Coincidence

[johnalison]

Last week we went on a sailing group walk part-way round Mersea Island, a regular winter event. I hadn't been to Mersea for some months and the memorial sculptures were new to me. I didn't notice it at the time but I have just been struck by the similarity of my two pictures - and their differences in atmosphere. I found the memorial strangely shocking, as if one were among the serving men.

 

[tillergirl]

They were placed there in November and I understand the plan is to keep them there for a year. Each sculpture represents a Mersea resident lost in the First War. It is remarkable. They may be there every day but the light changes the atmosphere, perhaps on a winter's morning, a misty day or a sunny day. I regret I didn't have my camera one early winter's morning. The sky was clear and the sun was still very low but behind the sculptures. I suspect the angle of the sun, time of day etc, will never be repeated.

They were created by Duncan Pittock, local engineer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6QIM4SSzz8

 

[Major_Clanger]

Very beautiful and deeply moving. Good photo' too!

 

[Jan Harber]

Thanks for posting these beautiful photographs. Especially poignant as we were watching Peter Jackson's film They Shall Grow Not Old last night.
Hoping we will be able to visit our friends on Mersea sometime before November and walk over to see the figures for real.

 

[ltcom]

I thought they were created by the Blackwater river bailiff? Does anyone own the design? Google tells me that what I heard was wrong.
https://www.maldonandburnhamstandar...lhouettes-raise-1k-for-poppy-appeal/#gallery2
Although river bailiff is mentioned.
Whatever....... I think they are marvellous (although the first time I drove past a village based one I did have a fright).

 

[tillergirl]

They certainly didn't make the Mersea ones, that was Duncan. There are many villages in this area that have similar - Great Wigborough, Langenhoe, Abberton, Fingringhoe which have a little more detail than the Maldon images. I had a vague memory that the original design was prompted by Danny Boyle but that was for the images in the sands elsewhere.

 

[Simonpk]

There's also some nice youtube footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6QIM4SSzz8

 

[ltcom]

Beautiful, sad, very moving. Some were only 20 years old it said. Let us not forget. Lets hope as humans (or maybe those in power) we learn from their sacrifice.

 

[DavidofMersea]

Thanks for posting these beautiful photographs. Especially poignant as we were watching Peter Jackson's film They Shall Grow Not Old last night.
Hoping we will be able to visit our friends on Mersea sometime before November and walk over to see the figures for real.

You will not need to "walk over" anywhere, they are at the Strood, right next to the road