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]

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.)