There's a shadow on his photograph, on Tinian '45...

Not had much of a chance to walk about Glasgow or post anything up for last few weeks but thought I would quickly post up these photos I took a couple of weeks back.

Been listening to the Deacon Blue "Raintown" album in the car to work and one of my favourite tracks is "He looks like Spencer Tracy now". Always loved the haunting sound and the imagery of the song. The title of this post is the first line of the song.

This song was inspired by a Times magazine article written in 1985 about Harold Agnew who was one of the people on the the instrument aircraft "Great Artiste" that flew with the "Enola Gay" and took the photos of the mushroom cloud over Hiroshima. Tinian Island is where the aircaft took off from.

It is a fascinating article. The link is below:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1048415-1,00.html

The title of the track comes from a line in the article that describes Harold Agnew... "the paunch of a man of 64 who was an athlete 40 years ago. He looks like Spencer Tracy now."

So what has all that to do with Glasgow "The Day"?

Well it reminded me that it is the anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Hiroshima was August 6th 1945 and Nagasaki was August 9th. 64 years ago last week.
And it reminded me of a photo I took but never got to post.



In front of the cenotaph in George Square there is a memorial to the civilians that died in these attacks. It was placed there in 1985 to mark the 40th anniversary. I had never known that there was a momument to the attacks in Glasgow. I had cut through George Square so many times and never noticed this plaque right underneath my feet.

The cenotaph itself was built between 1921 and 1924 as a memorial to those that died in the First World War. It's most striking feature being the huge twin lions guarding it.

Between the lions is a fern leaf which has one word inscribed next to it. "Pax". Peace. It is not a war monument, it is a peace monument. Though sad to think that 15 years after it was unveiled the Second World War would begin, ending with the nuclear bombings that are commemorated just in front of this monument.


And this is one of the inscriptions on the side. Once again a humbling thing to read when we are moaning about many of the small things that annoy us in the modern world.

In many ways up till now I have treated the cenotaph as almost a piece of "furniture" in George Square. But when had the chance to study and and think about it then realised it is something very special. If you passing through George Square stop and take a look for a while.

Hopefully will get chance to get back into the city soon and take you another tour.

But hope you found this little post a wee thought provoker till then.

Enjoy the Times article and have a wee listen to the song if you never heard it before. You won't be disappointed.

Be well, be happy!!