Between the crosses, row on row

This week, it's my turn to quote a poem.

Wreathes and crosses at Birmingham's Hall of Memory - 4th November 2015

The lines:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

 Between the crosses, row on row ...

... are from Major John McCrae's famous poem In Flanders Fields.  The Royal British Legion's video explains the remembrance poppy's surprisingly international history.

In 1906, when Edith wrote her famous diary as a model for her pupils to follow, she would have no idea that just a few years later her pupils' brothers would be fighting in World War I.

On the day I travelled up from Sussex to the Birmingham office and later to New Street, I bought things from several poppy sellers:

• Uckfield - A veteran who stands outside our own little station from before 6 in the morning, whatever the weather, to catch the morning commuters.
• Victoria - One of those splendid middle-aged middle-class ladies who form the backbone of so many voluntary efforts.
• Euston - Two young people excited to be part of something bigger. The girl was so crestfallen when I bought a poppy from the lad, I had to get one from her too.
• Birmingham International - Young cadets, carefully selecting something different for my growing collection.
• Birmingham New Street - A group of Muslim lads, one of whom was following in his Dad's footsteps as a poppy seller.

 So many different sorts of people all brought together by one wonderful cause.



Birmingham Memorial Hall with the library behind.

Walking from New Street Station to the hotel, it is impossible to not to be impressed by the Hall of Memory in Centenary Square. It was opened in 1925 to commemorate the twelve thousand Birmingham citizens who died in the First World War.  The Birmingham Hall of Memory website tells us that there are three books commemorating those who gave their lives in:

• the First World War,
• the Second World War
• active service since 1945

Birmingham Hall of Memory - 2 of the figures representing the services.

The photo above shows two of the four figures that represent the services as described on the Imperial War Museums' web page about the Birmingham Hall of Memory.



Poppy and Birmingham's oldest tree.

There were also poppies fastened to the railings around Centenary Square.  According to the Birmingham mail, the tree is 140 years old and, sadly, may be removed to accommodate Midland Metro tram works. The article shows how the area would have looked in Edith's time. It shows small shops, which have long since been swept away by big hotels and other buildings.  It also shows slender trees, of which, only the Centenary Square plane survives.