War Memorials
Posted: Wednesday, 06 February 2008 |
Today, I had the opportunity to go round the West Side of Lewis, and took the chance to visit Tolsta Chaolais. This is a village between Breasclete and Carloway, tucked away off the main road. It has a war memorial.
As I was photographing it, a local man pointed out to me that the memorial features the names of 18 villagers who had laid down their lives in the First World War.
Why did 18 men from this tiny village have to die because an Archduke got shot dead in Sarajevo?
Need I say more?
As I was photographing it, a local man pointed out to me that the memorial features the names of 18 villagers who had laid down their lives in the First World War.
Why did 18 men from this tiny village have to die because an Archduke got shot dead in Sarajevo?
Need I say more?
Comments
Kipling got it right; albeit, perhaps, for the wrong reason. "If any question why we died,/ Tell them, "Because our fathers lied."
Hyper-Borean from The empty tomb
AL, how true! But if it hadn't been the Archduke, ti would have been some other spark.When I bring my swedish friends across I always make a point of getting them to read the names on the memorial of whatever village that e have stopped in - three MacDonalds, likely the same family, 4 MacCree, etc., etc. They are usually thoughtfully quiet for a bit after that.
Barney from Swithiod "never again"
I remember being taught at school that we had to fight WW1 because the Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. At least, that's a slightly more sensible excuse than that "Weapons of Mass Destruction" drivel. And what have the Swedes to do with it? I thought they were the only people clever enough to keep out of the war. I suspect that WW1 was a squabble between rich English and rich Germans over the pickings to be made in Africa. One hundred years later, and we haven't learnt a single thing.
malkie from Glasgow
The Faces Memorial website lists 12 from Tolsta Chaolais: Norman and Malcolm Macleod from No.3, Malcolm and Norman Macleod from No.4, Norman Macleod from No.6, Murdo MacGregor from No.12, Donald MacGregor from No.12a, Neil MacGregor from No.12b, John Macleod from No.24 and Alex Macleod from No.28.
Malkie from Glasgow
I have been in Lewis since late 2004 and am observing life on this fascinating island from an outsider's perspective. I look out at the lighthouse every day - as it looks out over the island and the sea. 
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