I have been very involved with the annual prize-giving for the Garden of the Year Competition run by Durban and Coast Horticultural Society, and today delivered my speech in my capacity as President and handed out the cups.
As in previous years, though, I would like to post my mother’s Delville Wood March again, so often played in the past by military bands in Durban at Remembrance Day parades.
I normally take the pictures, but by the time I got to it this time most had gone home already. Hopefully I can get some of the press ones from the secretary and others in due course
Colonialist's Blog 
Armistice Day. the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month, signifies the end of The Great War; and must always be remembered as such.
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People have a habit of watering things down, or of wanting to add other bits. Or even to change them. A political viewpoint could easily arise that events like that shouldn’t be commemorated at all.
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A splendid march
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I do believe so, and truly reflective of that heroic action and feat of endurance.
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Loved this track. Your mother composed this?
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Thank you. She did indeed, shortly after the event and aged sixteen.
A remarkable lady: she sang at numerous concerts (one in London before Queen Alexandra) and on the radio, and was a teacher of singing and piano. She was a WAAF in WW 2 — convenient, as my dad was an air force pilot — and fiercely patriotic. I owe my composing to her influence, although she mainly wrote songs whereas I go for instrumental works.
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Oh wow. I am so impressed. You must be so very very proud of her and of course of your dad. I simply enjoyed listening to the music. Thank you so much for this interesting information.
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Pardon my ignorance: Remembrance Day is… November 11th? The end of WWI?
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This should explain why November 11th…
This date in many allied nations is known as Remembrance Day and Veterans Day. It marks the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France. Today, however, we remember and include those who died in battle in subsequent world conflicts.
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Thanks for that clarification, Sue. I should also mention that although it took place a couple of years after the Battle of Delville Wood, the occasion has been used by regiments like Durban Light Infantry (now disbanded) to commemorate that as well.
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So sorry, I was actually answering the query of your other reader, the one who was asking about Rememberance Day. But actually I know nothing about Delville Wood but will now look it up. Thank you.
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I was thanking you for having done so, and then adding some more snippets. The order of comments and responses to comments is often confusing.
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Thank you and appreciated 🙂
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In France it is only for WWI. WWII, the end of is celebrated on May 8th. 🙂
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Interesting. Our lot is obviously too mean to split the dates.
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Haha. Or the French have become so lazy, they take any opportunity to set another holiday. 😉
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🙂
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Sue has it exactly. The Armistice was signed on 11th November, 1918.
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Agreed. It’s just that in France we only celebrate the end of WWI on that day. WWII is on May 8th. Subtle variations on the same concept.
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To all by you, may they enjoy a fond Remembrance Day!
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Thanks — in this part of the world, to all those who are not engaged in an ongoing tirade against colonialism, this date has been an occasion for poppies and honouring all those who made the supreme sacrifice in the World Wars.
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