2ND LT HUGH CARR TO BE
COMMEMORATED WITH
SAND PORTRAIT ON ROKER BEACH FOR
DANNY BOYLE’S ARMISTICE COMMISSION
Second Lieutenant Hugh Carr, who lost his
life in the First World War, will be commemorated by a large-scale sand portrait
for Danny Boyle’s Armistice commission Pages
of the Sea. On
Sunday 11 November, the public is invited to assemble at one of thirty-two
beaches around the UK and the Republic of Ireland at low-tide for an informal, nationwide gesture of remembrance for the men and women
who left their home shores during the First World War.
A large-scale portrait of 2nd
Lt Carr, designed by sand artists Sand In Your Eye, will be drawn into the sand
on the beach and washed away as the tide comes in. In addition, the public will
be asked to join in by creating silhouettes of people in the sand, remembering
the millions of lives lost or changed forever by the conflict. Each of the
beaches taking part in the project will commemorate a different WW1 casualty.
Hugh
Carr was born on July 13, 1891, to parents Thomas Carr and Mary Ann Carr (nee
Davidson). He lived with his parents and
brother Walter Frederick Carr in Sunderland Street, Houghton-le-Spring and then
in Chilton Moor.
He
was apprenticed as a mining engineer to Lambton & Hetton Collieries Ltd for
seven years, starting in 1905.
After
the outbreak of war in August 1914, Hugh enlisted in York on October 20 the
same year. After training, he joined C Squadron of the Household Calvary 1st
Life Guards as a Trooper (number 3244).
In
the stalemate of the Western Front, underground warfare, especially the laying
of explosive mines below enemy positions, became a key tactic, leading to the
formation of specialist tunneling companies that relied on former miners from
areas such as County Durham. So Hugh transferred to the Royal Engineers, 172
Tunnelling Company, formed in February 2105, with the rank of Second
Lieutenant.
Based
in the hard-fought Ypres Salient in Belgium, and in cold, dark and dangerous
conditions, his work would have involved digging deep defences and
communications, planting mines and counter-attacking enemy tunnels.
Hugh
was seriously wounded when a German shell exploded in a trench positioned in
the small French village of St Eloi, 5km south of Ypres, on January 21, 1916.
He was transferred by train to a field hospital in Remy Siding, Poperinge, with
leg, head and arm injuries. He died of his wounds two days later, aged 25. He
was buried in a cemetery next to the hospital.
His
parents were informed by telegram.
The Pages of the Sea portraits
commemorate men and women who served or who were casualties of the First World
War, most of whom died in active service. They were chosen by Danny Boyle to
represent a range of interesting stories – ordinary people who gave their lives
to the War effort covering a range of ranks and regiments, from doctors to munition
workers, Privates to Lieutenants and Majors. A number were also notable war poets
who translated the experience of war to those back at home. Many are from the regions or
communities they will be featured in, others are from towns and cities not
featured, or from international communities to show the scale of loss. These
individuals are a just small selection of the millions who gave their lives to
the war.
The public is invited
to explore an online gallery of portraits of some of the men and women who
served in the First World War, and select someone to thank and say a
personal goodbye to either via social media or as they gather in person on
beaches on 11 November at www.pagesofthesea.org.uk. The images are drawn
from the Imperial War Museum’s ‘Lives of the First World War’ which aims to
tell 8 million stories of those who served from Britain and the Commonwealth.
Visitors to the website can also add their own portraits of members of their
family or community who contributed to the First World War. www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org
Poet Carol Ann Duffy has been invited by Boyle to write a new poem, which
will be read by individuals, families and communities as they gather on beaches
on 11 November. The Wound in Time
will be read by individuals, families and communities as they gather on beaches
on 11 November and is also available online. A
series of community-led events will also be taking place at each beach. People who
can’t make it on the day will be able to watch the activities and portraits
from most of the beaches on social media on Sunday 11 November.
The work is commissioned and produced by 14-18 NOW, and is
the culmination of the five-year programme of arts commissions marking the
First World War centenary. It is delivered with partner organisations
across the UK: National Trust; Activate Performing
Arts; Creative Foundation; Eden Project; National Theatre Scotland; Nerve
Centre; Sunderland Culture; Taliesin. The work is in association
with Aberystwyth Arts Centre; The Grand Theatre of Lemmings; Magna
Vitae; MOSTYN; SeaChange Arts; Swansea Council; Swansea University;
Theatre Orchard; and Visit Blackpool. Each has been invited to
create their own event centering around the sand art on the beach and
reading of the poem, tailored to reflect the sacrifices of their local
community.
Supported by The National Lottery and the
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
With additional support from Backstage Trust,
Bloomberg Philanthropies, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK Branch) and
National Rail.
The public can see which beaches are taking
part by visiting www.pagesofthesea.org.uk
#PagesoftheSea
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