Remembrance

Watching the excellent docu-drama 'The Somme' on More4 TV channel last night reminded about the immense human sacrifices made during that first world war battle. With a largely untested and volunteer army contingent from Britain it beggars belief the courage required to walk across no mans land towards a hail of bullets taking out comrades walking alongside. The strategy of the commanders whilst devised with good intent was portrayed as a flawed plan causing unnecessary human suffering.

Our model railway is set in August 1916. One month after the battle commenced and here we have a peaceful rural scene (blog header) almost oblivious to the events of war. It makes our creative effort seem frivolous by comparison. But think again because much of the bad things going on abroad was not widely reported. Whilst creating this rural scene in the heart of the English countryside we were vaguely aware of a war in progress elsewhere but probably like the people living at home in the time not fully in tune with the horror of it. It was only when families and communities learnt of the massive losses in The Somme that a sense of shock and realisation pervaded the nation. 

A reminder that life is not quite normal on our model railway is the Women's National Land Service Corps assisting with the harvest, covering for the men sent overseas. Other influences on home life at this time were the requisition of horses for use in the war. Our farmer here is fortunate to still have two horses to pull his reaper. Some farmers were only allowed one horse for the entire farm. Later in 1917 with the U boats decimating the Atlantic convoys spare land was given over to allotments and agriculture to boost home food production. Not a big impact here yet but plenty of unused land available around the station complex.

David