I read the wonderful article in VOTV this morning about the successful search for Charlton's third casualty of war, Herbert Nightingale. The dedication and pains it took to find this missing Charlton player is quite extraordinary and the closing paragraphs did indeed have me in tears :-
"So, after almost a decade of searching, despite him having avoided every history book ever written about our club, and exactly a century to the day, on January 13th, 2016, we were at last able to welcome Nobby back into the fold. This gesture, however late, is all the more poignant when I discovered the inscription on his grave: "Let those that come after see, that this name is not forgotten....."
"Welcome home, Nobby. It's been far too long, but the Charlton Athletic family will not forget you or your sacrifice for your country and Belgium, a century ago"
To me this encapsulates what Charlton and it's supporters are ALL about, sadly something RD & KM will NEVER, EVER understand !! And therefore when I once again attend the protest this Saturday I will be dedicating my actions to Nobby, may he Rest In Peace x
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Strangely, you know, I think RD might even empathise a bit with this one - but not sure what the chances are of him reading it/ hearing about it? It might also challenge his rather blinkered view on football fans...
I'm also not sure how common a surname Nightingale is - I had a great uncle (by marriage) with that surname, and am now wondering if he could have been related to Nobby. He was Sam Nightingale.
Glad you liked it, it's a very well written piece and had a tear in my eye when I first read it.
A few points of order
This was the thread on CL on the centenary of his death
http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/70948/lest-we-forget-charlton-player-h-nobby-nightingale-13-1-16
It was the museum who uncovered this (Clive Harris is a museum trustee as well as Club Historian. He also posts on here as @SE7toSG3). The other bloke mentioned, Ben Hayes, lurks on here as well ; - )
We're very grateful that Rick/VOTV gave it a proper space and the chance to be recorded in print but it's a Charlton Athletic Museum thing.
We carry on researching our early history and only yesterday @stig uncovered what we think must be the most decorated WW1 (or any war) Addick.
And this is the only known photo of Nobby
They own any history to do with the club now. Or so it would seem.
Yes the museum has a claim on the articles its trustees research and write, strange that but troll away anyway.
The rest of us normal fans are celebrating OUR collective history which we all share.
Back to ignore mode
As you say, how sad.
Apparently i've contributed to the museum.
As have many other people.
(Sir) Henry did a lot to set it up, again, as did many others.
Sorry @Off_it , but not sure why the "They own any history to do with the club"....comment ?
WE own the history and I think more appreciation should be shown to all who were involved in setting it up.
As you say, how sad.
Well done to everyone involved.
Well done to all