In the midst of life.

This may sound a bit dramatic and yes it is taken in a cemetery but not for any specific occasion or event.

We had a few jobs to do in Keighley and suggested to Chris that we pop into Utley cemetery where my mother and her family have a plot. I don't go very often and one time some years ago I had a bit of an unnerving encounter so don't really want to go on my own.

As we drove in I saw a sign on the gate I hadn't seen before saying ' Commonwealth War Graves found here'.

I must haves passed some before and never noticed but today we soon spotted a couple with their distinctive white stones engraved with the regimental badge above the personal details. We knew how they looked as we have visited British war cemeteries in Normandy and Holland as well as US and German ones. These of course are all Second World War but we have also been to the Menin Gate nr Ypres, an awesome sight of names of soldiers from all over the commonwealth with no known grave from the First World War.

Most of these were from WW11 but there were a few from WW1. Which of course commemorates 100 years since it's onset this year.

Mainly young men of course and always very moving to see. Most had primulas planted at the base as with the one on the left and were from a wide range of regiments. The one you,can see in the bottom right has the insignias of the West Yorkshire regiment but there were a few from the Staffordshire regiment and one a Highland regiment as well as one from the RAF and the navy.

I looked it up when we got home and there are 58 listed at this cemetery. I wonder why. These graves, wherever they are are always well kept and looked after.

A lovely day again and after a slower start, quite warm. I liked these lovely blossom trees here too but I'm not sure what they are, but they were certainly at their best here against the blue sky.