And we will all go together

Pipers of the 51st Highland Division, 1945. In 1940 the 51st (HD) "was isolated, abandoned, and forced to surrender". (51st HD website).

Pipers of the 51st Highland Division, 1945. In 1940, the 51st (HD) “was isolated, abandoned, and forced to surrender”.  (51st HD website) Only one brigade escaped from St. Valery through Le Havre, France. The  reformed Division returned to St. Valery, in September, 1944.

Will Ye Go Lassie Go

Though perhaps this tune has wandered to my ears sometime in my past, it was only recently when the tune was featured in Their Finest that the melody, sung by actor Bill Nighy, has become anchored to my person. That anchor comes, not only in the form of the lyric and melody, but how it was presented to me – perhaps to us all – assembled in an aging theatre. The film’s tune was delivered in a wartime home, with friends and colleagues capturing the essence of the unknown, what is to become, what is to be…..when will they come home.

Home…what is it to us? Like the definition of family it can be many things. Home can be our relatives, friends, our workplace…..our group and so on. To a soldier it can be the regiment, the company, the platoon, the section. For the Scottish soldier it can be the Highlands, the Lowlands, the pipes and so too the hearth. And as the gentle refrain of Wild Mountain Thyme passes to your ears this day…think  to another day, when home and family was not so close, when all about you provided only questions and longing.

Wild Mountain Thyme
(Francis McPeake)
Oh, the summertime is comin’
And the trees are sweetly bloomin’
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the purple heather
Will you go? Lassie, will you go?
And we’ll all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather
Will you go? Lassie, will you go?
I will build my love a tower
By yon pure and crystal fountain
Yes and on it I will lay
All the flowers of the mountain
Will you go? Lassie, will ya go?
And we will all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather
Will you go? Lassie, will you go?
If my true love won’t come with me
Then I would surely find another
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather
Will you go? Lassie, will ya go?
And we will all go together
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather
Will you go?
Will you go?
Lassie will you go?

See the History of the 51st Highland Division


About The Author

pferguson
Paul has worked with the Paradigm Motion Picture Company since 2009 as producer, historian and research specialist. Paul first met Casey and Ian WIlliams of Paradigm in April 2007 at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium when ceremonies were being held for the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial, France. Paul's sensitivity to film was developed at an early age seeing his first films at RCAF Zweibrucken, Germany and Sardinia. Paul returned to Canada in 1967 and was captivated by David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Over time Paul became increasingly interested in storytelling, content development, character, direction, cinematography, narration and soundtracks. At the University of Victoria, Paul studied and compared Japanese and Australian film and became interested in Australian film maker Peter Weir and his film "Gallipoli" (1981). Paul was inspired when he learned Weir visited the beaches, ridges and ravines of the peninsula. "Gallipoli", the film, led Paul on many journeys to sites of conflict in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Malta, Hawaii, Gallipoli, North Macedonia and Salonika. When Paul first watched documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, "The Civil War", Paul understood how his own experience and insight could be effective and perhaps influential in film-making. Combining his knowledge of Museums and Archives, exhibitions and idea strategies with his film interests was a natural progression. Paul thinks like a film-maker. His passion for history and storytelling brings to Paradigm an eye (and ear) to the keen and sensitive interests of; content development, the understanding of successful and relational use of collections, imagery and voice. Like Paul's favorite actor, Peter O'Toole, Paul believes in the adage “To deepen not broaden.” While on this path Paul always remembers his grandmother whose father did not return from the Great War and how his loss shaped her life and how her experience continues to guide him.

Comments

Leave a Reply