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As the temperatures drop, the brocante season winds down and makes way for low key relaxed country fairs, put together for a weekend in a château or a little store lost in the middle of Normandy.
A weekend that brought me country style furniture …
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the colours of the fall ….
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…and these amazing hand written registers of young soldiers, from Normandy, signing up for the first world war. It is very touching to see how young, small and light weight they were. Each soldier was measured, closely observed and facial features described. Each was rated according to the level of education; starting with can he read or write, and finishing with whether he has studied beyond school. Quite a few couldn’t sign their own name.
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Among the skills the army was looking for were the ability to play a musical instrument, ride a bike, ride a horse, care for a horse, care for pigeons, drive a car, shoot straight and swim. Many replied ‘non’ to each.
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On a weekend where we’ll be remembering the armistice signed at the end of the first world war, this is a timely reminder of how many young men left their homes with very little knowledge and experience and lost their lives for their country in muddy trenches in Northern France.
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Fascinating documents and a fascinating roadside photo
Those poor boys, so sad. The war to end all wars – as it turned out, not so much.
I don't wish to be unpleasant but there is no celebration involved – it's a commemoration or a ceremony or a memorial. The armistice signed on November 11 that is remembered is from the First World War. This is, however, a fascinating document and thank you for bringing it to our attention.
Dear Sharon, what an exciting find! Document like these are such an important piece of history.
This time of year I also like a drive out into the countryside to those out of the way antique shops, and fairs!
xoxo
Karena
Feature: "House Proud"
Love the forests, love the color of the farn, looks like the little streets around the corners here….
Lovely images.
xk
I'm always amazed when I see the handwriting of people of that time. It's quite beautiful.
Very touching. Thank you for this brief glimpse into the lives of so many young, Brave, Men. From my side of the pond, these young Men, and ours, fought for Freedom.
Thank you Nancy, you are quite right. It is too easy to slip into platitudes .. I stand corrected.
What a poignant post for Remembrance Sunday (as we have here in England today).
Such a loss for all sides in WWI, all boys and young men, full of life and the promises of it yet to come. Why do we still fight wars with our young? A wonderful film, JOYEUX NOEL, tells the story of WWI from opposing sides, in the trenches, and their coming together on Christmas Eve to celebrate. It is a true story and so beautifully filmed and the music…is so hauntingly beautiful. WWI was, I think, the most terrible war, for the suffering.
The documents are very interesting, thank you for sharing them.
There will be Remembrance Day services throughout Canada tomorrow {where I live}. It's important to take the time to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom and I'm glad that we have generous programs to mark the day.
What a touching post x
Remembrance Day was commemorated in our church this morning and there will be services at the cenotaphs tomorrow. We do well to remember those who died. War is such an awful thing. Those documents you have are mute testimony of lost youth. Treasures, really.
The 11th November is one of those "sacred anniversaries of the heart" (Sarah Ban Breathnach). Another day on which we should say thank you to those (in all wars) who have given their lives for our freedom. Thank you for your poignant post. Trisha
C'est très émouvant de lire ces papiers de 1915;
Merci beaucoup.
J'aime aussi beaucoup le salon et le bureau.
Amitiés, mariecapucine from France
.What an important post! – making this personal connection is what makes history come to life. Another group to remember is the animals that went to war. I found this post from Canada, via New Zealand( we were all in this together): https://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/11/07/call-honour-war-sacrifices-animals-canadas-remembrance-day/#axzz2kDqmk0py
UN TRES BEL HOMMAGE…
Gros bisous.
today is Remembrance day in Australia, we lost our Uncle in world war two. He was a gunner on special mission When shot down over France 10/12/1943 he was a little older than a lot of younger boys lost,he was 31 married with baby son! my uncles name was Brook. One day hope to visit him in France.very touching page today those written regster bet gave you goose bumps! XxXxXxxxxxxxxx
What a touching Remembrance Day post. I wonder how many of them returned? As a child I remember my grandmother telling me of her two young brothers, only 17 and 18 years old, who were lost in the Somme in the Great War. Just two ordinary country boys, little more than children, who along with so many others never made it back home.
It's Vet's day today and I love your beautiful and interesting post.
I hope we never have another war.
yvonne
Wonderful Remembrance, These Boys with Mothers and Fathers, I look at my boys and treasure every moment, My husband was in Afganistan when My youngest was Born. Thankfully he is home never to return to that place. It is Veterans Day here today, thanks for your post.
Hi Sharon Remembrance Day over on this side of the world is always very sad. Everyone stops at 11am for a minutes silence ( only a moment in time) but carries a lot of emotion for the whole country. Thank you for sharing. Regards Esther from Sydney.
Very touching…………
Your FALL colors are BEAUTIFUL.
Hi Sharon. Your post adds an important personal dimension to a solemn day. Thank you. I have a question I'd like to ask you, but I'm not able to access your contact details. Please could you get in touch with me at: laura@further.co.uk. Many thanks, Laura
The military register is a very moving document.
I've lately been reading a series of mysteries whose central character is a WWI veteran returned to his job at Scotland Yard and suffering from shell shock, which could never, ever be acknowledged. The books are well researched and give a lot of information on war conditions and the privations the British suffered after the war as well. Author is Charles Todd.
Returning to England for a final visit to my mother in 2001, I was in transit at Gatwick Airport on November 11th, and I was touched that the entire terminal came to a standstill for one minute at 11:11am. Usually it is a busy place with stressed people searching the boards or impatiently waiting in line, but even those who clearly had no clue what was going on,eventually came to a standstill for that brief moment.
What a touching post. I, too, posted on Veteran's Day in the US. I get sappy when it comes to those who have sacrificed for all of us. Visiting Normandy is on my and my husband's bucket list. I can imagine that a day of remembrance there must be truly awesome.