The Bloxwich Cross
of sacrifice
stands by
Elmer Green
The children pass by
Do not wonder why
Or how long
It has been
And there are no names
Only a number
Of 300 men who died
Who lost their lives
For their country
Missing
And who are their wives
Their children
And if they arrive
To search
It’s all guessing
Who was lost
Where
On the battlefield
Where only a few bones
Were found
Who were they
The 300 men
Of Bloxwich
Who answered the call
In the first world war
Who did not realise
What they would be
Getting into
And all that remains
All that they have for a grave
Is this cross of sacrifice
In Bloxwich
Not far
From the maternity ward
Where I was born
The Manor or New Cross? 😉
Great poem by the way 👍🖤
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Not sure where you mean. Bloxwich is a town in the midlands about ten miles north of Birmingham. I’ll try and find a photo of the memorial.
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It’s all good my friend – I remember this memorial quite well.
I was actually born in New Cross Hospital – just up the road from Bloxwich – in Wolverhampton.
The Manor Hospital is (or was at least) the main hospital that served Walsall – just the other side of Bloxwich – when I was younger too.
To be fair, it’s been some time that I have been down that way so these hosptal names may well have changed hy now.
I just thought this poem may have been autobiographical and you were perhaps born in one of these two hospitals yourself 😁🖤🖤
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I was born in Bloxwich, I remember it was called the maternity hospital, I could be wrong, (and went to school in Dudley Fields junior school and then TP Riley). Of course, I know the Manor Hospital in Walsall, but not New Cross. And, I’ve thought of you as living in America for some reason? Yes, I remember the memorial but as a boy. But it is all a bit faded in memory. I’m so glad to know a blogger from around there.
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Yes, all places I recognise there! 😁
Nope, I don’t live in America (in fact I’ve never even visited), am English by birth and I still have a lot of family in the West Midlands.
However, I myself have been living in Scotland for so long now this is where I call home 👍🏴🖤
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Looking at the map I see there was a Scotlands housing estate near or in new cross, maybe you took a wrong turning one day and ended up in the real Scotland😊.
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Haha!!
I reckon you’re right my friend! 😉🖤
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I wonder is that comment with a Scottish accent or a midland accent?
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It’s pretty much a Scottish one nowadays – although I can sometimes be caught out by a dodgy vowel sound or two!
#fivetonine 😂😉🖤
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So you are more of a Robert Burns than a William Wordsworth
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I’m not sure I’d ever live up the standards of either – but yes, definitely more of a Rabbie than a Bill these days 😉🖤
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so in Scotland are you the Wee Little Charmer 😊
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Haha yes, definitely the wee charmer 😉🖤
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Great poem
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Thank you for dropping by I hope your travels go well?
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🙂
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