Meeting 13 April – War Memorials Photo Project

On Tuesday evening we were entertained by Caz Rowland and our treasurer, Norman Crabb, who showed us their work on documenting the WW1 war memorials in the Blackmore Vale.

Caz is a local historian and she has been undertaking this research in preparation for a book she is writing. Norman has been taking the photographs to illustrate the book.

Caz’s aim is to document the whereabouts of all the war memorials in all the towns and villages of the Blackmore Vale and to record the names of the men and women inscribed upon them. Wherever possible she has been researching the background and military history of the names on the memorials and to set them in the context of their home communities.

Much of Caz’s work is primary research as no-one has attempted this before. In the course of her work she has consulted many original sources  including Census information, Parish Registers, Electoral Rolls, Newspapers, Diaries, Parish Council Minutes and Church magazines as well as local people.

Norman has been taking the photographs, not only of the war memorials, but also of the landscapes around them.

He showed us an evocative presentation of the memorials where his photography often conveyed the pathos of the sacrifice and tragedy of the first world war.

In the discussion following the presentation the members all agreed that Caz and Norman were undertaking a vital task to preserve the memories of the men and women of the Blackmore Vale whose lives were lost in the conflict.

Caz’s book, with Norman’s photography, will be a fitting tribute to the fallen.

Compton Abbas Poppies by Norman Crabb