Gill and I returned today to Thaxted in Essex to follow this 6.5 mile circular walk from our old version of the local Pathfinder Guide. We did this walk previously in 2014.
Today was a lovely tramp through largely quiet countryside b…Read more…
“East Ham War Pensions Committee: Your Fight Is Our Fight”
Historic photo of dependants of World War One ex-service men protesting against cuts to War pensions in 1919. The authorities claimed that the local East Ham War Pensions committee did not follow the “rules” and gave out too generous benefits.
Private Thomas Highgate – the First to be Shot at Dawn (2020 update)
Early in 2014 I posted here on a controversy in the village on Shoreham in Kent on whether to add the name of Private Thomas Highgate to its War Memorial. 19 year old Thomas was the first soldier to be shot for desertion by the British army autho…Read more…
The “Spanish” flu epidemic & a Canadian Bolshevik Revolt in Wales
For the reasons given in my post from 2008 (see below) I have been conscious of the impact of viral pandemics from an early age.
There are some 80 graves of Canadian soldiers at the Marble Church in Bodelwyddan, North Wales.
Up to 76 of them may ha…Read more…
St Matthews public meeting on Crime and ASB
A lovely picture from last Friday evening when Councillors and officers met Residents and Police to discuss how to tackle jointly crime and anti-social behaviour in the area (Forest Gate South ward adjacent to Romford Road).
The meeting was Chaired by…Read more…
West Ham All Saints Remembrance Service Sunday 11 November 2018
On Sunday I represented the Mayor and Newham Council at the 1918-2018 Remembrance Ceremony at West Ham Parish Church All Saints with Chair of Council Cllr Joy Laguda and our Director of Finance, Michael O’Donnell. With our local MP Lyn Brown, we each l…Read more…
Walter Tull & 11 November 2018
A couple of weeks ago I went to Folkestone (via the high speed rail link in 46 minutes) for a Friday night beer and curry with an old mate. The following morning hangover cure was a brisk walk along the beach and back along the prom.
Near the town War…Read more…
Clavering Walk
Off message, I had my first day on Sunday off from politics and the union for a long time. I downloaded this 8.5 mile circular route from the free website Essexwalks.com and we drove to Clavering near Bishop Stortford in around 45 minutes from Eas…Read more…
Far From the Western Front: South Asian Stories of the First World War
After a Labour Party canvass session in Forest Gate last month, Councillor Anam Islam took Councillor John Whitworth and I to this exhibition in the Minhaj-Ul-Quran Cultural centre in Romford Road.
This was a fascinating examination of the untold…Read more…
The first Indian army VC
In the run up to Remembrance Sunday this is a good time to remember the heroism of Indian Army soldiers, such as Khudadad Khan who was awared the first Indian Victoria Cross in the First World War.
In 1914 Khudadad and his out numbered comrades held o…Read more…
100th anniversary of my Grandfather arriving at Gallipoli
According to this history of the “Hawke Battalion” Royal Naval Divison (RDN) by Douglas Jerrold, my Grandfather ( Taid in Welsh) Sub-lieutenant, Frederick Matthews, first joined them on active service a 100 years ago yesterday on 18 July 1915.
The Ba…Read more…
Midshipman George L. Drewry VC RNR
Yesterday morning I attended a Commemorative Stone Ceremony at the Cenotaph in Central Park, East Ham, Newham, London.
It was to mark the unveiling of the first of 5 paving stones to be placed at the Cenotaph to remember the heroism of …Read more…
The band played waltzing matilda
Today is the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War Gallipoli campaign. The 8 month conflict was one of the most vicious of that war.
This song was written by Eric Bogle in 1971 and was today described by a good friend of mine…Read more…