A visitor from British Columbia, Chris Hill ,takes a picture at Jimmy’s graveside, Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France, 2009. (P. Ferguson)

Soldiers Who Lie Here Row On Row

The award of a humble bronze cross, the Victoria Cross, to Piper James Cleland Richardson has meant much to many people, many communities and many organizations. Jimmy’s story has been told and retold in articles, books and magazines… in exhibits and films and this will not end with the passing of the the 100th anniversary of his actions at Regina Trench, 8/9 October, 1916 – 2016.

Adanac Military Cemetery, 2009. (P. Ferguson)

Nor will visitors stop returning to his graveside to pay their respects in the middle of a farmer’s field that is Adanac. The carefully tended garden of souls, Adanac Military Cemetery, is one of many landscapes that comprise the silent cities of France and Flanders. Outside Adanac’s borders the crops grow amidst the soil littered with twisted, rusted fragments and lead spheres that once flew but now, lie like their neighbours behind the walls – still. Within these fields and all around Adanac, are the souls of men pounded into the earth and who have no known grave. Perhaps buried as a Great War soldier known unto God, perhaps not, and commemorated on one of the many memorials that rise from the surface, man-made mountains of names…walk around…look across the fields…Thiepval is not too far away.

Adanac Military Cemetery sign, Imperial War Graves Commission. (P. Ferguson, 2009)

Remind yourself, however,  that we must remember more than the V.C., we must remember Jimmy without the award, for the award does not make the man. Beside Jimmy and all around are the rows of markers with names not so well known, but perhaps known to some. Though many will travel to visit Jimmy, only a few may visit a soldier nearby and for some no one will come.

The soldiers buried beside Jimmy. Left to Right: A Soldier of the Great War Known unto God. Piper J.C. Richardson V.C., 151121 Private T.E. McLaren, 16th Battalion C.E.F. (P. Ferguson, 2009)

If you are fortunate to visit Adanac or any one of a number of burials or memorials, look, read, and note some name to reflect upon. Think not upon the medal but the man, for many would rather have the person at home than a bronze cross with no one to wear it. In less than a month many will see Jimmy, some for the first time, others will have been time and time again. If there are many in line, there are other souls nearby…and Jimmy would want you to visit his friends and fellow soldiers who lie here row on row.

A Victoria Cross upon the table…as a relative, friend or lover weeps. We will remember them.

 Did You Know?

The principles of the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (1960 to date), formerly the Imperial War Graves Commission (1917 – 1960) are specific:

• Each of the dead should be commemorated by name on the headstone or memorial
• Headstones and memorials should be permanent
• Headstones should be uniform
• There should be no distinction made on account of military or civil rank, race or creed

Tags: 16th Battalion CEF, 8 October 1916, 8/9 October 1916, 9 October 1916, Adanac Military Cemetery, Cemeteries, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, I.W.G.C. / C.W.G.C. Principles, Imperial War Graves Commission, J.C. Richardson, James Cleland Richardson, Jimmy Richardson, Known unto God, Piper, Pipes of war, Regina Trench, Remembrance, Silent Cities, T.E. McLaren, Thiepval, Victoria Cross, Visitors to Adanac, War Graves, War Memorials

This entry was posted by pferguson on Saturday, September 10th, 2016 at 12:02 am and is filed under Pipers of War. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.