Vimy Ridge Diaries on Remembrance Day – Postcard # 61

November 25, 2009

tags: CBC, diaries, Grandpa Mark, Ian Bell, poetry, rememberance, remembrance, remembrance day, trenches, UBC, vimy ridge, war, william markle pecover, WW1, WW2

On Remembrance Day in sunny, brisk Vancouver, Ian Bell (fresh from a CBC appearance “On The Coast“) joins Dave to read from Grandpa Mark’s diaries written in the trenches in WW1 as a young Canadian. From the library steps with a flask of scotch, they reflect on the costs and motivations of war, importance of friendship and the ethereal experience of going “over the top” and facing the terror on the other side, plus anecdotes about capturing Germans soldiers and discourse on the importance of personal documentation to pass forward to generations.

Sit awhile for Vimy Ridge Diaries on Remembrance Day – Postcard # 61

Featuring:

Geoff Berner – Excerpts from “Maginot Line” Recorded live at the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, BC, Feb. 28, 2009

Various artists (including piper Dave Ahl) – Recorded live at UBC Remembrance Day Ceremony, Nov. 11, 2009

Ian Bell reading from Grandpa Mark’s diaries

William Markle Pecover – Memory of Vimy Ridge

William Markle Pecover – On Being Bombed in Britain

Photo via CDN Veterans Affairs asks How Will you Remember? – Download Canadian historical war time photo and video packs, organized by theme and era, then remix and share via social networks.

More Remembrance Day

White Poppies for Remembrance – podcast series

John Cairney reads Robert Burns on Remembrance Day – podcast

Remembrance Day Events in Vancouver plus Canadian Campaigns

Remembrance Day posts on Ephemeral Feasthouse

Ian Bell on CBC’s On The Coast [note: Real Audio files]

Wednesday November 11 – To commemorate Remembrance Day a Vancouver man has posted excerpts from his great-grandfather’s wartime journals on to his blog. Ian Bell told Stephen why it’s important to him to remember. Listen to the interview.(runs 7:04)

{Bonus} 50 years ago the Vietnam war began. When the war ended many Americans moved to BC. Woody Carmack was one of them and he attempted to help ex-soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems. Listen to the interview.(runs 8:53)