Tuesday 28 July 2009

Ave atque Vale

With the death of Harry Patch it seems that the last living link to the trenches has gone. Harry knew the world we are excavating and reconstructing through our work. To him the trenches were newly built, the tins weren't rusty and all those names on the memorials were real, living, young people.

How appropriate that the man whose passing marks this moment of shift should be one who did not want to fight but was conscripted and who held off killing for as long as possible.

Harry Patch, plumber, fireman, gentleman and soldier.

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