Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 16, 2011 1:44:38 GMT 12
I have just rewatched the film Saving Private Ryan, which I always find to be a moving and fantastic film. I got thinking about the multiple brothers killed in war and how it wiped out whole families often. I decided to search Papers Past for similar losses as Ryan's family suffered, and found this very sad article. Damn, it's heartbreaking.
Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1939, Page 9
FAMILY'S SACRIFICE
LOSSES IN GREAT WAR
EIGHT BROTHERS KILLED
(Special to the "Evening Post.") AUCKLAND,'This Day.
The cross of sacrifice was given even deeper significance at Auckland Cenotaph on Saturday when it provided an Armistice Day tribute by sister to the memory of her eight brothers who were killed or who died of wounds in the Great War.
Made of red and white carnations, the cross carried a card on which was written:—"ln hallowed memory of all who gave their lives for our Empire, including 41 relations, eight brothers, five in action, three of wounds, all from England, 1914-18."
There was no signature on the card, but just the word "Sister." Who it was who thus paid tribute to her own and the Empire's dead, none of those who conducted the ceremony are aware. Some did notice in the file o£ people who deposited wreaths a woman with a cross of flowers, but the significance of her offering was not appreciated until after she and the crowd had gone and the cards on the flowers were being read.
A thought to which expression was given at that moment was that there was something more than fine in a tribute which remembered the general loss the private but proud grief in such a heavy family sacrifice.
Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1939, Page 9
FAMILY'S SACRIFICE
LOSSES IN GREAT WAR
EIGHT BROTHERS KILLED
(Special to the "Evening Post.") AUCKLAND,'This Day.
The cross of sacrifice was given even deeper significance at Auckland Cenotaph on Saturday when it provided an Armistice Day tribute by sister to the memory of her eight brothers who were killed or who died of wounds in the Great War.
Made of red and white carnations, the cross carried a card on which was written:—"ln hallowed memory of all who gave their lives for our Empire, including 41 relations, eight brothers, five in action, three of wounds, all from England, 1914-18."
There was no signature on the card, but just the word "Sister." Who it was who thus paid tribute to her own and the Empire's dead, none of those who conducted the ceremony are aware. Some did notice in the file o£ people who deposited wreaths a woman with a cross of flowers, but the significance of her offering was not appreciated until after she and the crowd had gone and the cards on the flowers were being read.
A thought to which expression was given at that moment was that there was something more than fine in a tribute which remembered the general loss the private but proud grief in such a heavy family sacrifice.
