Grave Encounters
A blog devoted to the study and preservation of cemeteries, transcriptions of tombstones,Grave Markers,Memorial Plaques, War Memorials, Burial Customs and other such items that are memorials and deserve to be recorded.
Friday 9 May 2014
War Memorial ~ Wagga Wagga New South Wales Australia
Wagga Wagga New South Wales Australia War Memorial.
All pictures taken October 2012 and copyrighted to Julie & Stuart Goucher
Sunday 24 November 2013
Wednesday 13 November 2013
Friday 28 June 2013
Southwick War Memorial, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
First World War
Pt A.S CAMERON MM
Pt Jas CHALMERS
Pt A.Ed DAVIDSON
Pt J.C FRASER
Sgt Maj G.W. KENNEDY D.C.M, MM
Cnr T KIRKLAND
Pt J.F McADAM
Pt J. McWHIRTER
Pt W McWHIRTER
Pt Jas NICHOLSON
Pt Jno NICHOLSON
Cpl H SEGGIE
Pt Jas SEGGIE
Pt W SHENNAN
Pt W STOYAN
Cpl Jas THOMSON
Pt R THOMSON
Pt T WRIGHT
Pt Jas CHALMERS
Pt A.Ed DAVIDSON
Pt J.C FRASER
Sgt Maj G.W. KENNEDY D.C.M, MM
Cnr T KIRKLAND
Pt J.F McADAM
Pt J. McWHIRTER
Pt W McWHIRTER
Pt Jas NICHOLSON
Pt Jno NICHOLSON
Cpl H SEGGIE
Pt Jas SEGGIE
Pt W SHENNAN
Pt W STOYAN
Cpl Jas THOMSON
Pt R THOMSON
Pt T WRIGHT
Second World War
Lieut J.G BARTON
Sgt A BEATTIE
Pte J.K HUNTER
Pte G.W McV.Gordon
Lieut J.G BARTON
Sgt A BEATTIE
Pte J.K HUNTER
Pte G.W McV.Gordon
Transcribed by J Goucher June 2000
Thursday 27 June 2013
Shaldon Devon War Memorial
Shaldon Devon War Memorial
Erected 1921
First World War
L.E. CARTER Can Camrn Hlds
A.K CATES Scots Guards
A.A COLBRAN 5th Devons
E.B. CONYBEARE Worcs Rgt
J.B CORNISH 5th N.Z.C.
C EARDLEY WILMOT R.F.C
C.R. EAST N.A.C.
L.O. GRAEME Q.O.Cameron N
N.F. HORSHAM Devons Rgt
J LAMBE Devons Rgt
A LORAM Warwick Rgt
M.H. LUCAS 37th Lancers
S MATTHEWS Devon Rgt
C.T. MERCHANT Kings LPL Rgt
F PAYNE Coldstream Gds
R.B. REED R.N.R.
L SHEPPARD R.F.C.
C STEPHENS R.N.R
F.T. STEPHENS Canada
L TAYLOR 15th Ryl Scots
R TOTHILL R.N.
W WINDCATT Grenadier Gds
C.T. WITHEY R.N.R
S.A. WITHEY Devon Rgt
J WOOD R.N.R.
A.K CATES Scots Guards
A.A COLBRAN 5th Devons
E.B. CONYBEARE Worcs Rgt
J.B CORNISH 5th N.Z.C.
C EARDLEY WILMOT R.F.C
C.R. EAST N.A.C.
L.O. GRAEME Q.O.Cameron N
N.F. HORSHAM Devons Rgt
J LAMBE Devons Rgt
A LORAM Warwick Rgt
M.H. LUCAS 37th Lancers
S MATTHEWS Devon Rgt
C.T. MERCHANT Kings LPL Rgt
F PAYNE Coldstream Gds
R.B. REED R.N.R.
L SHEPPARD R.F.C.
C STEPHENS R.N.R
F.T. STEPHENS Canada
L TAYLOR 15th Ryl Scots
R TOTHILL R.N.
W WINDCATT Grenadier Gds
C.T. WITHEY R.N.R
S.A. WITHEY Devon Rgt
J WOOD R.N.R.
Second War World
S BRIMILCOMBE R.N.
F FEILDEN R.A.F
G HICKS R.T.R
J.I. HOUSTON Essex Rgt
J LONG R.N.
T PAYNE Devon Rgt
E.A. SLATER R.A.F.
R.P. STOYLE R.N.
W.M. THEOBALD R.A.F.V.R.
F FEILDEN R.A.F
G HICKS R.T.R
J.I. HOUSTON Essex Rgt
J LONG R.N.
T PAYNE Devon Rgt
E.A. SLATER R.A.F.
R.P. STOYLE R.N.
W.M. THEOBALD R.A.F.V.R.
Other
R.S. BAKER-FAULKNER D.S.O. D.S.C. R.N.
1949 A.J. ROBERTS 4th Hussars
1949 A.J. ROBERTS 4th Hussars
Transcribed by J Goucher 1996 -2002.
Wednesday 26 June 2013
War Memorial Cockington Church, Torquay, Devon 1914-1918 & 1939 - 1945
Memorial in Cockington Church
First World War
Harry BASTIN
William J BLIGHT
Albert G BOURHILL
James F BOURHILL
Norman BOVEY
Walter P C BOVEY
A Frank CHAPMAN
George E CHAPMAN
John L COLE
Stewart CRAIG
Frank G L DAMERELL
George DAVIES
George EASTERBROOK
W GOODWIN
Samual HAWKINS
Charles HEWETT
Mark HEWETT
Walter HEWETT
Harry HOOPER
John HORNBROOK
Felix C LOCKYER
Colin J MacLAVERTY
Charles H MALLOCK
Alec MERCER
Arthur W MILNE
Sidney G MOORE
Francis E OAKELEY
Algeron W PALMER
Walter E J PAYNE
Athur R PUTT
Carl V RANDELL
B SKINNER
John SMITH
Harry W SNOW
Ernest J SOPER
William E STROUD
Sidney R SWEENEY
W H Cecil THOMAS
William H TOPE
Clandine L TYLER
T G Frank WILLS
Gilbert J WINGET
Albert G BOURHILL
James F BOURHILL
Norman BOVEY
Walter P C BOVEY
A Frank CHAPMAN
George E CHAPMAN
John L COLE
Stewart CRAIG
Frank G L DAMERELL
George DAVIES
George EASTERBROOK
W GOODWIN
Samual HAWKINS
Charles HEWETT
Mark HEWETT
Walter HEWETT
Harry HOOPER
John HORNBROOK
Felix C LOCKYER
Colin J MacLAVERTY
Charles H MALLOCK
Alec MERCER
Arthur W MILNE
Sidney G MOORE
Francis E OAKELEY
Algeron W PALMER
Walter E J PAYNE
Athur R PUTT
Carl V RANDELL
B SKINNER
John SMITH
Harry W SNOW
Ernest J SOPER
William E STROUD
Sidney R SWEENEY
W H Cecil THOMAS
William H TOPE
Clandine L TYLER
T G Frank WILLS
Gilbert J WINGET
Second World War
Adelaide M BAXTER (Civilian)
Stanley A BENNETT
Beatrice M BICKFORD (Civilian)
Lancelot S DOBSON
Norman C DRAPER
Albert E GERMAIN
Florence C GILLARD (Civilian)
Ivor HOARE
Charles HORSWILL (Civilian)
Francis C KELLY
Geoffrey LANG
Frederick G MAEERS
Howard MAPPIN
Edward MARTIN
Frederick J H MARTIN
William T PARSONS
Howard C POLKINGHORNE
Edward E R SCOTT
Alfred D VINCENT
Fredrick WARBURTON
Fredrick WELLINGTON
Harold H WILLS
Adelaide M BAXTER (Civilian)
Stanley A BENNETT
Beatrice M BICKFORD (Civilian)
Lancelot S DOBSON
Norman C DRAPER
Albert E GERMAIN
Florence C GILLARD (Civilian)
Ivor HOARE
Charles HORSWILL (Civilian)
Francis C KELLY
Geoffrey LANG
Frederick G MAEERS
Howard MAPPIN
Edward MARTIN
Frederick J H MARTIN
William T PARSONS
Howard C POLKINGHORNE
Edward E R SCOTT
Alfred D VINCENT
Fredrick WARBURTON
Fredrick WELLINGTON
Harold H WILLS
Transcribed by J Goucher 1996 -2002.
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Plaque in Cockington Church, Torquay, Devon - George S Sanders
For Remembrance before God of
George S SANDERS
Private in the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital Staff
He died at Maitland Cape Colony November 27th, 1900
And was buried in Woodstock Cemetery Cape Town
Of the five Cockington Fire Brigade men who
Volunteered for service in the South African War
He was the only one who did not come home again.
Transcribed by J Goucher 1996-2002
Monday 24 June 2013
War Memorial at St John The Evangelist, Merrow, Guildford
First World War
F.S.J BARTON
BENNETT
F BLAKE
J.T BLAKE
F BLUNDELL
C BOOKER
A BUTCHER
H CRANFIELD
C CRYER
F.A De PEARCE
W FAWCETT
J GROVER
A GYATT
T.L IMMS
A KEMP
R KNIGHT
L LICKFOLD
W LUNN
F MAPPLEDORUM
W MEARS
S.C.L MOORE
N NEILL
W NORRIS
R PEASE
C PULLEN
T.A PULLINGER
J.W RUDALL
H SCARLETT
W.T SLYFIELD
J.R SOLE
W STEMP
T STRUDWICK
S VICARY
S VINALL
H WADEY
G WAIN
C WIELD
H.H WYATT-SMITH
J.D WYATT-SMITH
BENNETT
F BLAKE
J.T BLAKE
F BLUNDELL
C BOOKER
A BUTCHER
H CRANFIELD
C CRYER
F.A De PEARCE
W FAWCETT
J GROVER
A GYATT
T.L IMMS
A KEMP
R KNIGHT
L LICKFOLD
W LUNN
F MAPPLEDORUM
W MEARS
S.C.L MOORE
N NEILL
W NORRIS
R PEASE
C PULLEN
T.A PULLINGER
J.W RUDALL
H SCARLETT
W.T SLYFIELD
J.R SOLE
W STEMP
T STRUDWICK
S VICARY
S VINALL
H WADEY
G WAIN
C WIELD
H.H WYATT-SMITH
J.D WYATT-SMITH
Transcribed by J Goucher 1995.
Friday 14 June 2013
Pearlware Jug - Mary Clark 1802
Earlier in the week I spoke of a visit to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. You can read my post HERE & see some photographs of the various plaques at Grave Encounters.
One of the images that I did not show was this little lovely item
One of the images that I did not show was this little lovely item
The details on the information card revealed that it was named for Mary Clark of Berrynarbour and shows the date of 1802.
The pearlware jug was made at the Swansea Pottery in South Wales. This type of pottery became popular in the late 1700s as a cheap and hard wearing alternative to porcelain. Much of the white clay was extracted from the Teign Valley in South Devon, actually not too far from where I live. It was mixed with flint to produce the required colour and pearlware was an improved lighter colour
Wednesday 12 June 2013
Plaques at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter. You can read the post over at Anglers Rest. As I walked through the museum there were a few plaques that were worth photographing and sharing here.
All of these were located on the first floor of the Museum and I do apologise for the condition of the third photograph. It was located in a corner and almost obscured by a large totem pole, hence the slight fuzziness!
Monday 10 June 2013
The Orangery, Teignmouth Devon
Yesterday we explored the local spot of the Orangery at Teignmouth. You can read that post HERE. Even in this small historical location there were a few plaques and I photographed them and shall post them here, but first a general view of the Orangery.
Located on a bench at the rear of the main Bitton House Building |
Saturday 8 June 2013
Haldon Aerodrome - Wing Commander William R Parkhouse MBE
This commemoration plaque and stone is located at Haldon, which is owned by the National Trust and was the site of Haldon Aerodrome
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Wall Plaque - Masonic Hall, Sidmouth Devon
An interesting building, complete with a wall plaque which was concreted to the left of left door, just beyond the tree in the picture.
This photograph is of the Masonic Lodge at Sidmouth Devon. You can see a bit more detail and the location of the lodge HERE
Shared with the Fraternal Organisations for Genealogists Group
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Heidi Clarke Lewis - Friend of the Zoo (Wagga Wagga NSW Australia)
The City of Wagga Wagga in New South Wales Australia hosts a lovely botanical garden. The garden is set within 20 hectares of land and therefore within the confines of the land there is plenty of room for Wagga zoo where most of the animals are free to roam and enjoy life.
This plaque was found on one of the benches within the zoo.
This plaque was found on one of the benches within the zoo.
Thursday 16 May 2013
Grave Matters
A few months ago, on the Graveyard
Rabbit Column, History Hare I talked about the plight of some graves in Australia being
defiled. I commented that whilst it was not metaphorically speaking, in my back
yard, it might be one day.
Well it would appear that that day has come.
Some 205 plots located at one of the biggest cemeteries in
the Country, the City of London Cemetery at Manor Park
are under threat. The announcement is located HERE
and a map of the cemetery is located HERE.
The formal notice is located HERE
with the details of whom to write to in order to raise an objection.
The Official notice does not provide the names of the
occupants or the plot owners. It lists plot numbers only. The Burial Registers
are not indexed. In order to establish
if you have an ancestor in one of the plots under threat then a charge of £100
is being made per name per year. If you know the plot details then the charge
is £25.
Is it the cynic in me that indicates that the costs are so
prohibitive that the Officials will get their way?
It would appear that during the 1950 -1960 period the
memorials on these graves were removed and no effort was made to record the
details. The scanning project of the Burial Records only managed to cover from
1856 – 1861 before the project was halted.
The situation is tragic and one that is only going to get
worse, not just across the Capital but across the whole of the United Kingdom
and other parts of the globe.
A few years ago I became aware of a similar plight in my
home town. The official notice was displayed and asked for people who had an
interest in the cemetery to make contact with the cemetery. I made the 200 mile
journey and looked over the grave where my Great Grandparents were buried; my
Great Grandfather in 1931 and my Great Grandmother in 1937. The plot was
purchased with a 75 year ownership. I contacted the council and the plot was
transferred into my ownership. Of course I am now responsible for any repairs
that are needed, but I do that quite willingly and more importantly the graves
are safe from any recycling.
Many of us do not live where our ancestors did. Perhaps
there should be a scheme of “Love Your Cemetery” whereby each individual takes
part in a project at their nearest cemetery in the hope that the ancestral
graves of their family are preserved at another.
On line Journal of Graveyard Rabbit
Wednesday 8 May 2013
Point in View Chapel, Exmouth Devon
Following on from yesterday's post about the Point in View Chapel and about A La Ronde. These are the various plaques that are displayed either inside the Chapel or on the benches outside.
The next few photographs are plaques on seats within the Chapel grounds
Located on the wood paneling inside the Chapel |
Located on the door just as you go out |
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Point in View Chapel, Exmouth Devon
Over the weekend we visted the National Trust property of A La Ronde, a delightful 16 sided property owned by two spinster Cousins, the Misses Mary and Jane Parminter. You can read a bit more and see some photographs HERE
Set about 200 metres from the main house lies the Point in View Chapel.
There were several plaques commemorating others at the Chapel, both inside and outside, most from the 20th Century. Those picture will be up tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Chapel and the other buildings on the land are attended to by the Mary Parminter Trust
Set about 200 metres from the main house lies the Point in View Chapel.
Point in View Chapel |
The plaque commemorating the Miss Parminter's |
The ceiling of the chapel |
Bible inside a glass case located at the Chapel |
Meanwhile, the Chapel and the other buildings on the land are attended to by the Mary Parminter Trust
Friday 19 April 2013
Plympton St Maurice, War Memorial, Devon
In Grateful Memory of the Men of
Who died for their Fellow-Men in the War
1939 – 1945
“Greater Lover hath no Man than this”
BAKER, E. W
BEAVER, S. C
BEAVER, F. W
BOWER, W. J. S
BURNETT, R. A. C
CAWSE, W. C
DOYLE, A. E
HEAT, J. C. S
JANE, F. E
PARSONS, H
PULLEN, J
REVELL, K. S
ROBERTS, A. C
ROWSE, E. R. S
SANDOVER, R. W
SARAH, A. H
TREDUNING, A
WEBBER, C
WINZER, C. S. A
WILLCOCKS, E. S. C
Transcribed by J Goucher July 2002, Photographed S Goucher July 2002
Plympton St Maurice,Devon War Memorial
In Grateful Memory of the Men of
Who laid down their lives in the Great War
For Freedom & Justice
1914 – 1918
“They shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance”
BULLER, H. C
CHARLICK, J. A
CUMMING, L. C
CUDMORE, A
FARNELL, M
FOLLEY, A. W
GARDINER, J
GODDEN, W. D
GORMAN, H. J
GRATTAN, J
HAMBLY, W. R
HAMMICK, E. L
HAMMICK, E
HAWKEN, A. C
HAYMAN, P. M
HELLINGS, F. W
HORTON, W. H
HOSKIN, F
HUNT, W. H
HURRELL, P.S.B
KENSHOLE, T. C
LAVIS, J. W
LEE, A
LEWIS, E. V
MARSHALL, E. W. S
NEWSON, A. J
PEARCE, H
PILLACE, E
RABLEY, A. E
ROBERTS, J. T
ROBERTS, W. B
ROBINSON, W. H
SHEPHEARD, R. A
SOPER, E. F
SPURR, F. J
STEPHENS, F .J
TRISCOTT, P. C
WEBBER, C
Transcribed by J Goucher July 2002, Photographed S Goucher July 2002
Thursday 18 April 2013
War Memorial, All Saints Church, West Alvington, Devon
First World War
Fredrick BOWDEN RAF
James Mercer KNOWLES Royal Navy
Roy LOWDEN Pioneers
Harry James MORGAN RAF
Geoffrey Sturbridge STEER RAF
Roy LOWDEN Pioneers
Harry James MORGAN RAF
Geoffrey Sturbridge STEER RAF
Second World War
William Edward STEPHENS DWR
Edric Henry CLOPE RGA
Charles Bedford DISTIN Royal Navy
John Aubrey FROUDE Royal Navy
William Edward STEPHENS DWR
Edric Henry CLOPE RGA
Charles Bedford DISTIN Royal Navy
John Aubrey FROUDE Royal Navy
Reginald George HARVEY Royal Navy
George HAYNES Devons
Herbert Thomas HILL Devons
Albert John JEFFERY Devons
Herbert Harold Owen MATTHEWS Canadian
Ernest James MOORE Devons
Francis Edwin PEARCE RFC
Percival Henry Gillard RHYMES Essex
Charley Norman RICH RFC
Alfred Dorian Meyers RICHARDS Devons
Albert ROWE Devons
James STEPHENS RE
James STONE Devons
John Harold TAYLOR RGA
William Horniman BALKWILL Wilts
George HAYNES Devons
Herbert Thomas HILL Devons
Albert John JEFFERY Devons
Herbert Harold Owen MATTHEWS Canadian
Ernest James MOORE Devons
Francis Edwin PEARCE RFC
Percival Henry Gillard RHYMES Essex
Charley Norman RICH RFC
Alfred Dorian Meyers RICHARDS Devons
Albert ROWE Devons
James STEPHENS RE
James STONE Devons
John Harold TAYLOR RGA
William Horniman BALKWILL Wilts
Transcribed by J Goucher 1996 - 2002.
Monday 1 April 2013
Salcombe Lifeboat Disaster
Thirteen men lost their lives in the Salcombe Life Boat Disaster of 27th October 1916
CANHAM, James A
COOK, J. Ashley
COVE, James H
CUDD, John A
DISTIN, Albert
DISTIN, Samuel M
FOALE, Peter H
FOALE, Peter H
FOALE, William J
LAMBLE, William W
PUTT, Thomas
WOOD, Albert E
Transcribed August 2002
Thursday 7 March 2013
Cemeteries of the Future…….
Taphophilia is defined as a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries[1]. It is sad to say, that not everyone enjoys exploring cemeteries or the ponderings of the lives of those that were interned. It is even sadder to say that not everyone believes that cemeteries are a place where we can pay our respects to the dead and thank them for the contribution their life made, no matter how small or big that contribution was.
Frightening isn’t it?
Even more frightening is the contemplation that cemeteries
are being defiled. I do not mean by vandals, or youngsters with no respect or
understanding of respect, but by community officials.
It is happening, the world over and ultimately driven by
money. What society puts money and profit before respect? That for me is one of
my personal values.
Last week, I became aware of the plight of a series of
cemeteries in Australia ,
that are facing decimation, not by vandals, but as I have described by an
attempt to save money. These are the graves of, not just the pioneers of Australia , but of the people that shaped Australia into
being the nation it is today. As it
stands, Australia
is only 225 years old in its colonised format.
A fellow genealogist, Catherine who writes at Seeking Susan ~ Meeting Marie had already
experienced a similar issue in South Australia and was delighted when the South
Australia Burial and Cremation Bill had passed it’s second reading in the House
of Assembly and was due a further debate in early March, ironically on the day
I am writing this article. In reality as I type this in England on Tuesday morning the debate as already
been heard in Australia .
So at this point all was looking pretty good, the people who
sit at the heart of the Australian Government were listening. Then it became
apparent that whilst in South Australia they
were listening they were not in other parts of Australia .
On the blog That Moment in Time,
written by Chris was a posting just last week of the shameless desecration of
the Karraketta Cemetery
in Western Australia .
You can read that heartbreaking post HERE.
So what can we do?
There is a petition lobbying the Labour Party of Western
Australia to bring an end to the clearing of the cemeteries in this region. You
can sign the petition HERE.
This petition can be signed by anyone,
anywhere in the world, whether or not you have ancestors in this region. Indeed
I have signed it from my home in England . As far as I know I have no
family members buried in this particular cemetery.
Remember, this may not be in your particular backyard, or at
least not this time.
There is a very active Face Book page called Saving
Graves - WA which exists to support the petition. It has photographs,
current news and press cuttings. Indeed,
the group is very passionate and quite rightly so. Craig Hyde, Media Advisor
for Saving Graves WA has written very passionately about the situation and I
urge you to read his post HERE
There is also a link to a file detailing all the graves
recorded with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that are to be removed.
Haven’t those already named on those headstones already paid the ultimate
price?
Press Release of Saving Graves
WA
Furthermore, it became apparent through the reading that I
undertook for this article that “some
graves were to be preserved for significant historical or architectural
reasons”[2] Disgraceful,
that even in death we are not equal.
The genealogy community is a big one and through the
advancement of social media we, as a body of genealogists and family historians
have a much stronger voice. One that needs to be heard, and indeed should be
heard.
Whilst this may seem someone else’s problem it is not. The
very moment a community displays this level of disrespect and it remains
unchallenged then we as a group of genealogists, historians and family members
are sending the signal that it is perfectly OK to show this level of disrespect
to the generations that went before us. We must therefore stand together,
united as previous generations did at battle and demand that our ancestor’s final
resting place remains undisturbed
So, please get involved, support our fellow citizens.
I shall close with a poem, written by Chris of That Moment in Time,
as this simply says it all.
GRANDMA'S FOUNDATION
I went to visit Grandma
Her stone it wasn’t there
I thought I made an error
But I did look everywhere
It was then I noticed rubble
Right against the fence
And a dumpster full of rubbish
It really was quite dense.
Then I saw my Grandma’s name
As if she was calling me
“Please help me darling granddaughter
Will you please help me be free
For crushing is the next step
Road base they say they need
I suspect that that is just a cover up
It all comes down to greed.
The land here’s rather valuable
I heard the workmen say
My lovely stone you saved for
Will be destroyed today.”
Her stone it wasn’t there
I thought I made an error
But I did look everywhere
It was then I noticed rubble
Right against the fence
And a dumpster full of rubbish
It really was quite dense.
Then I saw my Grandma’s name
As if she was calling me
“Please help me darling granddaughter
Will you please help me be free
For crushing is the next step
Road base they say they need
I suspect that that is just a cover up
It all comes down to greed.
The land here’s rather valuable
I heard the workmen say
My lovely stone you saved for
Will be destroyed today.”
© Crissouli - 2013
Saving Graves Western Australia can be
supported by
Tuesday 5 March 2013
Saving Graves WA (Western Australia)
Part of the post that was initially here has been removed for legal reasons. - Grave Encounters
To contact Saving Graves WA, please email at Sandra Playle fedelmar@hotmail.com if you have further questions or require further.
Last of all I would like to share a poem that has been provided by a former member of the Saving Graves WA team. The author unknown but poignant all the same;
Your tombstone stands among the rest, Neglected and alone. The name and the date are chiselled out, On polished, marbled stone.
It reaches out to all who cares, It is too late to mourn. You did not know that I exist, You died and I was born.
Yet each of us are cells of you, In flesh, in blood, in bone. Our blood contracts and beats a pulseEntirely not our own.
Dear Ancestor, the place you filled, One hundred years ago, Spreads out among, the ones you left. Who would have loved you so?
I wonder if you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew That someday I would find this spot, And come to visit you.
Saving Graves Western Australia can be supported by
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