I repeat it every year, but war is an ongoing business. Nearly every year since WWII British servicemen and women have seen active combat in one part of the world … Continue reading

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