Heytesbury
The Village of Heytesbury, Wiltshire, England.
Siegfried Sassoon
What I don’t know.
In twenty five years with his son George over many a whisky into the depths of night and early morning the subject of his father rarely arose.
In truth, only once did Siegfried discuss the Great War with his son and this was when George was a young boy.
'If you were not there you can never understand.'
And Siegfried did not want George to know. In George he vested protection and hope.
Go, and be brave;
You are born into the dazzling light of day.
Go, and be wise;
You are born upon an earth which needs new eyes.
Go, and be strong;
You are born into a world where love rights wrong.
Go, and be brave;
Possess your soul; that you alone can save.
Siegfried Sassoon
What I do know
TE Lawrence
Aircraftman Thomas Edward Shaw did indeed visit Siegfried at Heytesbury. There was a visitors’ book in the library a location where both Siegfried and George spent much of their lives. Many a noted name was recorded including Lawrence of Arabia who left Siegfried his aircraft maintenance book including many a news clipping and observation relating to the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
George always maintained that Lawrence died on his way back from Heytesbury with the roar of his motorcycle being heard by Mr. Mazlin at the Angel as he passed on his fateful return to Dorset.
The Military Cross
The medal often thought defiantly tossed into the Mersey but of course it wasn’t, only the ribbon.
The medal itself ended up at Heytesbury, along with a .455 Webley service issue revolver. Both eventually made their way to the Isle of Mull where after George’s death they were both ‘found’ on the basis of George’s directions.
He also directed my mother and I to sell both for the highest price as Siegfried had previously instructed George to do. The revolver was handed to the Police and then to a firearms dealer. It was subsequently donated to the Imperial War Museum where it is now on display.
The MC was an entirely different matter as one
of the most significant military decorations in literary history. It
is now with the Royal Welch Fusiliers but how it got there is an
entire website in itself from fiery emails winging from Iraq to
tales of loyalty and betrayal. This saga is best left alone for now.
Unpublished
This handwritten and illustrated poem was found recently amongst papers.
It is titled:
'Shilver Jubilee Shelebrations'
There is a piece with a similar name in the archive but this is entirely different.
Click to view.
