Images: Laura Farmer, Freeformimages Photography
Danny Boyle invited you to mark 100 years since Armistice. On 11 November 2018, communities gathered on beaches across the UK to say goodbye to the lives lost in the First World War. What an incredible day it was and so moving to see thousands of people join in and take part on Saunton Sands Beach, North Devon to commemorate the centenary of WW1 as the tide washes away the portrait of
Royal Engineer Ralph George Griffiths Robson, died 23/12/1914 from Barnstaple,North Devon.
Captain Ralph George Griffiths Cumine-Robson (13 August 1888 – 23 December 1914)
Ralph Cumine-Robson was born in Chinsura, Bengal, India, to Ellen Frances Cumine and Samuel Robson, principal of the Prince of Wales College, Jammu (they later retired to Bradiford House, Barnstaple, Devon). Ralph was educated at Eton, where he excelled at the public school’s wall game, enjoying a reputation for fearlessness that carried on into his military career. After Eton, Ralph joined the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, before in 1908 gaining a commission in the Royal Engineers and returning to India. At the outbreak of war, he volunteered for active service, joining the 3rd Company, 1st King George’s Own Sappers and Miners, attached to the Meerut Division, Indian Expeditionary Force, which quickly sailed from Bombay. Ralph was now serving on the western front as part of the Indian Corps of Sappers and Miners, a force noted in a dispatch for its “skill and resource” by Field Marshal Sir John French. Ralph, too, was mentioned in a dispatch. He had been promoted to captain on 18 December 1914, but was killed in action a few days later near Neuve Chapelle, France, and was buried at the Estaires Cemetery.
I was so privileged to be the official photographer for Saunton Sands Beach, to be a part of this amazing event and to see members of the public, serving soldiers from Chivenor, North Devon, adults, children, grandparents alike, all gathered to remember the fallen.
The project was brought here by The Eden Project who has been working with The Lost gardens of Heligan to coordinate delivery across four beaches in Devon and Cornwall for Pages Of The Sea. Lots of delivery partners and community groups have been involved in producing the events including Wren Music in Devon, Hall for Cornwall, City of Light, Wild Works, Sea Scouts, Gig Association to name but a few, along with some amazing freelancers who made it all happen – it has been an incredible community effort and we are very proud to have worked with them all.
Thank you x
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