03 April 2003 War Graves Now this is just plain nasty. When Hitler invaded France during the Second World War even he didn't disturb the graves of soldiers from the Great War. There's something particularly repugnant about French people desecrating the war graves of young soldiers who died while they were defending France. I was thinking of quoting Rupert Brooke's poem 'The Solider', but a few lines from the Irish poet Francis Ledwidge seem more appropriate. An Irish Nationalist, Ledwige still volunteered for the British Army because he felt the cause of the First World War was just. He wrote these lines after he and his comrades buried the body of a German officer. A SOLDIER'S GRAVE Then in the lull of midnight, gentle arms Lifted him slowly down the slopes of death, Lest he should hear again the mad alarms Of battle, dying moans, and painful breath.
And where the earth was soft for flowers we made, A grave for him that he might better rest. So, Spring shall come and leave it sweet arrayed, And there the lark shall turn her dewy nest. Ledwidge was killed at the third battle of Ypres, 31st July 1917, age 29. He is buried in France.
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