Remembrance - art critic Jonathan Jones and classics scholar John Maxwell Edmonds - compare and contrast.

'When you go home, tell them of us and say

For their tomorrow, we gave our today' – is one ot four epitaphs penned by classics scholar John Maxwell Edmonds which appeared in an article for the Times newspaper in February 1918.

Writing for the Guardian, art critic Jonathan Jones recently expressed his views on the art installation of nearly 900,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London – his right, his job. How sad to have used the artwork for political comment, how churlish to have patronised four million visitors and how clever to miss the point. I am no art critic, but red poppies - ceramic, paper or natural are the symbol of remembrance. But poppies are apparently not brutal enough for Jonathan who would prefer to see barbed wire and bones, 'gory vile and terrible to see'. Perhaps he ought to have a go at that for next year – good luck with it – the components would most likely be woven around the word 'sorry' - on behalf of the rest of us poor nationalistic fools.

It seems from various 'vox pops' that people who have flocked to see the poppy installation have drawn their own interpretations of 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red', just as they should. If they happened to bring to mind the image of a young soldier, or a forebear's name, then it is likely there followed some emotion reflecting that the person had been killed in a bloody war. The sentiment that their death may have been futile in the scheme of things may also have occurred. Trite perhaps, but 'job done' as they say. 

Did those who lost their lives in war do so to allow patronising folks like Mr Jones to look down his snooty nose at the rest of us?

As you will be aware this website is a vehicle for remembrance. I hope that the stories of the various young people here, for the most part now long dead, do them justice and cause us to spare them a thought.

Lilian Noble,  passed away on 3rd July 2011.

Lilian Noble used to plant two poppies on the Field of Remembrance every year – one each for Jimmie Ives and Allan Clifford.

Five weeks after last hearing from Jimmie Lilian gave him a nudge:-

82 Saltram Crest,

Maida Hill W9

Tuesday 29/2/44

My dear Jimmie,

I think that it is

about time you wrote me

a letter so I thought I would

remind you about it.

I have heard from

Cecil in the sanatorium and

he is having all sorts of

complicated experiments

carried out. I’m glad they

have got to work on him

without too much delay.

The Rowing Club

dance arranged for this

Thursday was on the verge

of being cancelled owing to

the raids but Alma got

her way in end and its

taking place after all. We

wish you were on leave for it.

Allan is still in Scotland

and according to him is

getting all sorts of invitations

for hunting, shooting & fishing

parties. He’s getting as good

as Poulter at that sort

of thing.

Well Jimmie, that’s about

all until I hear from you

Yours as ever

Lil.

Jimmie had been dead for a month. Lilian would not know of her friend’s death until her letter was returned to her in mid-May.

When Lilian’s last letter to Jimmie was returned to sender ‘on Air Ministry Instructions, she contacted his parents. Although the crew of ND360 were still officially ‘missing’ John and Mabel Ives and Lilian already knew the worst. Lilian wrote on 28^th May 1944:-

82 Saltram Crest

Maida Hill, W9.

Dear Mr & Mrs Ives,

I was so sorry to

hear the sad news about

dear Jimmie.

Jimmie taught

me my job at London Region

before he joined the RAF.

he was always most kind

and helpful in those

days and later when he

went to America we wrote

a great deal to each

other and became firm

friends.

His leaves were

always bright spots for me.

There was so much he had

to say in that gay

lighthearted way of his.

Indeed he was popular

with everyone. He was a

great pal and his death

is a deep personal loss

to myself.

My sympathy is

with you. I am so proud

to have known him as

you must be to have

been his parents.

Yours sincerely

Lilian Noble.

The letter and envelope were retained amongst Jim’s effects. 

Jimmie Ives

Captain Allan Eustace Clifford was killed in action in Holland after the Arnhem landings in fighting around Oosterbuik on 13^th October 1944, he was 22 years old. Allan’s grave is in Overloon War Cemetery.  (sorry - no photograph of Allan Clifford available).