Red and Purple

 The symbol of Remembrance today is known to be the Poppy.

The poppy was first used in United Kingdom as an Act of Remembrance during 1921, to commemorate the military personnel who died during the First World War.  However, the poppy was inspired by the First World War poem, “In Flanders Fields”, written by the Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, who was inspired to write the poem after presiding the funeral of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, killed during the Second Battle of Ypres.   Sadly, Helmer’s grave was lost during the war, and his name is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres.

The first line of “In Flanders Fields”, below, McCrae writes “In Flanders fields the poppies blow…….”

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.

 

“In Flanders Fields”, was first published 1919.  However, sadly, McCrae, did not live to see his poem published, having succumbed to Pneumonia, January 1918.

Also inspired from McCrae poem’s, was Moina Michael.  Michael was an American professor and humanitarian, who conceived the idea of using poppies as a symbol of remembrance, wrote the poem “We Shall Keep the Faith”

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet – to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.

 

It is through her efforts, that the poppy was adopted during 1921, by Earl Haig’s British Legion Appeal Fund later renamed to The Royal British Legion.

It is not only the red poppies that are being used, but there are also White Poppies.  They commemorate the remembrance for all victims of war, commitment to peace and a challenge to definition of conflict.

There are also the Purple Poppies.  They commemorated the remembrance for animals were served during warfare.

It is easy and right so to remember people who served and gave their lives to both world wars, however, lets spend a moment or two to remember those animals. During the course of the First World War, 16 million animals also served.  From horses, donkeys, mules and camels who were used by the cavalry and also carry food, water, ammunition and medical supplies to the men at the front.  Dogs and pigeons were used to carry messages.  Pigeons were also used to the Royal Navy to despatch messages attached to the bird’s leg. They were also used by the army during the heat of the battle.  Canaries were used to detect poisonous gas, and in the trenches cats and dogs were trained to hunt rats.

Let us look at some of the ‘well known’ horse, who served and saw action during different conflicts.

The American horse, Traveller. Was the favourite horse of General Robert E. Lee, the commanding officer of the Confederates Army during the American Civil War.  Traveller at the time of the war, was only 5 years old having been born 1857, and brought by Lee during Lee, for his speed, strength and courage during combat.  Traveller was shot during 1871 having developed tetanus, and there was no treatment.

The French horse, Marengo.  Was owned by the French emperor Napoleon and named after the Battle of Marengo.  Having been an Egyptian bred, Marengo was exported to France during 1799.  Sadly, after Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Marengo was captured by the British, and he lived the remainder of his days in England until his death in 1831.  His skeleton now is an exhibited in the National Army Museum, Chelsea.

The British horse, Copenhagen.  Born 1808 and bred by General Grosvenor, Copenhagen was named after the British victory at the Second Battle of Copenhagen.  1813, Lord Wellington acquired him and rode him at a number of military campaigns.  After the Battle of Waterloo, Copenhagen was spent the remainder of his life at the Duke’s stables and dying 1836.

During the Second World War, the Dickin Medal, was instituted during 1943.  The medal was the equivalent to the Victoria Cross, and was awarded to honour the animals who served during the course of war fare.

To date, the medal has been awarded 71 times, during 2014, an honorary award was made to all animals who served during the First World War.