The peace walk is a very interesting walk up a gentle gradient, very colourful indeed in the autumn.
And it was full of memorials and tablets. Take a look at this one: Three people from Leicester died fighting the fascists in Spain way back in 1937 and 1938! Can you imagine this? Wow, I was just standing there thinking about these young men, who went and died in a far off country, only for ideals and fight against the scourge of fascism. And all that is left of these three bright idealistic young men of the International Brigades is this stone tablet. Fred Sykes and Jack Watson died in the Battle of Jarama while Roy Watts died in the Battle of Ebro. I felt a shiver run down my spine, I tell you!
Then was a stone tablet commemorating the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association who have died since the British Nuclear Tests at Monte Bello, Emufield, Maralinga, Malden Island and Christmas Island. The last line says, "All we want is Justice". This was curious and when I read more about it, it was horrifying:
- Of 2,500 men surveyed in 1999 30% of the men had died, mostly in their fifties.
- In their grandchildren spina bifida rates are more than 5 times the usual rate for live births in the UK.
- More than 200 skeletal abnormalities were reported.
- More than 100 veterans children reported reproductive difficulties.
Sad, very sad. Thanks to Monero for this link which is good overview of nuclear testing in Australia.
This is the view down the path.
Then there is a plaque to all the Ladies of World War 2 (1939-1945) and it says:
Salute to the women of the war and home and men
on the home front.
Our girls once they watches their men marching away
waved and waited.
Now they too march away, arms swinging chins up
March to war.
To grease and grime - with fair hands
To blitz and barrage with bright eyes
They drive the lorry, they load the bombs,
On char?? and plan they send them forth
They caring? them none?
Through Sleepless nights and weary days
They toil and fight and still they laugh
Our girls the fearless girls of freedom
Worked the Land
They made the bullets with fair hands
Will Corbett - RAF, Nurse
And another plaque just above it
This is how both looked
I looked up and saw this tiny plaque hidden in the shadows. Can you see the tiny white paper origami bird of peace on the tree?
And the plaque commemorates the 40th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
I found the juxtaposition rather ironic.
And here's the final plaque for the peace walk
Now for the next post for the rest of the pictures!
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