Tag Archives: Messines

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.
First-Lines

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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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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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Cannock Chase Messines Model on Countryfile

The first world war model of Messines, it’s history and recent archeological dig have been the talk of Staffordshire for a while, and tonight formed the basis for a great article on the BBC program Countryfile.
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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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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments