John Watson's Regiment

[thismaz]

John Watson was trained at St. Bartholomew's Hospital as a British Army doctor and served as a Captain in the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers.

- from the John Watson, Sherlock BBC, page at Baker Street Wiki.

The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was a real regiment (Wikipedia Link). I thought people might be interested to see one of the war memorials in Newcastle city centre, this one naming the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers. It was erected in 1907 to commemorate the dead of the South African War, now more commonly called The Boer War.



This picture was taken a week or so ago. It's a bit dark, but it was early and the sun hadn't really risen. The city recently built the new and very ugly Haymarket Metro Station, just behind the memorial.



The pillar is topped by the winged figure of victory, with a laurel garland in her right hand and a sword in her left. At the bottom is another female figure, representing Northumbria, who holds a palm branch in memory of her fallen sons in her out-stretched right hand and a standard in the other. (Description taken from here.) The inscription on the front of the pillar reads TO THOSE WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY and on the base, "STEADFAST IN LIFE VALIANT IN DEATH", which is obviously a quote but makes my modern brain, which objects to the idea of glorifying war, think, 'How can you be valiant if you're dead?'

And speaking of declarations that make me sad, on the back of the base it reads DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI.

I studied the First World War Poets for 'O' Level English, so for me it is impossible to separate this quote from Wilfred Owen's tale of poison gas. But in 1907 it was inscribed, I'm sure, with no sense of irony.

There are apparently 131 names on the four shields around the base. These are two of the shields. You might need to zoom in to read the headers.




In other news, we finally watched the last two episodes of Ripper Street, last night. Whoa! What an ending. Goodness, but the potential there for complexities in the future. *shakes head* So sad it's apparently not being continued.

On a more positive note, Musketeers seems like good, rollicking fun and is full of ridiculously pretty young men (including Lancelot with a pointy beard and moustache *g*)

Comments

[ex_peasant441]

"STEADFAST IN LIFE VALIANT IN DEATH", which is obviously a quote but makes my modern brain, which objects to the idea of glorifying war, think, 'How can you be valiant if you're dead?'

What is it a quote from? I googled and could only find references to the memorial itself.

Think of valiant as having the older definition of 'worthy' rather than the normal one of 'strong and courageous', and maybe it won't worry you so much. Alternatively take it as meaning 'at the time of their dying' not 'after they have died'. Although I think the writer probably meant the inscription to mean all of those things.


As you have perhaps heard there is apparently some hope of another station picking up Ripper Street. I do hope so, although if that is the end it was a good ending.


I enjoyed Musketeers as well. My main problem is I can't tell anyone apart - they all look identical in identical beards and with identical mud coloured clothes. (Except the king, he is fairly distinctive at least, and Peter Capaldi who has a beard and mud coloured clothes but I recognise him.)

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I don't know where it is a quote from. I say obviously because there are inverted commas carved around the phrase. I couldn't find it either. I suspect it was something that was said at the time and well known then.

Although I think the writer probably meant the inscription to mean all of those things.
I think you're right. But war memorials make me sad. If for no other reason than that, I am glad they are there.

It would be good if Ripper Street was picked up. I'm not holding my breath though *g*

I can't tell anyone apart
I have that problem with most American series - identical beautiful people, the young women all with long straight hair and the young men all short cut and square jawed *g*

[ex_peasant441]

But war memorials make me sad.

Then I guess they are doing their job.

One of the things that makes me proud about our country is how in recent years the sense of respect and appreciation for our troops has become almost universal.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

I think it is recognised that although members of the armed forces signed up to join, they are working in specific and bad situations not of their own choosing. That is still considered admirable.

[ex_peasant441]

I think it's simpler than that. The mindset you are describing is one that I think was only ever confined to a few intellectuals - people who would be conscientious objectors or anti-nuclear. It is good that they have found an answer to their own dilemma but I don't think it was ever much of a dilemma for the wider population.

For the bulk of the population I think the difference is firstly the war in Afghanistan, which has brought home the realities over a sustained period in a way that the short term conflicts of the previous few decades never did. And secondly the fact that with social breakdown the armed forces, instead of being seen as one of the roughest elements in society, are now seen as those with the greatest self-discipline and dedication. Qualities which are greatly admired in the current climate.

There is also the fact that they are one of the very few institutions left that people trust and respect.

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

Er, no. I think what I said is almost exactly the same as you said, with fewer words. *g*
Although I disagree with your assumption that we are suffering from social breakdown. We really aren't. (Although I also really don't want to get into a pointless discussion on that.)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I must have walked past that monument so many times - but never really looked at it.

Because I could have said exactly what you just did - I studied the First World War Poets for 'O' Level English, so for me it is impossible to separate this quote from Wilfred Owen's tale of poison gas. But in 1907 it was inscribed, I'm sure, with no sense of irony. And if I have ever noticed it, I'm sure I would have remembered, for that very reason.

So thank you for stopping to look!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

As I remember, it was sort of cut off from passing pedestrian traffic by the old Haymarket station The new station has a entrance just behind it, so if you exit that way the quote is right in front of you as you come out.

I think the WW1 poets were on the 'O' level curriculum every year, when we were teenagers. *g* I know quite a few other people who could say that too.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

That's an impressive memorial!

I didn't start Ripper Street, and now it's not going to be renewed I don't think I want to.

Musketeers was rather silly, but fun and it was nice to see some squeaky leather again but I did feel sorry for several of the less well dressed cast as it looked bloody cold!!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

There are three memorials in that area. This one, the big WW1 memorial and another that is dedicated to those who died between 1919 and 1968, when the regiment was merged out of independent existence.

I think Ripper Street would still be worth watching, because as dwyld says above, as an ending, it is not a bad one. There is talk of it being picked up elsewhere. We'll see.

Yes, Musketeers is very silly, but it looks like it could be fun.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

I thought of the exact same poem when you quoted that!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. Is it well known in the US?
Like I said in the post and to curiouswombat, the First World War Poets were a staple of secondary school English Literature, for years in the UK (and on the IoM, apparently *g*). That poem paints such a horribly vivid picture, and I think of it as the most famous WW1 poem, but it also seems very 'English/British' to me. (It also has personal/family resonance because my grandfather was gasses twice.)