Bristol U.K. 14th November 2021

 'Twas a Sunday morning.  I wandered out from my Harbourside Hotel to the City Centre.

The Grand Parade had begun.  Civic leaders, the Anglican Bishop, the Roman Catholic Bishop, detachments from the Armed Forces, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Mounted Police, Wounded Warriors all headed to the Bristol Cenotaph for Remembrance Sunday observations.

Armistice Day (11th November) is observed in the U.K.  with two minutes of silence, but the major observations are on the following Sunday. This began during World War 11 when men and woman could not be taken from their vital tasks on a work day.

The idea of Sunday ceremonies is smart. Ordinary people  (the workers) and school children can be present on this semi day of rest.

I was about 1/3 mile from the Cenotaph itself.  I could hear the music which is always played at the events: "Nimrod" by Sir Edward Elgar  (see below).

The Bristol Cenotaph


Precisely at 11:00 an Army Detachment fired a Howitzer.


                                                                         Stock Photo'

A large crowd  ( two to three thousand ? ) fell into deep silence.

I thought of an Uncle I never knew ( my mother's brother who perished in Normandy), and an Uncle by Marriage, a Merchant Seaman whose ship was torpedoed en route to the U.K. from Newfoundland.

I also thought about those who have died in political warfare: The military members and civilians who were killed  in the many conflicts which were not essential for national defence,  but were for the pride of politicians.

At 11:02 my reverie ended as the Howitzer was fired again.

I was and am glad for the happenstance which saw me in my birth City last year.


Bristol Parade 2021. Photo' from a Bristol newspaper


NIMROD   Hauntingly beautiful

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