Remembrance Week at St. Mark's Church Highcliffe
Original Artwork by Local Artist Alan Brain to Commemorate the end of The Great War
Aftermath
Soldiers who survived the battle had plenty of time to think. Time to recall the horrors of killing, time to recall their pals being blown to pieces, time to feel lucky until the next time. And if they could not face a next time they were shot by their own. The Aftermath of war left internal scars as deep as wounds and were visible in the faces of those who took part.
Tommies
German troops christened the British troops Tommies. It was a respectful even a fond title for their enemy. They killed many thousands (as the British did to Fritz) and they are still in neat rows in Flanders fields. The name remains and is accepted by the British Army.
Danger Tree
Just one tree remained standing after the battles in Flanders. It survived somehow. The men looked upon it with awe and a certain dread, it seemed to mock them - they called it Danger Tree
a soldier’s return
Soldiers returning from war may already be dead or injured, and almost certainly numb. This abstract war figure painting attempts to capture the moment of return.
The Menin Road
The Menin Road in Flanders was important because it was higher than the surrounding countryside and gave a vantage point to the occupants. It was fought over and changed hands many times. One hundred years later it is still easy to find a soldier's equipment such as belt buckles and bayonets. The soldiers have disappeared however.