Gunwalloe’s Poignant Memorial…
Largely hidden against a cliff-face and settled in dunes
Of soft sand, the church of St Winwaloe huddled from the ire
Of storms on the Lizard Peninsula in the hamlet of Gunwalloe.
A wagtail chorused upon the weather vane, proclaiming fine weather
No doubt but inside, peace reigned around a feature,
stone-carved …
A memorial, inscribed with the names of those who served
And lived but not to tell the tale of the Great War together,
Bar two who perished, likely in battleground graves, shallow.
Men from a seafaring community, who perhaps wallowed in mire,
Deaths unlikely to have been forecast in Cornish runes…
Pete Ray
25th June 2023…
Frenchman St Winwaloe lived from 460-532 and was the first Abbot at Landévennec Abbey, near Brest.
The church at Gunwalloe lies close to Church Cove and Dollar Cove beaches.
Despite being such a small hamlet, 22 of Gunwalloe’s men appear to have fought in the Great War.
Information about the soldiers is inscribed upon the stone and can be read by checking my image…
Of the 20 survivors, there were three Luggs, two Hockings and three Bolithos…
Loved it there…
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.