09 November 2018
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Author and researcher, Keith Gregson is also a musician. Follow the Youtube link in the blog to hear his song
Since August 2014, every month without fail, author and researcher Keith Gregson published a 'snippet' about World War I. His mixture of memorabilia, music scores, memories and more, helped to add a very human, very individual take on the war – helping us remember each and every person from among the millions. Here are his thoughts in summary.
Since August 2014, every month without fail, author and researcher Keith Gregson published a 'snippet' about World War I. His mixture of memorabilia, music scores, memories and more, helped to add a very human, very individual take on the war – helping us remember each and every person from among the millions. Here are Keith Gregson's thoughts in summary.
As 11/11/18 approaches I am beginning to realise that the last four years of First World War research has been cathartic. I will be 70 a couple of weeks after the 'celebrations' and have had time to reflect on how lucky I have been (as indeed has all of my generation) in not having my (or our) youth taken away by an international conflict. Basically I have felt a need to pass this on to younger folk who, sadly in my estimation, have not had the opportunity to discover from the participants themselves how life changing such conflicts can be – and we live in challenging times. As an historian I have had to be objective and in my online book, Can you do nothing to mend my broken heart - the Ashbrooke Boys - A Sports Club at War (1914- 18), I hope I have been. However I have also been a creative musician for over 50 years of my life and song-writing allows me to adopt a more emotional approach to matters. 'Come on, the Durham's' or 'Jamie's song' is my tribute to many of the personalities (mostly amateur rugby players) I have come across during my research. You can hear the song on the juke box on my web site (no 13) or see a video I have made on YouTube. After 11/11 I intend to consider it 'job done' and move on to pastures new".