大象传媒

Introduction

Although I am fortunate enough to have no personal memories of a World War, for some years I have listened to, or read, many accounts of relatives, family friends and even complete strangers who have lived through at least one World War. For those who lost friends or loved ones during the war, they have generally told me how important it is to remember them, especially each November when Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday comes round.

In November 2005 I have attended a number of events commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War Two. Some of these have been joyous events to attend where the music, songs and dances of the war years has been remembered. Other events have remembered those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the war years. This article deals mainly with a commemorative event held in Whitehaven, Cumbria in November 2005.

Remembering individual friends and family members who died

On the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday 13 November 2005 I attended a commemorative service held at St Begh's RC Church, Coach Road, Whitehaven remembering all the victims of wars, and in particular those Catholics from the town who died during World War Two. One reason for this is because outside the church, at the rear, is a World War Two Memorial listing the names of many of the Catholics who died in the conflict. In Whitehaven, there is a similar Memorial naming many of the Anglicans who died in the Second World War at St Nicholas's Church in the town centre, which I have previously written about for the 大象传媒 "People's War" website (Reference ID A4188657).

For those families and friends who knew the people named on these wartime memorials these are the only places they are commemorated in their hometown. The Cenotaph in Castle Park, Whitehaven is inscribed with the dedication 'To Our Glorious Dead' and the dates of both the World Wars. Some other towns and villages list the individual names of war dead on their Cenotaphs, but this is not the case in Whitehaven. Each year there is a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph where different Associations and organisations pay their respects to those who have died in the wars. Each year, after the formal ceremony, some townsfolk place small poppy crosses of their own at the Cenotaph. However, others who remember a friend or family member who died place their poppy cross near where that person's name appears on one of the town's memorials.

In 2005 I have learned about so many of the people from my hometown who died during the Second World War, mainly from others that knew them. So, on Remembrance weekend in November 2005, I placed a poppy cross in front of the 'Peace Tree' in St Nicholas's Church Gardens. This was in memory of all the victims of war.

A poppy cross for Robert, Joseph and others

At the Remembrance Sunday Service I attended on Remembrance Sunday afternoon there was a brief service of prayers and hymns inside the church conducted by the Parish Priest, Father Matthew Carney OSB. Representatives from the local Branches of the Kells British Legion and the Normandy Veterans Association were present, as were their Standards. After the short service inside the church, everyone present was invited to go to the World War Two Memorial outside the church and remember those who died in that war. The year 2005 was the 60th Anniversary of the end of the war.

The World War Two Memorial at St Begh's Church has 42 names inscribed on it. A few years ago, after the 50th Anniversary of the end of World War Two, it was suggested a memorial to the memory of the town's Catholics who had died in the war. There was already a World War One Memorial inside the church. As referred to above, the nearby Anglican Church of St Nicholas has a Second World War Memorial, and also a World War One Memorial. Hence, a request was made for the names of all the Catholics who died in the war between 1939 and 1945. That is how the names of the 42 people named on the Memorial came to be known. There may well be others whose names should be on the Memorial, but for one reason or another their name was not put forward to be inscribed on the tablet.

On the top of the Memorial is the following inscription:
"Remember in your prayers these Catholics of Whitehaven who lost their lives in the Second World War"
1939 - 1945
"Pray that their sacrifice was not in vain".

Below the list of names there is another inscription in Latin:
"Requiescant in Pace" (Rest in Peace).

This part of the service remembered those named on the Memorial. A poppy wreath was placed below the Memorial, after which individuals were invited to place their own poppy crosses in remembrance of loved ones. At this point I placed a poppy cross below the Memorial in memory of Robert and Joseph Casson, two brothers who died during the Battle of Normandy, and are at rest in Ryes (Bazenville) Cemetery, a short distance east of Bayeux.

I have learned a lot about Robert and Joseph over the years, mainly from one of their sisters, Mrs Mary Ritson, who is my aunt. I have also written about some of the other people named on this Memorial, so I know how well-loved they were by those who knew them. About 50 poppy crosses were placed below the St Begh's Memorial by friends and family, more than 60 years after those named on the Memorial had lost their lives.

Conclusion

For the title of this article I asked the following question: "How important is it to remember?" In many different European countries, I have visited a large number of War Cemeteries or Memorials to those who died in World War Two and other wars. Sometimes, it is easy to look at these headstones or lists of names and not really appreciate the impact the death of each individual would have for those that knew them. This is perhaps especially the case when visiting somewhere far from home.

However, at a local level, each individual was a family member in their own community. The loss of a son, husband, father, daughter or wife is easier to appreciate. Robert and Joseph Casson are still fondly remembered by those that knew them and the memory of them has been passed on to others born after the they died. Both of them died at a young age: Robert at 30 years old and Joseph at a mere 18 years old. It is important to remember the sacrifice of young people like Robert and Joseph, and as it says on the St Begh's Memorial , that their sacrifice may not have been in vain.

After the service, there were refreshments in the Church Hall. I was able to talk to some of the other people who had placed poppy crosses below the Memorial, many of whom were friends or relatives of those named on the Memorial. There were also younger people present who also wished to know and remember. To answer my own question, it is important to remember what happened in the war at the grand scale, and perhaps even more so the impact it had at a local and more personal level.

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