I am out of the closet (or should that be the crypt?) as a self-proclaimed taphophile. Graveyards have long held a fascination for me and many hours over my fifty plus years have been spent in cemeteries both here in the United Kingdom and across Europe.

On occasion, on my forays into these tranquil spaces, a particular grave will pique my curiosity. This may be for a variety of reasons, an association with local history, an intriguing epitaph or a family connection.... it doesn't take much. The online availability of censuses, official registries and newspaper archives have in recent years made it possible to learn something more about the lives lived by those remembered only as fading names carved in stone. These resources provide an opportunity to put 'flesh on old bones' as the turn of phrase goes, hence the title of this blog 'Beyond the Grave'.

If anyone reading these posts has anything to add please feel free to contact me at adrianandrews@myyahoo.com.

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Private George Alfred Robinson of the 7th Royal Norfolk Regiment Remembered On This Day

 In a follow up to my post earlier in the week, today I laid a cross of Remembrance on the Robinson family plot that remembers Private George Alfred Robinson. 77 years ago today he was killed in action whilst fighting with the 7th Royal Norfolk Regiment in the Operation Charnwood engagements intended to deliver the strategically critical city of Caen into Allied hands.

The grave was not easy to locate, not least because I took the first photo some months ago and secondly that in keeping with many cemeteries in the UK now there is a policy to leave the grounds untended during the Spring and Summer months in order to encourage pollination and the proliferation of local flora and forna. I am fine with that.... I just struggled to find the grave again given that it has quite a low profile in in comparison with the extent of the summer growth. But find it I did and laid an RBL cross. If you look carefully, there is a small splash of red in the lower right hand corner of the photograph. If anything I was reminded of the war diary report of the battle that involved a treacherous advance through developing corn fields on that fateful July day.

Many thanks are due to Clive Kitchener of the Bishops Stortford Branch of the Royal British Legion for struggling through torrential British Summer rain in order to honour my request for an RBL cross to mark this anniversary. A very bedraggled Clive delivered the requested item to my door!

Now where is that bottle of calvados that I mentioned?

Lest we forget.

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