I had an idea that it would be fitting to fire a 3 round volley at the Remembrance Service in Bordeaux next year to commemorate 100 year since the signing of the cease fire in The Great War at 11a.m. on 11th November in 1918.
I have circulated my proposal to various people including the mayor of Talence in Bordeaux where the CWGC Cemetery is located.
Discussing this with Elaine she said " Wouldn't it be better if you used a rifle from the Great War?"
Having explained the cost and quality of such items in France I said that the No4 would be a good substitute.
A day later, while having our evening meal she said " I think you should use a rifle of the time - you can spend up to €1000 out of the 'savings' fund on buying one"
Pardon!...........
To digress slightly, I had that afternoon been to see a friend who had bought a Martini-Henry and did not know what it was. Turns out it is a NoI Artillery carbine in very good condition ( more of THAT later) and I had made him some dummy rounds for it. As a thank you he gave me a bayonet that he used to turn the charcoal in his barby! Close inspection showed it to be a 1907 SMLE bayonet by Wilkinson....................an omen perhaps?
To be continued
