Remembrance Day 2018

At 11 o'clock on 11 November 1918 the Armistice officially ending the hostilities of World War One was enacted.

When recently in England and Wales we saw a number of war memorials erected after World War One commemorating those from the local area who had died during the 1914-1918 war. After the Second World War additional plaques were added remembering those who died in the 1939-1945 war.  In some towns there were also memorial gardens. As well, memorials to those who died in war can often be found in churches and other buildings.

Display of knitted and crocheted poppies at St John the Baptist Church, Cirencester

The following posts provide information about some of the memorials that we saw on this visit to the UK:
Tring, Maldon, Kings Lynn, Pershore, Cirencester, Horsham, Crawley, Sutton and Tunbridge Wells in England  and Abergavenny in Wales.

Some towns had changing displays during the past four years remembering specific battles that took place during the Great War. Crawley created a Heroes Walk in the Memorial Gardens while St John the Baptist Church at Cirencester devoted a corner of the building for changing displays relating to the First World War.

The population of the communities where the above memorials are located would have been much smaller than they are today. For the ten memorials in this group of posts the names of more than 3000 men and several women are recorded as losing their lives during the First World War. Huge casualty lists in small communities. The numbers of the injured were much larger. The memorials serve as a reminder of the loss of life a century ago as well as in subsequent wars and conflicts.

The loss of Australian lives plus people injured was also massive. Australia's population one hundred years ago was approximately five million people. Approximately 62,000 Australians died during the First World War. Another 156,000 were listed as injured or taken prisoner. Nineteen thousand of the Australians killed in action were from Victoria. (Australian casualties)

Remembrance Day services will be held throughout Australia and England and most other countries on 11 November.

Lest We Forget

Tunbridge Wells War Memorial

The Tunbridge Wells War Memorial was dedicated on 11 February 1923. The memorial is in a prominent position in the main street near the town hall, library and museum.

The names of 801 servicemen who died serving their country during the First World War are inscribed on plaques on the memorial wall. A further 171 names of those who died during the Second World War are entered on additional plaques.

Further information:
Imperial War Museum Tunbridge Wells
Find a Grave - Tunbridge Wells Town War Memorial
Roll of Honour Kent - Tunbridge Wells
War Memorials Online - Tunbridge Wells
British Listed Buildings - Tunbridge Wells War Memorial

Sutton War Memorial

The Sutton War Memorial was dedicated on 26 June 1921 in memory of the 518 servicemen and one women from the area who died during the First World War.

In January 1921 four acres of land was set aside as a memorial park where the memorial is now situated. Plaques containing the names of the fallen are on the sides of the memorial. There is also an inscription to the memory of those who died defending their country during World War II.

Further information:
Historic England - Sutton War Memorial 
Imperial War Museum - Sutton War Museum
War Memorials Online - Sutton

Crawley memorials

A memorial to those who died in World War I is situated in front of St John's Church in Crawley.

The memorial commemorates the residents of Crawley who were killed or went missing in World War I (34 names) and World War II (19 servicemen and 9 civilians). On several occasions during 1943 and 1944 doodlebugs were dropped on the small community of Crawley resulting in the deaths of nine civilians plus another sixty-nine people injured.

The Crawley Memorial Gardens were established in 1921 when money was raised by public subscription to purchased the required land.

Photo from Flickr

Gates at the park entrance near the County Mall shopping centre contain rolls of honour - lists of the names of those from the area who died during two world wars.

In 2014 the main path through the gardens was established as the Heroes' Walk as part of the commemorations for the Centenary of the First World War. Rows of flowers were planted from seed along each side of the path and display boards provide information about what was happening during the war one hundred years ago. When we were there the focus was on the last few months of the war leading to the Armistice.

Further information:
Traces of War - Crawley
Traces of War - Crawley Memorial Park
Looking Back at Doodlebug Days of World War Two - Crawley and Horley Observer 18 May 2016
Floral Displays Fit for Heroes - CHT News Online 25 July 2015
Memorial Gardens - Crawley Borough Council
Roll of Honour - Crawley War Memorial

Horsham War Memorial

The Horsham War Memorial was dedicated on 13 November 1921. The memorial commemorates and names the residents of Horsham who served and died during World War I (359) and World War II (119).

The names have been inscribed on the panels on the semi-circular wall behind the monument.

Near the cricket ground and the church is the Garden of Remembrance.

It was established to remember those who died while serving their country during World War I.

The peaceful garden contains this memorial stone.

Further information:
Imperial War Museum - Memorials
Traces of War - Horsham

Abergavenny war memorials

Walking into Abergavenny from the cricket ground, the memorial to the 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment stands looking down the main street.

It honours the men from the regiment who died during the First World War and the Second World War.

The Abergavenny Market Hall holds the war memorial for the district.

The white marble honour board lists the 276 names of men from the region who died during the First World War. (War Memorials Online)

Nearby is a framed plaque erected by the employees in the Locomotive Department London & North Western Railway, Abergavenny and Sub-Station in memory of their fellow workmen who lost their lives in the Great War 1914-1918. (Military images) Two names of servicemen who died during the Second World War have been added.

Also in the hall is a list of the names of those from the area who died during the Second World War and Afghanistan. (War Memorials Online)

Further information:
Lost Ancestors - Abergavenny
War Memorials Online - Abergavenny and District
History Points - Abergavenny memorials 
Imperial War Museum - Abergavenny
Military Images - Abergavenny Railway

Cirencester War Memorial

The Cirencester War Memorial stands in Market Place outside the Church of St John the Baptist. It was dedicated on 31 October 1918.

The memorial commemorates those from the region who died serving in the First World War (210) and the Second World War.

A list of names of those who died serving in the two wars is inscribed on the west face of the south porch of the church.

When we visited the Church of St John the Baptist in June 2015 a section of the church was set aside for recording the history of the First World War.

The period covered on this board was April to June 1915.

When we returned in August 2018 the events occurring in the second half of the year were recorded.

The above notice informs one group of soldiers at the Front of the Cease Fire at 11.am that day. They are instructed to 'Form up and march back independently to the Chateau Harveng at once. Do not forget to bring the canteen with you.' Chateau d'Harveng is in Mons.

While we were at the church a lady was working on a display of knitted and crocheted poppies to be used as part of the commemorative service remembering the declaration of the end of the war on the 11 November 2018.

War Memorials Online Cirencester Cross
Historic England Cirencester War Memorial
CAHS - Cirencester War Memorials

Pershore War Memorial

The Pershore War Memorial is situated within Pershore Abbey. The memorial was dedicated on 1 November 1921.

The memorial is dedicated to soldiers from the area who died during the First World War (101) and the Second World War (24). The figure on the top of the plinth is Winged Victory.

Further information:
Imperial War Museum Memorials
War Memorials Online Pershore War Memorial

Kings Lynn War Memorial

The Kings Lynn War Memorial stands in Tower Park and was unveiled on 26 January 1921.

The memorial commemorates the 563 men from the area who died during the First World War and 19 from the Second World War.

Further information:
Imperial War Museum Memorials Register 
War Memorials Online Kings Lynn Memorial

Maldon War Memorial

In High Street, Maldon, outside All Saints Church stands the Maldon War Memorial. Subscriptions were collected from 1919 to build amemorial to commemorate those who men from Maldon and Heybridge who died serving their country. The memorial was dedicated on 8 May 1921.

The memorial commemorates those who died in the First World War (146) and the Second World War (42).

Further information:
Imperial War Museum Memorials
War Memorials Online Waldon War Memorial

Centenary of the Great War - Tring

The Tring War Memorial was dedicated on the 27 November 1918. It commemorates the 110 men from the area who died during the First World War and the 33 men who died during the Second World War.

The memorial is in the grounds of the Church of St Peter and St Paul in High Street.

Tring also has another area commemorating those who served and died during war. The Memorial Gardens which were established in memory of soldiers from the area who died during the Second World War.

The gardens had special displays commemorating the centenary of the First World War.

The flower beds in High Street near the entrance gates are regularly replanted.

The gardens are fenced and entrance is through gates with plaques on the pillars listing the names of soldiers who died during the Second World War.

Displays on this board are changed periodically. The centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele was being commemorated at the end of July.

The gardens are a peaceful place to relax and reflect as well as remember those who have died serving their country.

Further information:
Imperial War Museum Memorial
Imperial War Museum WWII Memorial
The Memorial Garden, Tring