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| Waiting for Burial, Cemetery Above |
| Mitchell Jamieson |
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Accession Number: 88-193-RV
Original work: Drawing, Pen & Ink
Original size: 9.625 by 13.5 inches
A sergeant of the burial company told the artist that almost 1300 men had been buried here already - American, British and German in separate plots of 50 each, with 200 more buried on the beach to be moved up to the cemetery later. "Before we came over," he said, "they took us to morgues to get us used to seeing all kinds of violent death. Some of the boys got sick then but over here we've had so much to do there's no time to think about it." They had hit the beach just following some of the first waves, he went on, and things were pretty grim then. "Why, when we landed we didn't know what to do or where to start. Bodies everywhere you looked and firing going on all around you. Some of the officers of another outfit wanted to use a bulldozer [to bury the dead] but our lieutenant said no, we'd do the job proper and decent. Things aren’t so bad but this was our first actual experience and we were a pretty confused bunch on the beach. It ain’t a pretty job but its got to be done. That’s the way we feel about it and pretty soon it gets to be routine."
He talked earnestly with something a little apologetic in his tone as though conscious of being apart from the rest of the army.
"You get used to it so you don’t even notice the smell after awhile. Only you have to stick with it. You can’t leave it and come back. The other day I shaved and cleaned up and went back aways to see Doc about a cut on my foot. When I came back it really hit me and I was good and sick."
Reproduction Size:
If not indicated, the average reproduction is approximately 20x26 inches. All reproductions are custom printed and can be printed/framed to various sizes. We are happy to quote various options. Contact Us
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