Victoria Cross Paving Stone Commemoration
Пару дней назад я вышла за покупками и по дороге случайно попала на церемонию открытия мемориальных плит двух военных, которые получили Крест Виктории (высшая военная награда Великобритании, вручается за героизм, проявленный в боевой обстановке) во время Первой мировой войны. Они оба были родом из Ислингтона, района, где мы сейчас живем, и были были награждены за "заметную отвагу" весной 1918 года, сто лет назад.
Церемония проходила в маленьком парке Islington Memorial Green. Всем раздавали буклеты с биографией солдат и программой мероприятия. Присутствовали родственники солдат, представители Ассоциации ветеранов Ислингтона, местной власти и местные жители.
Церемония была недолгой: выступило несколько человек, в том числе и мер Ислингтона. После этого родственники открыли мемориальные плиты.
В Первой мировой войне погибло более 9 тысяч жителей этого района, и в рамках проета The Streets They Left Behind на многих улицах, где они жили, были установлены мемориальные таблички. Их можно найти в помощью карты.
Кроме этого, все погибшие во время военных конфликтов, внесены в онлайн Книгу памяти (Islington Online Book of Remembrance).
This Islington Online Book of Remembrance commemorates over 13,000 men, women and children of Islington who died as a result of war here and abroad. Records run from 1899, the beginning of the Boer War, to the 1950s. We have provided some biographical information so that more may be learned about them, such as with whom they served, where they lived in the borough and where they died. Over 9,000 entries relate to the First World War.
Несколько фото с церемонии:
Эти две мемориальных плиты были последними из пяти, которые установили в рамках проекта National Victoria Cross Paving Stones project. Про всех солдат, награжденных Крестом Виктории, можно прочесть здесь.
Меня глубоко тронула церемония, и количество внимания, уделяемого погибшим в Первой мировой войне. Очень хотелось бы, чтобы когда-нибудь такие же вещи и проекты происходили и в Украине.
Эти две мемориальных плиты были последними из пяти, которые установили в рамках проекта National Victoria Cross Paving Stones project. Про всех солдат, награжденных Крестом Виктории, можно прочесть здесь.
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| Photo from Islington Council Media Centre |
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| Photo from Islington Council Media Centre |
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| Photo from Islington Council Media Centre |
Меня глубоко тронула церемония, и количество внимания, уделяемого погибшим в Первой мировой войне. Очень хотелось бы, чтобы когда-нибудь такие же вещи и проекты происходили и в Украине.
Краткая биография солдат:
John William Sayer was born at 50 Wellington Road on 12 April 1879. His family shortly afterwards moved to Ilford, in Essex. He married Edith Maynard in 1904 and the couple, who had four daughters and two sons, moved to Cricklewood in North London.
At the age of 37, on 25 July 1916, Sayer enlisted in the army as a Machine Gunner in the 8th Battalion of The Queen’s Royal (West Surrey) Regiment. He went to France a little over four months later, and in 1917 was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On the morning of 21 March 1918, as the long-anticipated German spring offensive began, Lance Corporal Sayer single-handedly seized and defended an isolated outpost near Le Verguier in northern France, under machine gun and rifle fire. His actions have been cited as having had an immense effect on holding back the German offensive, which stalled as they were held up by the Queen’s Regiment. Lance Corporal Sayer was wounded in the action, and died four weeks later, aged 39.
Frank Roberts was born at 3 Hamilton Road, Highbury on 2 June 1891. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1911 and was commissioned into the Worcestershire Regiment. His battalion was sent to the Western Front in 1914 and landed in France in early November.
Over 12 days between 22 March-2 April 1918, as an acting Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 26-year-old Lt Col.Roberts showed “conspicuous bravery” in a series of military operations at Pargny, in northern France. On one occasion Lt.Col. Roberts led a counter-attack which temporarily drove the enemy out of a village, giving cover to withdrawing British troops. The success of this action was entirely due to his personal valour and skill, and for this he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lt Col. Roberts was wounded on 27 March but returned to lead his battalion until the end of the war on 11 November 1918. He was wounded three times during the war, and mentioned six times in despatches. He remained in the Army after the war, attaining the rank of Major General, and retiring in December 1939. He died in January 1982.
At the age of 37, on 25 July 1916, Sayer enlisted in the army as a Machine Gunner in the 8th Battalion of The Queen’s Royal (West Surrey) Regiment. He went to France a little over four months later, and in 1917 was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal.
On the morning of 21 March 1918, as the long-anticipated German spring offensive began, Lance Corporal Sayer single-handedly seized and defended an isolated outpost near Le Verguier in northern France, under machine gun and rifle fire. His actions have been cited as having had an immense effect on holding back the German offensive, which stalled as they were held up by the Queen’s Regiment. Lance Corporal Sayer was wounded in the action, and died four weeks later, aged 39.
Frank Roberts was born at 3 Hamilton Road, Highbury on 2 June 1891. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1911 and was commissioned into the Worcestershire Regiment. His battalion was sent to the Western Front in 1914 and landed in France in early November.
Over 12 days between 22 March-2 April 1918, as an acting Lieutenant Colonel in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, 26-year-old Lt Col.Roberts showed “conspicuous bravery” in a series of military operations at Pargny, in northern France. On one occasion Lt.Col. Roberts led a counter-attack which temporarily drove the enemy out of a village, giving cover to withdrawing British troops. The success of this action was entirely due to his personal valour and skill, and for this he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lt Col. Roberts was wounded on 27 March but returned to lead his battalion until the end of the war on 11 November 1918. He was wounded three times during the war, and mentioned six times in despatches. He remained in the Army after the war, attaining the rank of Major General, and retiring in December 1939. He died in January 1982.
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