In Thomas We Trust.
A centenary adventure to northern France with the Edward Thomas Fellowship.
As part of their journey to honour the life and death of Edward Thomas on April 9th, 1917, members and friends of the Fellowship consider their memories and impressions as they visit the scenes of the poet’s last days around the battlegrounds of Arras and his final resting place at the military cemetery of Agny. Ian Mellor writes, with grateful thanks to all involved.
“……..Edward Thomas? Now that name rings a bell. Wasn’t he a poet? First World War of course, otherwise why are we going to Arras? But I’m sure he wrote about other things……a train station?….birdsong?….Adlestrop! That’s the one. I’m sure I read somebody singing his praises the other day. But not a trench poet……Owen and Sassoon are the big names there of course. Anyway, yes please, I’d love to help. When are we going?……..”
So ran part of a phone call from my close friend and comrade Andy Thompson last August. Since his successful career in Surrey as historian and headteacher, Andy has carried forward his deep interest in the wars of 20th century Europe and now leads his travel company Eyewitness Tours, taking people to the battlefields, sites and cemeteries of both World Wars. The everyday existence of those who fought, together with scenes of horror, carnage and immense bravery of those on the front lines are brought vividly back to life by Andy’s leadership and immense skill with a story.
It doesn’t come easy, of course, and Andy’s expertise and vast knowledge are the product of many hours of painstaking background research, often involving repeat visits to many of the historic locations in order to fulfil the interests of a special group.
Having accepted an invitation from the Edward Thomas Fellowship, therefore, to organise and lead a tour to France in commemoration of the centenary of the poet’s death in the opening moments of the Battle of Arras in 1917, it was necessary to cross to France beforehand once again, this time to visit the last scenes and retrace the final moments of his life. Naturally when Andy and Sue his wife, invited my wife Teresa and I to form a travelling research team, we were delighted to go along.
It was a fascinating few days. Sometimes, key whereabouts of a century ago can be difficult to find in today’s environments. Never discouraged, Teresa and Sue found the exact position of the forward observation post where Thomas was killed by German gunfire at 07.36 on Easter Monday, 1917. He had been directing British artillery towards German lines. Later Teresa discovered the building in Arras where he was billeted during the final days. We also visited the Imperial War Graves Cemetery at Agny where Thomas is buried and the site near Notre Dame de Lorette where his name appears on the vast Ring of Remembrance.
I took dozens of photographs to help with research but to my shame read not a single poem by Thomas or indeed anyone else. After long days around the battlefields our evenings were spent enjoying French food and wine, rather than enhancing our literary knowledge. And that was enjoyably that, or so I thought. A few months later, however, Andy reminded me that the Fellowship expedition was now imminent and asked if I would care to join the tour, take some video footage and afterwards write a report. I might also be asked to read a poem aloud at one of the sites.
This time I had to confess to feelings of apprehension. Although I once taught English to A-Level, to interview a group of 38 highly knowledgeable, academic, expert fans and their friends, including several members of his family about someone whom I believed at that time to be merely a minor poet, was intimidating to say the least. What on earth would I be able to contribute?
How wrong could I be? Not only was the Fellowship the most immediately friendly group of people I have ever had the pleasure to work with, I soon discovered, in the nicest possible way, that thanks in great part to the work of the Fellowship since it’s formation in 1980, Edward Thomas is now widely regarded as a leading figure in English poetry having a considerable posthumous influence on many poets over the last century. Were I still in teaching, I would almost certainly have studied his life and work as he has become a fixture within the English curriculum at GCSE and A-level. He is the subject of many PhD studies and an increasing number of books about him have been and are being published. Not only his poetry and prose but also his personal life are now known and understood by a far wider public. It is true to say that people who have never liked, enjoyed or even seen the point of poetry now love it through their discovery of Edward Thomas. Not that I am now an expert, of course, but after three fascinating days among the Fellowship, my knowledge and understanding of this attractive, intriguing and highly accessible poet have increased considerably. I thank you all!
Here is a summary of our programme over the three days, April 8th to 10th, 2017. Poems by Thomas and contemporary writers were read by members and friends of the Fellowship at most sites.
Saturday, April 8th:
London Victoria via coach and P & O ferry to Calais
On to Arras staying at Hotel les Trois Luppars in La Grand Place.
Visit to the Arras Road Cemetery
Sunday, April 9th:
07.36: the Forward Observation Post at Beaurains. Edward Thomas R.I.P
Wellington Quarry
Agny Military Cemetery
Faubourg d’Amiens – cemetery and Memorial to the Missing of the Battle of Arras
Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy
The German Military Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy
Monday, April 10th
Vimy – the Memorial, tunnels, trenches and visitors’ centre
The Ring of Remembrance Notre Dame de Lorette
Return journey via Calais to London Victoria.
What now follows is a digest of my conversations with every member of the tour which took place on our coach, at the various sites or indeed even around the dining table of the hotels, restaurants and cafés that looked after us so well. They were each based on three questions: what is and has been your role in life? why are you attracted to the life and work of Edward Thomas? and if you were allowed only one poem, which would it be? The object of the first question was to show that Thomas appeals to a wide cross section of our society, the second would demonstrate the far reaching appeal contained within his work and the third would reveal his most popular poem, the number one of so many number ones!
Jack Lindsay gardener, Belfast
At secondary school we were doing a project on the war poets, Sassoon and Owen. Our teacher lent us her single copy of A Choice of Poets[i] and the poem in there that really caught my eye was Swedes, by Edward Thomas. I liked it because it reminded me of a visit to my grandfather in Donegal when he was ill and I was just a wee boy. It was in the middle of nowhere and I went out with my uncle and father to get potatoes. They were in a field in the middle of winter and under the straw protecting them you could see their bright colours. Swedes reminded me of that.
Favourite Poem (FP): Swedes.
A dream of Winter, sweet as Spring.
Wendy Pegler book seller
I first heard about Edward Thomas from my mother. She loved poetry and we both read the two books by his wife Helen Thomas[ii]. I became a second hand book seller with my husband Philip and we started collecting books by Thomas because we really liked his poetry.
FP: She Dotes on What the Wild Birds Say.
Yet she has fancied blackbirds hide
A secret, and that thrushes chide
Because she thinks death can divide
Her from her lover.
John Lingard professor, English and Drama, Canada.
I grew up in England but left for Canada in 1969. I had a wonderful schoolmaster at Merchant Taylors’ School, John Steen. He created a terrific enthusiasm for poetry, music and theatre. I became fascinated with Housman, de la Mare and Hardy and then went to a wonderful public lecture by Patrick Dickinson, also a poet. He read and explained many of Thomas’ poems. I’d only read one at that point, Adlestrop, but thanks to Dickinson my interest grew over time and a few years ago online I found the Edward Fellowship and joined. I’m the only Canadian member.
FP: Adlestrop
And for that minute a blackbird sang,
Close by…….
Penny Daniels change management, founder/director Thinking Solutions 2000 Ltd.
There’s lots of reason I connect with Edward Thomas. I’m not at all an expert but I have a huge love of First World War poetry. My great uncle Gerald died at the Somme aged 19. My father also loved WWI poetry. He was a code breaker in the Second World War and fought in Burma. I’ve done a lot of battlefield trips before including a Somme tour with Andy last November which I thought was absolutely fantastic….we read lots of poetry so I just couldn’t resist coming along on this adventure. My favourite Thomas poem so far is Rain. I think it is to the point, succinct and without undue sentiment. He seems to have had a lot of influence on other writers, even T S Eliot. The Fellowship is an opportunity to find out more. April was certainly the cruelest month for Edward Thomas.
FP: Rain
If love it be towards what is perfect and
Cannot, the tempest tells me, disappoint.
Barbara Kinnes teacher. Treasurer: Edward Thomas Fellowship.
I first became interested and joined the Fellowship back in the 1990s when I started teaching Thomas’ poetry at A level at my school in Guildford. I’d always enjoyed his poetry since my own school days, I remember The Owl especially but in those days we never thought of Thomas as a war poet. He doesn’t write about war like Owen and Sassoon, he writes about himself and the effect that war has on him. War is a personal thing for him. I became more involved and studied more of his background reading Helen’s books and visiting Steep, which is very atmospheric. It’s interesting how people’s perceptions of the work of Edward Thomas have changed so much over the years.
FP: The Owl
……..the bird’s voice
Speaking for all who lay under the stars,
Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice.
David Cobb teacher and educational writer
At 91 I’m the oldest member of the Fellowship and I’m here on a pilgrimage to visit Thomas’ grave which I’ve not seen before. He has been a formative influence on me for many years and I’m now rediscovering things that I’d forgotten. A long time ago I was writing a book about English literature for use in Japanese high schools and included a poem by Edward Thomas. I hadn’t any real idea who he was at that time. The poem was Sowing. I thought it would fit quite well with Japanese people who love plants. In fact most teachers didn't understand the material in the book and were losing face with their pupils! Things have improved a lot since then but for me now it’s increasingly difficult to keep working. I’m still receiving royalties nevertheless!
FP: This is No Case of Petty Right or Wrong
I hate not Germans, nor grow hot
With love of Englishmen, to please newspapers.
Freddie Phillips marketing
I’ve always been interested in the lives of writers and poets and heard a radio programme on Edward Thomas with Richard Emeny a few years ago. I love the creative potential of the written word and I think that in the end all literature defaults to poetry. Our trip to Arras was quite wonderful and yet so awful as we negotiated the pleasures of our comfortable lives and sharing alongside the horrors of those who died and lost. Both my grandfathers fought in the First World War. My father’s father was killed but sadly I don’t know where or when. My grandmother would point him out to me in a photograph of his regiment shown on her wall. He left five children for his wife to bring up alone. People today who think life is hard cannot understand what past generations have had to endure. I don’t think my favourite Edward Thomas poem is his best, but it doesn’t need to be, for me it captures the things he cared about most in the landscape of England and the final verse offers myriad, playful opportunities to think back into its meaning for the author. I’m spending my retirement walking, hill climbing and skiing…not bad for an elderly!
FP: For These
The lovely visible earth and sky and sea
Where what the curlew needs not, the farmer tills
Colin Dudman jazz musician and composer
As soon as I became aware of the Fellowship I knew I’d like to join because I’m very attracted to Thomas’ poetry and in fact have set some of his verse to music. I find his lines resonate with my own personality and the way I write music. The occasional asymmetrical rhythms requiring three-four or five-four bars all add to the interest! I composed music to Lights Out for three female choristers from Lincoln Cathedral choir and we performed it there recently. Other composers have also set the poems to music, including Ivor Gurney who was also a fine poet as well. I must discover which poems of the Thomas collection inspired Gurney to set them to music.
FP: Lights Out
To go into the unknown
I must enter and leave alone
I know not how
Vanessa Davis trustee, Winchester Poetry Festival
I love First World War poetry and the first tour I ever joined was with the Wilfred Owen Association. Now Edward Thomas appeals to me although I should read more of his poems. He was a very tricky man and must have been difficult to live with but he wrote wonderfully and I love coming on battlefield tours. Adlestrop is a favourite poem of course. Also And You Helen is so poignant and shows how very difficult the marriage was. In this sense he reminds me of Alun Lewis, a poet of the Second World War. So yes, poetry means so much to me…..and I’m delighted to say that the Winchester Poetry Festival is happening once again this year[iii].