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Nov. 11th, 2008 05:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
felis_ultharusA poem for Remembrance Day:
Private George Lawrence Price was the last Canadian to die in that war -- the second-to-last soldier of any nationality, two minutes before the ceasefire took effect. He was hunting a German sniper who was moving from house to house. The sniper got him first. So that's a bit of Canadian lore for the day.
Meanwhile, I tried to find out last month if any of the soldiers dishonourably discharged for homosexuality in World War II -- and there were many, according to Paul Jackson's book on the subject -- are still alive. I've been thinking about making this a political issue by bringing it to the NDP convention. These men had their benefits taken away, and had the fact that they were discharged "with ignominy" added to their discharge papers, which any potential employer could ask to see.
I tried to contact Jackson about the subject, but he seems to have no contact info anywhere in cyberspace. Strange for a published author. But just now, I found it -- turns out he's at Concrodia now instead of McGill. I've just sent him an e-mail.
ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTHBy gay British poet Wilfred Owen, who was killed while crossing the Sambre-Oise Canal a week almost to the hour before World War I ended. It's my favourite poem about World War I. As a Canadianist, I should probably like "Flander's Fields" more, but I suspect this better captures what was going on in Europe.
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, –
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
Private George Lawrence Price was the last Canadian to die in that war -- the second-to-last soldier of any nationality, two minutes before the ceasefire took effect. He was hunting a German sniper who was moving from house to house. The sniper got him first. So that's a bit of Canadian lore for the day.
Meanwhile, I tried to find out last month if any of the soldiers dishonourably discharged for homosexuality in World War II -- and there were many, according to Paul Jackson's book on the subject -- are still alive. I've been thinking about making this a political issue by bringing it to the NDP convention. These men had their benefits taken away, and had the fact that they were discharged "with ignominy" added to their discharge papers, which any potential employer could ask to see.
I tried to contact Jackson about the subject, but he seems to have no contact info anywhere in cyberspace. Strange for a published author. But just now, I found it -- turns out he's at Concrodia now instead of McGill. I've just sent him an e-mail.