Peat Bog Soldiers | Songs of England #12 | Richmond Castle, Yorkshire
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
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In this new series in collaboration with The Nest Collective, we explore the stories behind traditional English folk songs that have connections to historic places.
On sunny days, the high tower of Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire casts its long shadow over the town below. But there is more to this Norman keep than meets the eye. During the First World War, the castle - with walls 11 feet thick - was used as a prison. Sixteen men, conscientious objectors against the war, were held here in 1916. The walls of the small cells are covered with graffiti left behind by the prisoners who came to be known as the Richmond Sixteen.
Find out more about Richmond Castle: www.english-he...
Presented by Sam Lee and Matt Thompson.
Written and Directed by Max O'Brien.
Peat Bog Soldiers, Performed by Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith.
Original Music Composed by Christopher Schlechte-Bond.
Music Direction by Thom Ashworth.
Produced by Nathalie Blue and Jamie Bellinger.
Title Lettering by Alan Kitching.
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Geoffrey of Monmouth's "King Arthur" is based on Alan Rufus (c.1040-4 August 1093/94), Earl of Richmond, Earl of East Anglia, and builder of Richmond Castle, Swavesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire and St Mary's Abbey York. Alan Rufus was interred at Bury St Edmunds by the abbot and royal physician Baldwin.
Alan served as Duke William of Normandy's palace guard captain and chief emissary to Ponthieu and England during the period (c.1064-1066) depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.
He probably was well-acquainted with the Red Lady of Brittany who composed the Lay of the Beach in commemoration of William the Conqueror's vacation at Barfleur circa 1078.
According to the Domesday survey of 1086, Alan Rufus was unique among the post-Conquest magnates in that he retained large numbers of native English lords, while minimising the Norman presence on his estates. He also brought William the Conqueror up to York to apologise in person for the Harrying of 1069-70.
According to a charter from St Mary's, Alan's brother Stephen (c.1056/1060-1136), Count of Tréguier, opened England's first Parliament in 1089 at York. Stephen is buried in Brittany, except for his heart which is buried at York. Stephen's grandson Conan IV built the keep at Richmond castle; another grandson of his, William de Tancarville, trained and knighted William Marshal.
The story is a difficult one. It's a distressing thing to do to someone dedicated to peace.
Far and wide as the eye can wonder
Heath and bog are everywhere
Not a bird sings out to cheer us
Oaks are standing gaunt and bare.
We are the peat bog soldiers,
Marching with our spades to the moor.
Up and down the guards are marching,
No one, no one can get through.
Flight would mean a sure death facing,
Guns and barbed wire block our view.
We are the peat bog soldiers,
Marching with our spades to the moor.
But for us there is no complaining,
Winter will in time be past.
One day we shall rise rejoicing.
Homeland, dear, you're mine at last.
Then we're the peat bogs soldiers,
March no more with spades to the moor.
Wow, that graffiti... beautiful and powerful.
Beautiful harmonies. Thank you.
2:15 'Norman' control? There were _no_ Normans in Richmondshire, aside from one vill on the eastern fringe owned by King William and one vill on the southern edge owned by the king's half-brother Count Robert of Mortain. All of the nearly 400 other vills were managed either by the Breton leader Alan Rufus and his half-brothers or by the many English locals whom Alan retained or promoted. Notable examples include Orm and the sons of Gamel: Orm and Gamel were the lords who complained to Earl Harold and King Edward about Tostig's misrule as Earl of Northumbria. According to one account, Tostig killed Gamel in anger at his outspokenness.
In Richmondshire proper, there was no royal sheriff. The sheriff was appointed from the natives and he and the law court were paid for by the very first sheriff's levy in return for Alan exempting the population from the onerous Danegeld.
Your use of this song to bring attention to the Richmond Sixteen (I was myself ignorant) is brilliant, and much appreciated.
I have to admit, the song sounds better in German.