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

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

London remembers

Bronze relief created by Paul Day depicting King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visiting Londoners bombed out during the Second World War. The relief is on a wall in The Mall in London next to a statue of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It was unveiled in February 2009.

The King and Queen had refused to leave London during The Blitz. The relif shows another aspect of the war in London.

London Remembers website 

Battle of Britain

The Battle of Britain monument in London on the Victoria Embankment near the River Thames was unveiled by Prince Charles on 18 September 2005. The monument was devised by the Battle of Britain Historical Society. Paul Day was the sculptor.

The monument commemorates all those who took part in the battle - the airmen and the civilians.

'Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few' - Winston Churchill.

For more detailed information about, and description of, this monument see The Battle of Britain London Monument website.

London air-raids 1917

This plaque is found along the banks of the Thames River in London.

The Sphinx on the banks of the Thames River was presented to England by Egypt in 1819 as a memorial to Lord Nelson and Sir Ralph Abercromby and the battles against Napoleon in Egypt, particularly in 1798. The sphinx was one of the landmarks slightly damaged during the bombing of London. However many buildings were destroyed in the air-raids and people killed.

Websites
1914-1918 Online - International Encyclopedia of the First World War - Bombing of London
History in the Headlines - London's World War / Zeppelin Terror
Imperial War Museum - Air raids that shook London in the First World War

Wars of the Roses

This week I began a six week online course - England in the time of Richard III - prepared by the University of Leicester and put on line by FutureLearn. During the first week we looked at the Wars of the Roses, a series of battles that took place between 1455 and 1487. The first battles occurred between 1455 and 1464, the second series between 1469 and 1471 while the two final battles occurred in 1485 and 1487.

There are many websites that help to portray the story of this civil war in England between the Lancastrian and Yorkist kings of England and their supporters.

A good starting point is The Wars of the Roses - a website that includes maps and timelines showing the battles and the relevant events in the history of this period. Clicking the links provides summary information about each battle.

Four of the major battles were:
Blore Heath in 1459
Towton in 1461
Tewkesbury in 1471
Bosworth 1485

The battle at Towton resulted in the most deaths in any of the battles. A three minute video, providing a brief summary of the battle, located on the front page of the Towton Battlefield website is recommended viewing.
BBC - Bradford Uni unravels Roses battle puzzle

Re-enactment societies commemorate some of these battles including the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. Living history groups:
The Wars of the Roses Federation
Towton Battlefield Society
Les Routiers de Rouen
Buckingham's Retinue

Other websites include:
Richard III Society
British Archaeology - The big dig: Discovering Bosworth
Time Team Special (2011) - Wars of the Roses: Relocating the field of the Battle of Bosworth (video)

The Guardian (20 February 2010) - Silver badge and lead shot pinpoint the Battle of Bosworth
York Boar badge as worn by the supporters of Richard III- (video)

The Official Website of the British Monarchy - provides short biographies of British royalty

The letters of the Paston Family of Norwich are a rich resource when studying 15th century history. The letters are available online via the Project Gutenberg website. The book, Blood and Roses, by Helen Castor uses the letters to describe life in 15th century England. See also BBC History: Paston family letters.

Other resources:
National Archives
British History Online - catalogue
National Heritage List for England lists many surviving medieval buildings

The other topics in this online course include Peasants and farmers. Books, literacy and printing, Death and commemoration, Food and The road from Bosworth, including Richard III's reinterment.

This is only one of many online courses on a wide variety of topics, not just history, available on the FutureLearn website - worth having a look at if you have some free time.

Battle of Britain monument

The Battle of Britain memorial was opened on 18 September 2005.

It is located on the Victoria Embankment and overlooks the Thames River. A series of bronze panels depict scenes from the Battle of Britain during the Second World War. The image above shows the impact of the German bombing of London, beneath which is one of Sir Winston Churchill's famous statements: Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

The Battle of Britain Monument website contains information about the project and detailed images of the monument as seen during the day and at night. It also has a list of allied aircrew during the Battle of Britain.

Other panels show the pilots scrambling to reach their aircraft to take on the German planes.

The panels mounted both sides of two granite walls measures 25 metres and is a most impressive site. The names of the 2,937 men - pilots and ground crew from 14 countries - who served in the airforce during the Battle of Britain are also listed in panels on the monument.

Additional information about the monument:

Bravery in bronze - the Battle of Britain Monument

Cleopatra's Needle, London

When in London in 2011 we were surprised to encounter two large sphinx on the Thames embankment.

The sphinx are either side of an Egyptian obelisk, part of which is shown in the photo below. The models of the sphinx, designed by George Vulliamy and modelled by C. H. Mabey, were added to the site in 1882. Unfortunately they are facing the wrong way - they should be guarding the obelisk, facing away from it.

The obelisk dates back to around 1450 BC and was originally erected at Heliopolis in Egypt on the orders of Thutmose III. It was one of three known structures erected at this time. It is known under the name of Cleopatra's Needle but has no connection with that Queen of Egypt. One of the plaques on base of the monument reads:

The obelisk was presented to the United Kingdom in 1819 by Muhammad Ali, ruler of Egypt and Sudan, in commemoration of Lord Nelson's victory against the French Navy at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 and the victory of Sir Ralph Abercromby's troops against the French at the Battle of Alexandria in  March 1801.

It was not until 1877 that attempts were made to transport the obelisk to London. It was encased in an iron capsule named the Cleopatra and towed to England. All went well until a storm in the Bay of Biscay when it was thought that the capsule had been lost. However it survived and was towed to England by a second ship. The obelisk was erected on the bank of the Thames on 12 September 1878.

During the First World War on the night of the 4th of November German bombers dropped bombs on London. One of the bombs landed near the obelisk. Shrapnel from the bomb damaged the plinth of the obelisk and also one of the sphinx. The damage on these monuments remains as a memory of that raid. The blog, Great War London, provides information about the German raid and damage that occurred.

The Imperial War Museum has a photo of the sphinx after the air raid showing the damage not only to the monument but also more serious damage close by.

Special Operations Executive memorial, London

Memorials can tell us a great deal about aspects of history that were not well known or which may have been forgotten. When returning to our hotel in Lambeth Road we passed, on the Albert Embankment outside Lambeth Palace, a memorial to the S O E.

Reading the plaque, the S.O.E was the Special Operations Executive which 'was secretly formed for the purpose of recruiting agents, men and women of many nationalities who would volunteer to continue the fight for freedom by performing acts of sabotage in countries occupied by the enemy during the Second World War.'

The woman featured on the memorial was Violette Szabo who grew up in London, the daughter of an English father and French mother. When her husband was killed fighting in North Africa she volunteered for under cover work in France. On her second mission she was captured by the Germans, tortured and killed. Violette was only one of many women and men who were involved in S.O.E resistance operations in Europe.

The secret unit operated from London  between 1940 and 1946. There is a plaque in Baker Street designating one of the buildings from which the operatives worked.

Further information:
Special Operations Executive - IWM
Churchill's heroines - book review in Sunday Express 25 March 3013
Secret agents' memorial unveiled - BBC News 4 October 2009
Special Operations Executive 1940-1946 - BBC History
Special Operations Executive - Wikipedia

Imperial War Museum

While in London we visited the Imperial War Museum, particularly to view their new World War I display.

The Imperial War Museum was opened in June 1920 with the intention of collecting and displaying material relating to the First World War. The collection now extends to the Second World War and subsequent conflicts. The new First World War Galleries were opened in July this year and were a major reason for the visit. Fortunately we arrived at the museum well before the opening time of 10.00 am as there was already quite a long queue ahead of us. It was not long before the queue was out of the gate and growing in the street. About ten minutes before the doors opened a staff member began handing out tickets for the First World War exhibition for the first group of people to be admitted.

Viewing the exhibition is a moving experience. The exhibition investigates a variety of topics including the lead up to and causes of the war,events that took place during the war, the involvement of countries from the British Empire, recruitment, experiences on the battlefield, life on the home front, role of women, logistics of feeding and looking after the soldiers on the battlefield, the advent of new machines and technology in warfare as well as Armistice and the Peace Treaty. You really need more than one viewing to take it all in.

There is a constant hum of the sounds of battle. In one section you walk through what appears to be a trench. One confronting moment is turning a corner and finding yourself face to face with a tank. A large number of artefacts and photographs help to portray the story. Fortunately the IWM has published a book by Paul Cornish to accompany the exhibition.

The IWM also has smaller displays relating to the Second World War and other military conflicts in which the British have been involved.

Upstairs there is a galley exhibiting some of the artwork produced relating to the First World War.

We also visited the library where Robin looked for information about his grandfather who died during the First World War.

Poppies in London

The centenary of the commencement of the First World War was commemorated on August 4. In France on August 5 we watched a report on Sky News about a project at the Tower of London where a display of ceramic poppies is being prepared in memory of the servicemen from Britain and the British Empire who lost their lives during World War I.

Additional information about the Tower of London Remembers project can be found on the Tower of London website.

 Two days later, on our first day in London, we walked to the Tower of London to visit the display. It was a spectacular sight and when complete, later in the year, it will be a moving memorial to the men who died.

The display of poppies continues around three sides of the Tower of London. Cascades of poppies fall from two windows on different sides of the tower while a third cascade appears over a garden wall.

In some sections there are only two or three rows of poppies but we watched the many volunteers adding additional poppies to the display.