Remembering 1918, Creative Writing

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Creative Writing – Remembering 1918

His frail hands trembled as he clutched onto the delicate flower. The scarlet flower he held onto held so much significance; from the blood red colouring to the seeds that withstood the war of all wars and gave hope that there would be life. Ben remembered the fields that had been churned up by bombs, guns and heavy boots and only weeks later the poppy had risen from the barren battlefields showing that they would survive somehow.

Silence lingered in the air but never approached as crowds hushed conversations were whisked and battered around by the vigorous November winds like the crisp autumn leaves that were scattered around the cenotaph. Respect loitered around the monument as solemn figures stood proudly with their heads held high. Ben scanned the individuals who had arrived to pay their respects to those who had fallen in a fight for their queen and country in the past ninety years. Navy commanders and Army generals stood poised and collected, their expressions looked thoughtful but distant; royals and politicians stood with their heads bowed down to the ground whilst holding onto wreaths made of intertwining poppies; then in four wheelchairs sat the remaining veterans. Each one of them was dressed in the appropriate uniform for each area of the military they fought in with blankets wrapped around their fragile bodies. The four of them, including Ben were all staring at the cenotaph. Their eyes held so much more experience than any of the people that were attending the ceremony ever hoped to have.

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Ninety years ago Ben had fought in the war to end all wars supposedly and had fought extremely well for someone so young. Ben remembered the events of 1914 through to 1918 so vividly it was like he had returned home yesterday with aching bones, just wanting to rest and see his sweetheart once more. Ben had been sent away just before the Christmas of 1914, the 19th of December to be precise. Ben had been sent away only weeks after his father had been sent away and would be joining him. His mother almost refused to let him go ...

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