pgorcz
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
(As I have previously asked, please be indulgent towards my English as I am French)
I would like to give the last details and conclusion following the request I have done on behalf of the Souvenir Franais of Cambrai for the abandoned private grave of Lieutenant MacMillan.
First of all, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate those of the CWGC for the skill, careful attention and serious they provide in maintaining in a so great and nice condition the cemeteries and monuments dedicated to the brave men who have print for ever our earth with their blood.
To be a daily witness of their work and the extra tasks, to fight continuously day after day, summer like winter against not only the damage of the time but more specially these of the vandals.
Again, this Saturday night have seen 45 stones broken by some moronic boys in the military cemetery of Saint Aubert. What a pity....
For Lieutenant Mac Millan, I was thinking that the story should have a good end as I have said that the grave will be maintain by the Souvenir Franais. That has been done.
Due to some stupid and insulting comments started by a cardboard Lieutenant Colonel on the Great War Forum after my request, I feel obliged to justified my enquiries and also the work which has been done.
May I thank you very much those who stay neutral and those who have supported me. The justification which I do here is just for them.
Nobody has to be blame for the condition of the grave but it has been impossible for us (Souvenir Franais) to stay indifferent in contemplating the ravages of the time.
Who could accept for an hero to see a dirty stone, a weed bed, the two stone borders out of their position (one broken was shift more than 10 centimetres compare to the other).
I did not take a photograph as I did not expect to be attacked for wanting to restore the grave !
I have decided myself to try to get more information and this is the reason that made me use your excellent New Zealander forum. The request was done honestly without any other motive ( The French law protect the private property of the graves and nobody is allowed to transformed them or to take care of them without permission of the family. We have already get problems in not doing it !)
The request for the photo was for the front of the stone.
The citation was asked to be added in the visitors box of the military cemetery.
When that request was done the work was already started :
Ground cleared, Stone clean with high pressure water and also acid, stone borders replaced.
The badge of the Souvenir Franais was then added (this is the French tricolour cockade which is visible on the bottom border of the graves).
Then we have ordered specially some quartz (small very nice white stones)to cover the ground.
Unhappily a photograph done after that work was done was put on the Great War forum and of course everybody could notice that the situation was far from catastrophic.
It has been the result of a labour of love of 2 French men for half of a day. Things were not as good as we expect because the people who went to see the spot concluded that it need just an high pressure cleaning which has just been done by us ! It is true that there is a dark trace but that was done probably by a chemical reaction of the copper wreath. That wreath is absolutely not broken, just shows the work of the 85 winters.
Last week , as soon we have received it, quartz was put on the ground and 2 red rose trees for the colour, 2 lavender tree for the scent and their symbol of liberty and one fern to symbolise New Zealand were planted.
I am sure that nobody reasonable can complain on that modest work. I sincerely dont think that insults are justified. We have done that task without wishing thanks or anything else.
We have done it for love and also because we feel it was our duty.
That was done also for these great words, Their Name Liveth for Evermore .
This is my last comment and I have decided never again to make any other enquiry or comment on any forum regarding the WW1 and the Memory. That is really very dangerous and I dont feel it is a fit subject for gossip.
Philippe Gorczynski
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7/29/2003, 9:13 pm
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ghosken
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
Forum readers may like to revisit the Great War forum website, where Philippe's 'critics' have apologised for their remarks and eaten some humble pie. It is good to see that everyone is 'friends again', as it should be for those interested in 'keeping their memory alive'. I am not sure though whether Philippe has recovered from his wounds, as he has been missing from the forums since his notice of 'resignation'.
Graeme
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8/5/2003, 12:11 am
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Madras19
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
Graeme
Well I am not friends with them 'over there' until I get an answer to my question?
Geoff S
P.S. Just joking!
Last edited by Madras19, 8/5/2003, 12:25 am
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8/5/2003, 12:24 am
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Madras19
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
FYI - My question is posted under Units and Formations
Still Bakshish over there- bugger it I am going to bed!
GS
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8/5/2003, 12:42 am
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Graham McAdam
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
I'm just back from a week in Cambrai at Philippe Gorczynski's wonderful Hotel Beatus, wandering the area, including homage to HR Beechey (ex-Lincolnshire, where I live) at the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux. I'm sure you'd like to see how the MacMillan grave in Cambrai is looking, after all the discussion - beautifully restored. I now have to try to find out if any of his family is still to be found in Scotland - father came from Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness. There can't be too many of those!
Sorry, by the way for my compromised sense of the vertical - I blame the unnatural French heat.
Oh Dear - I now find I seem to be unable to post my photo - could somebody let me know if its possible, and how to do it.
Cheers
Graham
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8/8/2003, 6:45 am
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stevebecker
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
Philippe,
Merci,
Many thanks for your interest in the graves of brave man who traveled so far the help your Country in its hour of need.
I can only hope that the fine work you do goes on and wish you Bon chance in it.
S.B
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8/8/2003, 11:22 am
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Kate Blake
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
Grahams photos of Gravesite -
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8/10/2003, 12:54 pm
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ghosken
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Re: Abandonned Anzac officer MC war grave WW1
Top job, Philippe. Well done and a big thank you for your efforts.
Graeme
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8/10/2003, 10:34 pm
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