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MA Photography Course
Final Major Project 


"Tell Them Of Us"
- commemorating The Fallen from
two World Wars in Commonwealth War Graves and cemeteries. 

This is a placeholder, full project page to be published December 2024

The Project

My second Cousin John Northend was killed in action in January 1943 whilst serving in Bomber Command as a Lancaster navigator. Coming from a military family, the narrative of the World Wars is woven into our family history. In many ways, our family has been defined by military service. 

 

In researching John’s story further, it became clear to

me that we, as a family, got off lightly in both World

Wars. Whilst others were wounded, in some cases

maimed, John Northend was the only member of our

close family to lose his life. His loss however was the

catalyst for this project.

 

As I began to travel to visit Commonwealth War Graves both here in the UK and abroad, I became acutely aware that every grave, each headstone in the immaculate cemeteries, each name on the impressive memorials, represented a life lost, and an abrupt end to an unfinished story. Most were young men – fathers, sons, brothers or uncles who would not achieve their dreams, have a family or see their family grow up. In some cases, like John’s, the loss of an only male child was the end of that branch of a family tree. The majority of those remembered in the Commonwealth War Graves died in their 20s. 

 

Once again, we are in an era of worldwide conflict. With my project I also wanted to reflect on the monumental loss of life represented by the Commonwealth War Graves, and to remember that The Fallen paid the ultimate price to secure the freedoms that we take for granted today. 

 

Lest we forget. 

20241006-DSC_6365-HDR-MA Rem 3100_72 copy.jpg

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