September 22nd 1915 - here you see my great aunt Liena on her wedding day. The groom is Eric Montesole, on leave, briefly, for their marriage. Eric looks jaunty but Liena is sad: behind her is my grandfather, his face grave, knowing he will soon be joining up. Their mother is veiled - a widow, she has already lost two sons and will lose one more, in March 1918.
After a brief honeymoon Eric rejoined his regiment, but was fortunate to be able to spend Christmas 1915 with Liena, later referring to this as "THE WEEK I SPENT IN PARADISE". He died in action 2 months later. Here is his father's tribute to him.
Liena never remarried. In middle age she developed a taste for travelling in Eastern Europe, home of her husband's ancestors - here she is dining in Budapest in the 1930s. She was known to be a "loner" - sometimes I like to imagine that she might have been a spy.
The little thatched summer house is all that remains now of that late summer day in 1915. It may not be be very long before this story is forgotten, lost forever...
photo by Eric Hill
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A very dignified post to mark this special day.
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for your great-grandmother: To lose three sons in the space of four years; it hardly bears thinking about.
Bye for now,
Kirk
Thank you Kirk!
DeleteDear, Nilly, I am humbled with this post and like so many others now still today losing Sons, Husbands,Fathers and Brothers .. we must always remember and I am sending out thoughts on this remembrance day.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Love Maria x
Thank you for your thoughts Maria x
DeleteA very fitting tribute for today - Remembrance Sunday.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible for us to imagine the tragedy that was suffered, and still is, by the men at war or the women who were left behind, often with very young children.
A timely reminder.
This story "The week I spent in Paradise" will never be forgotten Nilly, now that you have recorded it.
It brought tears to our eyes reading it.
A timely reminder it is true, but the latest news from the Middle East does not us much hope, I'm afraid.
DeleteA beautiful, touching post, Nilly. Moments of happiness in such a period of suffering and tragedy and very important to remember.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Annie.
xxx
Thank you, Annie!
DeleteHow tragic, how haunting, and beautifully and simply recorded Nilly. Seeing the summer house there, where those people gathered for the wedding is very powerful.Liena, as a mature woman looks so different from the sad and frail bride of 1915. I like the idea that she was a spy. Thankyou for telling this story. J.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and reading it , Janice.
DeleteWhat a good reminder to us all that war IS personal. It does affect us all. Thanks for sharing this family story. I am so glad that Eric and Liena had their week in Paradise.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad that we don't seem to learn lessons from the past - perhaps in a few hundred years.
DeleteSuch sad stories. How I wish it would all end.
ReplyDeleteSo do I - but the news is not good.
DeleteA touching story, and such a beautiful wedding photograph even with the sadness clouding it. Good to know that the enjoyed thier week in paradise. I hope that someone is able to keep that lovely thatched summer house.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this touching story.
Yes, the little summer house is still there, in the garden of a farmhouse in Norfolk.
Deletethankyou dear sweet person for your comment, but me and beauty parlours? nah- never in the same sentence!
ReplyDeletexx
ps the Sunday Times newspaper board came from the MOST unlikely looking seller at our local CB many many years ago, went straight up on the wall and is one of my favouritest ever things
Only joking Bunny!
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