David J. Rose

By djrose007

WW1 Soldiers Graves

It's that time of year again when through my letterbox comes two 'In Remembrance' crosses from the Western Front Association.
There are so many WW1 graves that they need volunteers to place these crosses on them as a sign of respect for their sacrifice and that they are not forgotten.
The two graves that I look after are at St Katherines Church, Matson, Gloucester. Each year I tidy up, strimming around them and placing the crosses.
On the one for Bombardier Herbert, the larger one with the cross, I usually pull up the brambles and other large weeds that have taken root. After doing this for a number of years I found just a few soft weeds so I used a weed-killer spray instead of pulling them up and risking leaving any roots. There is no regiment named on his grave but he died November 2018 in Bristol VAD Hospital.
On the other one, Trooper Lane (Royal Gloucester Hussars Yeomanry) the same artificial flowers have been in the pot at the top all these years. Last year the headstone was black (see extra) and I scrubbed it with bleach and it came up beautiful and white. I notice it is in need of cleaning again so I'll go back and do that before Armistice Day (11 November).
I'm sure no-one ever visits these graves but there must be family somewhere.

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