TALKS

We know the white Portland stone grave-markers of WW1 in the many cemeteries across the green fields of France and other lands that mark the various battlefields of that horrendous conflict, but how many of us realise they exist in the UK also. While millions fell in the field, hundreds of thousands more died afterwards as a result.  There are 300,000 graves in the UK alone marking lives that guttered until eventually snuffed out by the effects of wounds, gas and the mental scars. All are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Richard Cooper-Knight’s primary interest is photography.  Having moved to Somerset just before the first Covid induced lockdown, he started roving around the countryside once we were allowed out again, to get to know the area.  His interest was piqued by a solitary white Portland stone grave-marker against a dark wall in a churchyard. From the photographic angle, he proceeded to wondering about the man referred to and started genealogical research.  Visiting more churchyards, graveyards and cemeteries in our county, he found more and more such headstones and was drawn to research each one. He gave us an introduction to the people by selecting a handful and giving us such details of their lives as he has gathered from his research.

He started with the three in Wincanton. Privates Dove, Dixon and Graham.  Of these, only Private Dove was a local man.  Dixon and Graham originated from Hull and Dumfries, respectively.  Wondering why they lie so far from their homes, Mr Cooper Knight believes it is reasonable to think that the cost of repatriating them, from where they were working or receiving care at the time of their death, to their native locality, was beyond the purses of their relatives.

Others nearby, in Bratton Seymour, Bruton, and Kilmington, all gave rise to a tale clothing the bare bones of existence and death. Delving into the trove of records on-line, whether BMD certificates, census records or military records, yields information that gives a broad-brush stroke picture of the backgrounds of these people with details that round out otherwise bald facts.

And the white headstones, that stand in mute witness, are uniform; no difference was drawn between ranks, military or civil, race or creed. The only ones that are different are the very, very rare original wooden crosses. Apparently, families were offered the change to the stone marker, that became the standard after 1921, but some declined. There is one of those wooden crosses in Somerset.

Richard’s self-imposed task continues – to record and photograph every Great War service grave resting in Somerset.  The results so far have been collated in two volumes, with a third in preparation. As he does in his talk, he has drawn together information that writes the stories of these people who rendered their service and paid for it with their lives. A thought-provoking presentation.