Remembrance Tour 2008

This photograph shows Adderbury Morris dancers c1912. 

At least five of these young men left the village to fight during World War One.

ONLY ONE RETURNED

During July this year the current members of the Adderbury Village Morris Men will be visiting the war graves/memorials of the four Morris dancers who died in action in Belgium and France during the First World War.  We will pay our respects with a suitable prayer and the laying of wreaths.  This will be followed by a performance of the Adderbury dances at each of the adjacent towns.  In addition we have been asked to take part in two prestigious events:

                                The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate - Saturday 26th July at 8pm

                                "Son et Lumier" at Pozieres.  (A huge town event that celebrates the significant part the town played during the war).

Two of those brave Adderbury men, brothers Percy and Ronald Pargeter, are remembered at the Thiepval and Pozieres Memorials respectively having lost their lives whilst serving in the Somme area of France, Percy in October 1916 aged 20 and Ronald in April 1918 aged 19.  Ronald who was closely associated with Adderbury Church, having sung in the choir and also played the organ, had only been in France for three weeks when he was killed.

The two other casualties were George Robins and Harry Laurence Wallin.  George was killed in October 1917 at Passendale.  Harry died in May 1917 on the Somme.

The four soldiers mentioned above and the many other brave Adderbury men who fought are also commemorated

on this memorial in our parish church of St Mary's, Adderbury.

The Adderbury Village Morris Men are grateful for the support and generosity of local individuals and village clubs and societies in the organisation of the tour.  We are proud to have the support of the Adderbury and Milton Branch of the Royal British Legion who are supplying the wreaths that we will be laying in tribute to the village men.  The Adderbury History Association who have very kindly donated funds to supply us with a new part of the Adderbury Village Morris Men kit and also to the Adderbury Feoffees who have very generously donated towards the production costs of an accompanying CD that will be available towards the end of June.  (More details on this to follow).

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

between the crosses, row on row,

that mark our place; and in the sky

the larks, still bravely singing, fly

scarce heard among guns below.

We are the dead.

Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

loved and were loved,

and now we lie in Flanders fields.

John McCrae, May 1915