Scotty's quest, the story so far…
After Scotty's tireless work researching our Fallen Friends from both World Wars, he has begun a quest to try and visit a few of their resting places.
After visiting a few of the more accessible graves he has laid a COXA Commemorative Card.
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A few weeks back Scotty engaged the help of Old Boy Richard Clark who now lives in Norway.
Hi Richard
What I've been doing is following some of the resting places of fallen Clapham Xaverians - it's been strangely uplifting!
On the Website, I've posted the Commemorative Card, it would be great if you printed a copy and take a photo of it beside Desmond Firth's grave in Oslo, Western Civil Cemetery. grave ref 1 B 1.
He was at the College from 1928 to 1936 and died on 08/11/1941 [aged 25] he died during a bombing raid in Oslo in WWII - Des was an RAF pilot Officer and was born in New Malden Surrey - doubt whether anyone has visited him in 70 years.
It's just a quest of mine - but if Oslo Cemetery is close please try for me! - I'd love a photo for the next Concordia [and maybe one of you.. or an article.. hope springs eternal...] Colin Garvey is in good health and still the devil he always was, even as my History teacher!
Scotty
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Hi Scotty
Vestre Gravlund, or West Cemetery, is only two km. from us, so this day, August 4th 2014, seems a very appropriate day to visit the final resting place of one of ours.
We spoke to the office staff there and one of the lads showed us where the British military personnel were laid to rest. I think there were only 108 in this beautifully maintained dedicated part of the cemetery and we found the grave with no problem at all.
It brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat when this very helpful young lad told me that it was the resting place of these Brits who gave their lives trying to free his country. I was not aware of any raids by the RAF in the Oslo area in 1941, most raids were confined to the north around Trondheim or to the heavy water plant at Rjukkan. But according to him, the Germans had earlier killed a large number of Oslo citizens in a horrific attack on a tram in the city and the one-off raid by the RAF so early on was to show the enemy (I worked for them here in Oslo for almost 28 years!) that they were not immune to reprisals.
We have been to the cemetery today and taken numerous pictures.
Richard.
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Why not lay a Commemorative COXA Card if you get the chance to visit a 'Fallen Friend' in a WWI or WWII Cemetery. If you live near one of the cemeteries where COXA War heroes are buried why not download and print the card and take one along with you. Ideally they should be printed as A5 in size and then if possible laminated to make them waterproof.
Use the details in the new ‘Commemorative Edition of Concordia’ to direct you to the location [check location of Commonwealth War Graves Website to be 100% certain]