EPHEMERAL NATURE OF LIFE

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  AT LONDON BRIDGE TUBE STATION

  
  
  On Monday my daughter Chaitali who is a Senior Manager with the Greater London Authority told me that she was volunteering to sell poppies at the London Bridge tube station for one hour to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. I went to meet her there and buy a Poppy. She  was holding a sealed bucket for the collection which the volunteers are not allowed to shake, nor ask anyone to donate, and the other volunteer held a tray full of Poppies and wrist bands. A volunteer just stands and those who wish to, come and donate money and take either a Poppy for their lapel or a band for their wrist. Almost everyone in public places wears the Poppy flower. It speaks volumes for the involvement of the general public in remembering their soldiers. I became curious and wanted to know more about this event.
  
  
  
  

  

  FLANDERS FIELD GRAVES

  I went back in History, exactly one hundred years back in time.  What I had learnt in College about the First World War was then just a History lesson, but what I read now became a story of power, people, tragedy, sorrow and loss of lives. 
  2014 is the  centenary of the beginning of the First World War. The War began on the 28th of July 1914 and ended on the 11th of November 1918. All the great economic powers of the World got involved in this War.  There were two major groupings, the Allies to begin with were UK, France and the Russian Empire, and on the other side were the Central powers of Germany and Austria- Hungary. As more nations entered the War the Allies were joined by Italy, Japan and the USA. The Central Powers were joined by the Ottoman empire and Bulgaria.The immediate trigger for war was the 28th June 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria- Hungary by a Yugoslavian, Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. 
  
  

  

  INFANTRY

  At the time of the War, India was a part of the British Empire and  the British expected that the Indians would take this opportunity to revolt, but on the contrary the Indians supported the British and offered loyalty and goodwill to their rulers. The Indian National Congress and other political groups seeking India's freedom, supported the British War effort as they expected that their cause for "Home Rule" would be granted by the British as a reward for their loyalty. Surprisingly the Indian Army outnumbered the British Army at the beginning of the war. Indian solders were sent to Europe, and the Middle East. My own maternal grandfather, G. T. Meshram had gone to Mesopotamia and Asia Minor in the Middle East in 1914. We still possess a photograph of his in full uniform.
  
  

  

  FLANDERS 1914

  More than 70 million military personnel including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised and more than 9 million combatants and 7 million civilians died as a result of this  war. About 1.3 million Indian soldiers and labourers served in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The Central government of India and the Princely States sent large supplies of food, money, and ammunition. Casualties of Indian soldiers totalled 47,746 killed and 65,126 wounded during World War I.The suffering as well as the failure of the British government to grant self-government to India after the end of the War, disillusioned the Indian leaders and the movement for Independence took a stronger turn.

  

  ARMISTICE DAY AT TRAFALGAR SQUARE

  
  
  On 11th November 1918,  Germany signed an Armistice with the Allies and the War ended at 1100 hours on the 11th day of November 1918. The Versailles Treaty was signed in 1919, which was when many of the troops serving abroad finally returned to their home countries. The Paris Peace Conference in 1919 was the meeting of the Allied Victors, involving Diplomats from more than 32 countries, to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistice of 1918. The major decisions led to the creation of the League of Nations  on 28.06.1919 and five peace treaties with defeated enemies, including the Treaty of Versailles with Germany, the awarding of German and Ottoman overseas possessions as mandates  to Britain and France, reparations imposed on Germany, and the drawing of new national boundaries  were signed. 
  The Big Four powers in this War were the The President of USA Woodrow Wilson, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of France, Georges Clemenceau, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando. They met together informally 145 times and made all the major decisions, which in turn were ratified by the others.
  The battle front line ran from the Belgium Coast across West and East Flanders into the North of France. This battle front was called "The Western Front". On 3 May 1915, during the Second battle of Ypres, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was killed on the Western Front. At his graveside, his friend John McCrae  M.D., of  Ontario, Canada, wrote a memorable poem "In Flanders Field" as a salute to those who perished in the Great War. This poem was published in Punch on 8 December 1915, and is  recited  on Remembrance Day every year. 
  In recent years Armistice Day has become increasingly recognised, and many people now attend the 11am ceremony at the Cenotaph in London - an event organised by The Western Front Association, a British charity dedicated to perpetuating the memory of those who served in the First World War. Armistice day  is commemorated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiegne France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After the  First World War ended, The Royal British Legion created the "Poppy Appeal" to help those returning from the First World War, but now it covers all the people who have served in any War.  The Poppy is considered a powerful symbol and  is worn to commemorate the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and to show support to those still serving today and their loved ones.  They say when you donate to the "Poppy Appeal" you help:
  (1) bereaved families to Live On
  (2) wounded Service men and women to Live On
  (3) younger veterans seeking employment and housing to Live On
  (4) older veterans needing age-related care to Live On

  

  POPPIES AT TOWER OF LONDON

  
  
   It is now a tradition to wear a Poppy flower on your lapel in November to honor and remember the people who died in the Wars.  Every presenter on TV sports the flower. Every where that I have travelled in London, I have seen people selling the Poppy and donating for this Charity. Almost everyone in public places and public life wears the Poppy flower. It speaks volumes for the involvement of the general public in remembering their soldiers. 

  

  CERAMIC POPPIES

  This year being the Centenary year of World War One,    888,246 Poppy flowers made of ceramic have been planted around the Tower of London to represent every British soldier who lost his life in the First World War. This display has been called "Blood Swept Land and Seas of Red". The memorial is very beautiful, stunning, touching and moving and speaks of the transient nature of life and the frailty of lives lost in the War.  Although the place is thronging with visitors wanting to see the beautiful sight,  the Poppies will be removed on the 12th day of November 2014 and each flower will be sold to those who wish to keep them, at a price of 25 Pounds each, which will raise 11.2 million pounds for six service charities.

  

  EVERY ONE SPORTS A POPPY

  Every year the Remembrance Day Ceremony is held at The City Hall London and every time that I have attended the ceremony I have been very impressed with the solemnity of the ceremony. There is a small service by the Religious Leaders of all major faiths, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem, Jew, after which the Mayor reads out the poem "In Flanders Field", then   psalms are sung and then the Last Post is sounded. This ceremony is very touching, dignified, and graceful. Present in the City Hall are veterans of various Wars who are quite old. I also saw a group of soldiers who had returned from Afghanistan. When I say Soldiers, I speak of all ranks belonging to the Forces.
  The way the whole nation displays their appreciation for the Armed Forces, remembering the fallen soldiers, taking care of their families and also taking care of those soldiers who need help, is really very commendable. The respect, reverence and gratitude which one can see is worth emulating.
  
  
  I quote below "In Flanders Field"
  
  
  In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
  
Between the crosses, row on row,

  That mark our place; and in the sky,
  
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

  Scarce heard amid 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 ye break faith with us who die

  We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

  In Flanders fields.