published on
'Einen Augenblick' the title translates as 'one moment' and the work was commissioned as part of Harris Flights/ In Certain Places Project, 2013. The Harris Museum and Art Gallery houses a World War I roll of honour, the fallen of Preston, and the facade of the Harris building is overlooked by the First World War, war memorial, the 'Preston Cenotaph, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert-Scott.
The sound-work fully occupied and highlighted the open expansive space of the public gathering places situated between the Harris Museum, the Flights (steps) themselves and the war memorial.
'Einen Augenblick' relates to both World Wars and the important and inherent sacrifices of these. It hopefully casts a light too on those of the 53rd Welsh Division who were a vital part of military strategies from 1944 onward. Operation Overlord, the Battle of Normandy, the Ardennes, the Falaise Pocket, Battle of the Bulge and Battle of the Reichswald, the liberation of s'Hertogenbosch, are some campaigns of the second World War where the 53 Welsh Division deserve more historical recognition.
Men of the 53rd Welsh Division themselves recognised another constant, yet similiarly unsung, World War 2 presence in the form of the 51st Highland Division, the former noting the plethora of HD insignia signs, with skull and crossbone warnings added, that were left in wake of their ongoing unstoppable advance.
Further information;
53 (Welsh) Infantry Division:
'After several years of training, the 53rd (Welsh) Division landed in Normandy on 28 June 1944, the second last British infantry division to land and was placed under command of XII Corps, defending the Odon Valley position.[24] The division was involved in much fighting in this area, with the 158th Brigade detached to fight with the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division in the Second Battle of the Odon (Operation Greenline) before Operation Goodwood in mid-July. In August it began to push beyond the Odon and crossed the river Orne, helping to close the Falaise Pocket. It was during this fighting that Acting Captain Tasker Watkins, Officer Commanding (OC) B Company of the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross, the first and only to be awarded to the regiment and division during the war, as well as the only Welshman of the British Army during the Second World War to be awarded the VC.[25]'
Advancing into the Netherlands, 53rd (Welsh) Division liberated the city of 's-Hertogenbosch in four days of heavy fighting from 24 October'.
A memorial stands to thank and remember the division in the city, see track image above.
Links
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/94/a7803894.shtml
http://incertainplaces.org
Image: Memorial to 53 Welsh Division in 's-Hertogenbosch,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:53rd_Welsh_Division_Memorial.JPG
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/53rd_(Welsh)_Infantry_Division
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_51st_(Highland)_Infantry_Division_(World_War_II)
- Genre
- Sound Art