In remembrance to all the lives lost, in the many tragic and pointless wars that have raged over the past 100 years. In particular World War 1- (or the Great War)- which began a century ago this year. Yesterday also marks Remembrance Day, the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. There are at least 40 ongoing conflicts happening around world at the moment- we haven’t learnt anything…
This is dedicated to Harry “Chippy” McNeish, although he did not go to war, he had his own wars and survivals to fight. He was the carpenter on Ernest Shackleton‘s doomed Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917, and responsible for much of the work that ensured the crew’s survival after their ship, the Endurance, was destroyed when it became trapped in pack ice. The soundtrack used on this video (by Leeds band “I Like Trains”), is ostensibly about Roald Amundsen– a competing Antarctic explorer. Born in 1875 in Scotland, McNeish died destitute in Wellington in 1930- his grave near the war cemetery virtually unmarked. In 2004 the site was tidied and a life size bronze sculpture of McNish’s beloved cat was placed on his grave. Mrs. Chippy, the cat McNish had brought on board, was shot after the loss of the Endurance, McNish apparently never forgave Shackleton for giving the order.
ferguscunningham.com 