Young people to be proud of...

Remembrance Day is always special and it is something I have always been passionate about.

Both my grandfathers were in the Second World War, (my maternal grandfather was very affected by being the only survivor from his boat to Normandy and my paternal grandfather was one of the liberation team at Bergen Belsen).

Going back a bit further, my parent's house is named 'Ashton' after my great aunt's brother who was killed at Mons (IIRC), we had a cousin imprisoned in the first world war who died in Cologne and my Mum has just given me the medals of my Great Uncle Nathan to look after.

Indeed my father was born in Braintree during WW2 as the family had been evacuated out of London.

So, for all these reasons and more recognising the signiicance of this small act of remembrance each year matters. So the Hampstead Cemetary service - co-ordinated by St Lukes - is a great, personal and relevant service for the local community.

Last year we arranged for puils from UCS to lay a wreath and this year we had four pupils from UCS and Hampstead Schools to lay wreaths. It was a very special and quite emotional service - a tribute to those pupils, those schools and very special for many of the older folks who were present to see the next generations playing their part.

Hampstead Cemetary is special because not only does it has the war memorial, but it also has the civillian memorial - (pictured right).

To see any of these pictures closer just double click and they should open up on your screen.

It all confirms my hopes for society and gives confidence in our young people.

11th, 11th, 11th

As the annual Armistice Day approaches I try and keep abreast with local services and tributes.

For me it's something that really matters - it's not just history and tradition but incredibly current.

This is the memorial at Jack Straw's Castle, Hampstead and it's a pic. I took two years ago I think (November 2006).

I have also posted a couple of other memorials that I'm aware of...

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/10/484143-dead-from-enemy-action-disease.html

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/10/can-i-ask-readers-for-some-help-with.html

Can I ask readers for some help with this one?

I've had a few pieces on here about war memorials and it has always struck me how so many of these are then not recognised on 11th 11th 11th each year.

But then I have been asking around for a list or register of memorials and it seems there actually isn't one.

So it's a very simple request - do you know of where there are other memorials?

This one is in New Court in Hampstead, NW3 - it lists the 50 men who went to war from New Court and notes the 10 who died in the cause.

Even in autmun it has a small solitary poppy in the grill nest to it which is very good and a sign of the respect that these memorials are held in.

So, any others locally?

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/10/484143-dead-from-enemy-action-disease.html

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/03/hampstead-old-town-hall-war-memorial.html

http://474towin.blogspot.com/2008/02/memories-from-second-world-war.html

484,143 dead from enemy action, disease or accident

Here at 10 Cambridge Avenue, just off the Kilburn High Road, we have the Animals War Memorial Dispensary of the RSPCA.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/

It's a great building and dates to the early 1930's. Formally opened in March 1931 it treated over 6,000 animals in its first year.

The dispensary is still incredibly busy today and consisted when opened of a surgery and waiting room, kennels and glass-fronted cattery. I don't think the animal holding facility is still operational today.

The front of the building has a large bronze plaque above the door as a memorial to animals killed in the first world war. It's an impressive piece of bronze sculpture by F Brook Hitch of Hertford.

It illustrates a depiction of a winged victory holding wreaths to the left and the right and then pairs of animals that saw action and gave service - horses, mules, oxen, dogs, elephants, camels and pigeons

Either side of the door there is also the marble tributes to those animals who fell with some pretty scary and impressive numbers:

484,143 animals killed by enemy action, disease or accident in the war and of 725,216 treated by the RSPCA during the war.