Author: davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer

Last Post

In memory of the 19 million who died and the countless millions more whose lives were changed forever by The Great War.

LAST POST

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If poetry could tell it backwards, true, begin
that moment shrapnel scythed you to the stinking mud …
but you get up, amazed, watch bled bad blood
run upwards from the slime into its wounds;
see lines and lines of British boys rewind
back to their trenches, kiss the photographs from home –
mothers, sweethearts, sisters, younger brothers
not entering the story now
to die and die and die.
Dulce – No – Decorum – No – Pro patria mori.
You walk away.
You walk away; drop your gun (fixed bayonet)
like all your mates do too –
Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward, Bert –
and light a cigarette.
There’s coffee in the square,
warm French bread
and all those thousands dead
are shaking dried mud from their hair
and queuing up for home. Freshly alive,
a lad plays Tipperary to the crowd, released
from History; the glistening, healthy horses fit for heroes, kings.
You lean against a wall,
your several million lives still possible
and crammed with love, work, children, talent, English beer, good food.
You see the poet tuck away his pocket-book and smile.
If poetry could truly tell it backwards,
then it would.

Carol Ann Duffy

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THEIR NAME LIVETH: Armistice Centenary event at Scottish Parliament this evening

Sunday 11 November 5pm – midnight

Join us outside the Scottish Parliament from 5pm this evening to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, with a spectacular projection on the facade of Holyrood.

This event is free to attend, no ticket necessary, and will also be streamed at scottishparliament.tv.

Their Name Liveth – an illumination project

See the illumination created by artist Ross Ashton honouring the 134,712 men and women listed in the Scottish National War Memorial Roll of Honour. The projection includes names of Scottish servicemen, munitions factory workers, Merchant Navy personnel, and overseas servicemen who fought on behalf of Scotland during the war, and will be accompanied by recorded and live music.

The projection set to Sir John Blackwood McEwen’s String Quartets Volume 1 by the Chilingrian Quartet, also features images and designs that tell the story of the global war which ended 100 years ago.

It promises to be a thought-provoking and emotional performance, a fitting way commemorate this significant milestone.

When will my family or friend’s name appear?

The projection begins at 5pm and finishes at midnight. Each name from the Roll of Honour will be shown on the Parliament building for around ten seconds. Names will appear in alphabetical order sorted by surname.

Alphabetical Start – Finish Alphabetical Start – Finish
Abb – Ayt 17:00    17:13 McInty – McW 21:09   21:28
Bab – Bly 17:13     17:30 Mea – Myr 21:28  21:52
Boa – Byt 17:30    17:47 Nab – Nye 21:52   21:58
Cab – Clari 17:47   18:03 Oag – Oxt 21:58  22:02
Clark – Cyr 18:03   18:22 Pac – Pyw 22:02  22:16
Dab – Dys 18:22   18:43 Qua – Qus 22:16  22:16
Ead – Ezz 18:43   18:48 Rab – Ryr 22:16  22:39
Fab – Fyv 18:48  19:05 Sab – Smi 22:39  23:00
Gab – Gyp 19:05   19:26 Smo – Syv 23:00  23:16
Hab – Hys 19:26   19:53 Taa – Tyt 23:16  23:30
I’an – Izz 19:53  19:55 Uda – Utt 23:30  23:31
Jac – Jut 19:55   20:03 Vac – Vre 23:31  23:32
Kad – Kyn 20:03  20:13 Wac – Wyv 23:32  23:57
La – Lyt 20:13  20:29 Yac – Yul 23:57  23:59
Mab – Maz 20:29  20:49 Zah – Zwi 23:59  00:00
McA – McInto 20:49  21:09
Partners

This project has been created in partnership with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Scottish National War Memorial and artist Ross Ashton of the Projection Studio.

Credits – images used in the projection were provided by the following collections:

National Library of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Antonia Reeve Photography – images of the Scottish National War Memorial, Imperial War Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, Scotland’s People – National Records of Scotland, CSG CIC, Glasgow Museums and Libraries Collection: Special Collections, Glasgow City Archives, University of Glasgow Archive, McLean Museum – Inverclyde Council, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, The Black Watch Museum, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Collection, The Gordon Highlanders Museum, The Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum

Additional images were sourced from Historic Environment Scotland’s SCRAN photolibrary, representing the following collections:

National Museums of Scotland, Courtesy of the Bruce/Leslie Collection, Dalmellington & District Conservation Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Museums Service, Archive Services – University of Dundee, East Lothian Museums Service, Falkirk Museums, John Robertson, Lothian Health Services Archive, Margaret Morrell, Montrose Air Station Museum Trust, Napier University, North Ronaldsay Heritage Trust, St Andrews University Library, The Scotsman Publications Ltd, Unicorn Preservation Society.

Benefit Cuts: Green MSP Condemns Tories For Targeting Women

UK Gov Cuts Target Women: Green MSP Condemns Tories In Holyrood Debate


The UK Government’s cuts to benefits target women and children, and must be reversed, according to Scottish Greens social security spokesperson Alison Johnstone MSP.

Speaking in this week’s Holyrood debate – Impact of UK Government Welfare Cuts and Universal Credit on Poverty – Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said: “Cuts to our social security system, including to Universal Credit, are taking money out of the pockets and wallets of some of our poorest households. As the Institute for Fiscal Studies notes, Universal Credit is quite deliberately creating millions of losers. Continue reading Benefit Cuts: Green MSP Condemns Tories For Targeting Women

Letters: Honour loved ones this Christmas with charity Ribbon Appeal

Dear Editor 

Meningitis Now has today launched its 2018 Ribbon Appeal, which gives everyone an opportunity to remember loved ones this Christmas – and we’d like to invite your readers to dedicate their own ribbon.  Continue reading Letters: Honour loved ones this Christmas with charity Ribbon Appeal