YE Day: Hexham The brassy music floats down quintessential streets, past stones cicatrized by histories and now, by bunting. On flickering televisions corralled by day-off boozers politicians palely bang the drum: we must remember those who stuffed the Germans, whose tragic deaths kept Britain Great. What blousy things to die for; flags and sunshine, lips and lager. In the cool abbey where stones shine like water I sit beside an unwreathed grave. 'T 0 the Gods, the Shades, Flavinius, a horse soldier of the Cavalry Regiment of Petriana, Standard Bearer of the Troop of Candidus, 25 years of age, having served 7 years in the army, is here laid, for the Glory of Rome.' Reflections from a bonefield, on this most glorious day. The greatest tragedy of the dead, the bastards left to talk for them.
Hugh McMillan
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