Tag: First world war

War Horse

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I’ve just watched the film Warhorse, directed by Steven Speilberg. It’s the story of a part thoroughbred  foal that is bought by a farmer who’s rivalry with his landlord causes him to buy the young horse for more than he can afford.

The farmers son trains the horse to pull a plough and work around the farm. But his father sells it to help save the farm.

The horse, Joey, is transported to France where it becomes part of the British Army and fights in the first world war. In the meantime the farmers son Albie joins up and goes to France to search for his friend. The story has a series of incidents where awful things happen to the boy and Joey. Will they find each other? I won’t say!

The story was originally on in the theatre, the horse and other animals were puppets, the main horse was supported and moved by two men and was made of a lattice work of plastic? strips that gave the impression of a horse.

It’s an excellent story and both theatre production and film brought tears to my eyes.

Lest we Forget

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The poppy appeal this year won’t be able to do door to door collections, the Royal British Legion are urging people to download printable poppies or order them on line. I don’t have the link to their site but I’m sure there are more details available. As with the NHS earlier in the year they are asking people to put pictures in their windows, in this case a picture of a poppy. I will print a copy of this and put it in our window and send them a donation. Poppies have been the symbol of remembrance since the end of the First World War over 100 years ago in 1918. Lest we Forget.

Weeping Window

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We visited Middleport pottery in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent today to see “weeping window” a memorial made of 11,000 ceramic poppies placed on a bottle oven in the pottery. The poppies are some of the ones that were on display previously at the Tower of London and have been travelling around the country for the last couple of years. You are supposed to book a visit but as the number of people going to see the display has reduced we were allowed in without booking. We had to park on a designated car park as the local streets have parking restrictions at the moment and you could get fined.

The poppies commemorate the worth anniversary of the 1st world war,”the war to end all wars” which sadly did not stop humans fighting over and over again as they have since our ancestors first fought many thousands of years ago. Many if the poppies were made in Stoke-on-Trent so its good to see them come home although there was a fight to get them.

The display of poppies cascade down the oven, spreading out on the ground, representing blood and the fallen soldiers that were killed in the war.

I drew the scene but had to slightly shorten the bottle kiln to fit it on the page. I also struggled to represent so many poppies. We then visited the rest of the pottery, including the steam engine although it was not working today. There was quite a crowd so I only sketched it briefly.

On our return to the car park there was a large poster with the poem by John McCrae written in 1915. I decided to draw my own version of a poppy to go along with it.

Middleport pottery is very interesting, there is a museum on site, plus artists and ceramicists with their own studios. The tea shop was very busy but we managed to get a table. There was also a display by students from clay college who are doing a two year full time course to learn the skills of pottery making before they are forgotten.

Although the weeping window display ends in mid September the pottery is well worth a visit. It’s surprising how much goes on round here!

Today’s sketches at apedale

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Trees, trains, troops, tea, and horses all on display at Apedale (Moseley trust) today.

Apedale is a nature reserve, but there is also a mining museum there and a light railway with preserved steam engines. Today there was a steam gala, but because they have been commemorating the 1st World War there they had a lot of extra activity and extra exhibits on display. These have included a tank, a sopwith camel plane. Also about 8 steam engines, various trade stalls and model train displays and stalls.

I had a go at drawing as I didn’t take a camera with me. I drew William, one of the horses which pull a limber with a field gun attached. We had to go before they did their display sadly.

I also drew a couple of the volunteer troops and a couple of the trains that were on display. The first train I was drawing suddenly drove off, so the result isn’t brilliant. I also drew inside the cafe.