The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Mark,

Many thanks for your help here

best regards
Michael

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

As I consider this subject to be particularly important,
and a cause deserving of the widest possible support,
as well as this thread, I have run a similar one on the Great War Forum.

The following was posted there earlier today by 'wroclaw'
quote: Dear Michael and friends!

After several appeals by Michael – and having much of the same (even less successful) with similar affair with another municipality (regarding the NZMR) – I spread some e mails including a link to this discussion board.

Today I was CC'd to a reply from Prop. Yigal Sheffy and please see the quoted spirit of things as he gives them:

"Works on recovering the memorial at the mouth of the river are about to be done by the time the Tel Chay conference will take place (Sep. the 3rd: see http://www.ww1-israel.org/UserFiles/Image/118665083443.pdf )

Tel Aviv municipality had allocated the funds required and instructed the relevant department to execute the work. As we speak a marble work contractor is working on recovering the writing on the column (English & Hebrew) that has been consumed almost totally during time. In addition, new signs (also in both Languages) will replace the old ones where there had been much inaccuracy."

Indeed in an article I read online yesterday (dealing with bike ride trails near the river) it was mentioned that access to the column is restricted now: it surprised me for a moment since I remember seeing people stand just on its foot last independence day. Now I can see what is the reason for it being closed for visits.

I hope this advance would also serve as an "appetiter" for other local authorities to look for more historical accuracies in signs they put.

Great work Michael!

I have replied as follows:

Gal,

Many thanks for your help here, and behind the scenes on this matter.

I am grateful for Dr. Sheffy's comments and I understand that his, quote
"In addition, new signs (also in both Languages) will replace the old ones where there had been much inaccuracy"
implies that the problem will be addressed urgently by the Tel Aviv-Jaffo city authorities.

I shall be away for the first week in September on a visit to Gallipoli, and I shall not be back until after the Post-Conference's Tour on the 7th Sept.
However, on my return I shall make a point of taking the earliest opportunity to visit the 157th Infantry Brigade's column to see what work has taken place between now and then.

I feel sure that Dr. Sheffy will understand if I do not close this thread or withdraw my other messages [eg; those to Lord Faulkner of Worcester ('chair' of the All-Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group) etc., etc.] until after that visit.

The offending plaque bears the name of the "Tel Aviv Municipality" and after eight weeks delay, it would have been nice to have heard directly from them on this matter.

with best regards
Michael

I last saw the monument on Saturday, 18th August
I hope to revisit it again soon after Sunday, 9th September
at which time I will report here on any progress that may have been made.

Thank you all for your support in this matter
with best regards
Michael

Adam Brown · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:39 pm Post subject:

Michael

It looks like good news, and they are not hanging about if the work is to be complete by 3rd September.

I look forward to an update from you after 7th September.

Thanks for all the posts and hopefully all the extra interest means it wont be allowed to get into such a state again.

Regards

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

I've just read this mail sent to me yesterday:

Dear Mr Brown,

Thank you very much for your message, which reached me via WriteToThem.com.

I eventually managed to open the relevant page on the forum website - I wasn't aware of the problems you've raised. I've asked our two experts who provide the secretariat for the all-party group to have a look at this and report back to me.

When I have some news, I shall write again.

Regards

Richard Faulkner

Lord Faulkner is Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group.

More good news I'd say.

Regards

Adam

dhubthaigh · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:55 pm Post subject:

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

That's great news Adam,

especially since I have still had no reply from the Municipality of Tel Aviv on this subject
[no reply from the Office of the Mayor of Tel Aviv to mine of 24th June or the reminder of 31st July!
The reminder of the 31st July was copied to the City Comptroller/Ombudsman
Their office replied on 15th Aug saying it was a matter outside their remit,
and that my letter had been sent on to the 'Director, Public Enquiries'
To date, still nothing received from the latter]

Thanks again for all your efforts here

best regards
Michael

David McNay · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

Roxy · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject:

Have any of the forum members received any correspondence regarding the successful resolution of this problem? I would not want to add my twopence if the situation was resolved.

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Roxy,

Many thanks for offering to help on this.

I returned from my trip to Gallipoli and have been to check out the situation at the memorial. The column was removed and re-engraved, so that the inscriptions can now be read clearly. Following this work it has been replaced in its original site, but turned through ninety degrees: meaning that the inscriptions now face different direction to those which they did before. I don't think that this is too important.

I am more concerned that the column has now been placed slightly out of true to the perpendicular, and I would hope that this can be corrected at some time in the future.

Most importantly, its base now has a new covering of stone into which is carved a new inscription by the municipality which clearly identifies the 52nd (Lowland) Division and where they were from. It's an inscription which I think we can all be happy with and which I had hoped to share with you

However my son's digital camera has turned out to be less idiot-proof than we thought and this particular idiot will have to make a return visit to get another set of shots to share with you all [after a further set of camera lessons from the younger generation]

My thanks to everyone for their support on this, which I think has been an excellent example of what this forum is all about; ensuring that the sacrifice is not forgotten, the memory preserved, and that history is passed on truthfully and correctly.

I hope to be back soon with some pictures to share

regards
Michael

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 9:42 am Post subject:

Michael

Excellent news, I look forward to seeing the photographs.

Regards

Adam

Roxy · Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject:

Michael,

I concur with Adam: well done - (for your efforts, not your photograhy Wink

)

Roxy
_________________
Remembering my ggf, Pte Thomas Roberts, 10 SR, killed 25 Sep 15 at Loos.
Also remembering Flt Lt Al Squires and CXX/3 killed 2 Sep 06 in Afghanistan.

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

With the 90th anniversary rapidly approaching, I am pleased to at last be able to add these two recent photographs.

The first shows the new plaque which is set into the steps or plinth upon which the column stands.

Please compare with the picture in post #1

The second shows the restored inscription on the column itself.

The column was removed for a time and I believe that the worn lettering was ground away and new lettering re-cut exactly as before, with the addition that it has now been filled in with a dark material. This has two benefits as I see it. Firstly, by filling in the lettering a smooth surface is presented to the elements and weathering, from sea spray etc, will be slowed down considerably. I imagine that the turning of the column so that the inscription no longer faces the sea, was probably done for the same reason. Secondly, it makes the inscription much easier to read.

Unfortunately, when the re-inscribed column was replaced, it was not only turned, but also put back at an angle which is out of the perpendicular. I hope that this can be corrected at some point, and here there is reason for hope since this renewal/redevelopment work is very much still 'in progress.' The broad promenade or path to the memorial has been re-laid and the ground on the opposite side of this has now been turfed over. However, this is still a construction site which is fenced off and I see from this morning's newspaper that there is an argument about who is to pay for a $2-million foot-bridge which is part of the grand design.

So, in short, much good progress has been made and there is hope for the future of this memorial

Thank you again for all of your support on this
Michael
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