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Poppy

In Memory World War I and World War II

- WE WILL REMEMBER THEM -

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Mapperley Lych Gate Memorial

First World War Names.

1) Private 23212 George Henry Harrison, 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Born 1894. Killed in Action.
No Known Grave. Died 25th September 1916. Aged 22 years.
Son of Thomas and Sarah Harrison of Mapperley Brook.

2) Rifleman R/10877 Britus Martin, 7th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Born 1890. Killed in Action.
No Known Grave. Died 30th July 1915. Aged 25 years.
Son of Henry and Fanny Martin of Park Hall, Mapperley and buried in this Churchyard. Also their Son:

3) Driver L/8152 Luther Martin, 34th Division, Ammunition Column Royal Field Artillery. Born 1883. (Older Brother of the above). Killed in Action. Died 23rd March 1917. Aged 34 years.
Buried St. Pol, Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Second World War Names.

1) Private 5393348 William Joseph Cliffe, (Airbourne Division), Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Born 1924. Killed in Action. Killed in Action. Died 22nd August 1944. Aged 20 Years.
Buried Calvados, France. Son of William and Annie Cliffe.

2) Private 4978644 Thomas Ernest Bridges, 1/5th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. Born 1919. Died At Sea 12th September 1944. (Japanese P.O.W.). Aged 24 years. Named on the Singapore, (Roll of Honour) Kranj War Cemetery. Son of John and Hannah Bridges of Mapperley.

3) Private 14690054 Desmond Ernest Martin, 4th Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Born 1925. Killed in Action. Died 13th April 1945. Aged 19 years.
Buried Becklington War Cemetery, Lower Saxony, Germany. Son of Ernest and Betsy Martin of Mapperley.


Squigle

If you have been passed down any memories or photographs
I would really love to hear from you or if you know of a family member who fought in either of the
Wars And Would Like Them Remembered Then Please Contact Me.

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THE RED POPPY

Long before the Great War, the red poppy had become a symbol of death, renewal and life. The seeds of the flower can remain dormant in the earth for years, but will blossom spectacularly when the soil is churned. Beginning in late 1914, the fields of Northern France and Flanders became the scene of stupendous disturbances. Red Poppys soon appeared.

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row by row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard among the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If yea break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

John McCrae was buried in a military cemetery near Calais on the English Channel, thus becoming one with those of whom he wrote in his famous poem. Probably by the time of his internment, John McCrae's verse had forever bound the image of the Red Poppy to the memory of the Great War. The poppy was eventually adopted by the British and Canadian Legions as the symbol of remembrance of World War One and a means of raising funds for disabled veterans.

The Royal British Legion, formed on 15 May 1921, ordered 9 million poppies which were sold on 11 November that year. The poppies sold out almost immediately and that first ever 'Poppy Appeal' raised over £106,000, a considerable amount of money at the time, which was used to help WWI veterans with employment, housing etc.  The following year, Major George Howson set up the Poppy Factory to employ disabled ex- Servicemen and which today, together with the Legion's warehouse in Aylesford, produces millions of poppies each year.

See www.britishlegion.org.uk

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