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A project of the last two years, to create the Membership Database and Web Site for the Rats of Tobruk Association Victoria, is now complete (apart from future updates) with the launch of the Web Site on Thursday 23rd Feb. http://ratsoftobrukvictoria.org.au & http://facebook.com/Nasho23

The hope that Rats, descendants and relatives of Rats, and others who may have an interest in the Rats and who may like to view the Basic Records of these Famous Men, can do so and perhaps provide updates for the Database Records.

“The Menin Gate is probably the best known and much loved Memorial to the Missing not only on the Western Front but anywhere in the world. Paul Foster’s three-volumed book (nearly 1,100 A4 pages) ‘In Continuing & Grateful Memory, The Menin Gate’ provides us with an incredible and original insight to the Memorial itself and of many who are commemorated on its panels. Major Tonie and Valmai Holt provide a well-written and apposite introduction to the books.

Paul carefully takes us through the development, building an opening of the Memorial, through a short history of the battles fought on the Salient to the individual cameos of some 1,500 of those all too often anonymous names. The detailed research that has been undertaken over a period of more than two years is particularly impressive revealing a wealth of personal stories. So many of those recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission do not even have their family information: Paul has been able to provide family information, the school(s) and/or university attended, their employment and career with the majority including a photograph. Where appropriate he has cross-referenced other casualties mentioned in the text who died during the war. Each book is wonderfully profusely illustrated with contemporary photographs, drawings, diagrams and maps. The text is easy to follow that is more often than not illuminated by fascinating quotations from fellow soldiers and officers, family or friends. After reading each cameo you are left feeling you now know the man and have shared his experiences.

The reader is, for the most part, able to follow the officer or soldier throughout his Great War experiences until his death. After reading the three volumes it is impossible to visit the Menin Gate, indeed the Western Front or beyond, without taking them with you to put faces and stories to the names. Wherever you are visiting the battlefields those commemorated in Paul’s book touches on them as so many who fought at Gallipoli, in Salonica, Egypt, Mesopotamia or elsewhere died on the Salient and have no known grave.

Paul has written about all Victoria Cross winners; those shot at dawn; a wide selection of artists; county and national level sportsmen; Olympians; the known 15 and 16 year olds, and a hundred brothers or fathers and sons commemorated together. It must be the most comprehensive collection ever assembled in one publication. Paul rightly deserves our thanks and congratulations on a job well done, and we look forward to the publication of many more books that are currently in the pipeline.

No other books bring the Menin Gate to life than Paul Foster’s ‘In Continuing & Grateful Memory, The Menin Gate’. You can purchase the set of books at www.remembering1418.com for the reasonable price of £75 plus postage.”

I am also about to reprint twelve ‘out of print’ books in a series entitled ‘I Was There’ concentrates on reproducing the books published by families as a tribute to their son who was killed. The books are long out of print and I have written a second section with a commentary on many of those who are referred to in the original text. Each book, with its letters home from the front, give a fascinating insight into the life in the front line and their activities both in and out of the line. These will become available at the end of August.

Paul Foster
Pingelaarstraat28950
Kemmel
Belgium

Research email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A campaign to locate, log and protect thousands of war memorials across the UK, using cutting edge forensic technology, is being launched today.

The nation’s estimated 100,000 war memorials are under increasing threat from thieves and vandals attempting to steal metal from monuments. Despite the metal having relatively little monetary value it is estimated that on average one war memorial a week is being targeted by thieves looking to illegally remove bronze, copper or other metals to sell on for scrap.

In Memoriam 2014 is a partnership between War Memorials Trust and the SmartWater Foundation. The partnership, which is working towards marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War in 2014, seeks to offer greater protection to war memorials across the UK. It aims to prevent anymore communities witnessing the desecration of their memorials.

To combat the threat of theft each monument will be forensically marked with SmartWater, assigning them with a state-of-the-art forensic signature that can only be seen under UV light. Once applied SmartWater is virtually impossible to remove and can withstand burning, sand blasting and long term exposure to UV. Furthermore if a thief attempts to remove SmartWater they risk inadvertently spreading forensic evidence onto their clothes and any tools they are using. This can be used by Police to link them directly to the crime scene.

War Memorials Trust’s Director, Frances Moreton, said: “In Memoriam 2014 is a very special project to protect war memorials in communities across the UK. War Memorials Trust seeks to both protect and conserve this unique part of our national heritage and it is delighted to be involved. The Trust encourages everyone to take an active interest and ensure the custodians of your local war memorials are taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to protect war memorials free of charge.”

Sir Keith Povey QPM, Chairman of the SmartWater Foundation, said: “As the centenary of the First World War approaches, In Memoriam 2014 encourages communities to reconnect with their local war memorials and remember the sacrifice that so many people made for their country. The SmartWater Foundation is pleased to be partnering with War Memorials Trust in this project and I hope that the community will embrace it by taking an interest in locating and preserving these symbols of our commemoration.”