Alvingham Memorials TF 367 913 St

Alvingham Memorials TF 367 913 St. Adenwold

There are two churches in this village, both accessed through the farmyard close to Alvingham Water Mill. The parish church of St. Adenwold, and that of St. Mary, sit alongside one another and are an accident of history. The church dedicated to St. Adenwold contains a Roll of Honour, for the memory of both the residents of Alvingham & North Cockerington who died in World War 1.

The names on the white piece of paper are written in gold lettering in an Old English script which is in some cases difficult to interpret. The whole is surrounded within a wooden frame and is affixed to the west wall of the church close to entrance door.

As can seen in the below photograph the names include, surname and forename, with the fallen at the top of the list. The regiment is which the person so named is given and the date that they fell is also included. This is the top half of the list.

This is the lower half:-

The whole list is shown below:-

Charles Bratton 20. Notts. killed 01 12 1915 Sidney Wright 8. Lincs. killed 02 07 1916 Samuel Hand 14. Durham killed 18 09 1916 Charles Hand 5. Lincs. Robert Hand 3. Lincs. Fred Hand R. Engs. Charles Phillipson R. Engs. Thomas Bett Lincs. Yeomanry Roy Bett R.F.A. Fred Grundy R.F.A. Charles Grundy 3. Lincs. Percy Trafford 3. Lincs. Fred Trafford A.M.C. Owen Trafford R. Engs. Morris Trafford A.M.C. Charles Bowers A.M.C. John Thompson A.M.C. Neville Thompson L. Fusiliers Charles Portas 6. Lincs Sydney Johnson 6. Lincs. William Ashley 2/5 Lincs. William Blades 2/5 Lincs. George Blades Northumberland Fusiliers Thomas Shucksmith Royal Mar. Samuel Lill 13. East Yorks.

The other memorial in the village is a roll of Honour on the wall of the Wesleyan Chapel, on Highbridge Road, Alvingham.

This is a white marble plaque that is affixed to the wall, as shown above, between the two notice boards with the date of the chapel’s building above.

The names are recorded in a photograph below, similar to those names on the Anglican Church memorial, with S. Johnson and S. A. Wright shown as being killed.

According to a newspaper report, this memorial was unveiled on 30th October 1921, a Sunday afternoon by Major F.J.M. Ingoldby. The service was conducted by the Rev. G.C. Main, but there is no indication that he dedicated it, though they also seemed to. The memorial could do with a bit of clean up but otherwise it is in a good condition and most of the names upon are clearly readable. Next door to the church is the old village grocery store, and whilst I was photographing it, the owner of the shop, now closed, joined me, and informed me that his father, George Percy Trafford, and his uncle, Charles Owen Trafford were both named on the memorial. He then showed me a picture of his shop “Traffords”, which had been in the family since around 1860, and also a picture of his grandfather, with his shop and his two sons, George Percy and Charles Owen, which I produce below.

John Readman

September 2005

In addition to the above found by John there is the following:-

Cja. © Lincolnshire Family History Society 2013

North Cockerington St. Mary

ALVINGHAM & NORTH COCKERINGTON UNVEILING OF WAR MEMORIAL A special service, which was largely attended by parishioners and friends, was held in St. Mary's Church on Sunday, June 15th, at 3 p.m., when Major S. H. Jackson, R.A., after a short and suitable address, unveiled the brass tablet erected to the glory of God and in memory of the three men of the villages who were killed during the late war, viz., Sydney Arnold Wright, Samuel Hand and George Blades. A tender and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. C. H. Lenton, Rector of Louth, who spoke of Christianity as a religion which taught the sacrifice of self and the service of others. He also thanked the parishioners for sending more than £100 to the Louth Relief Fund for those who had suffered in the flood. The Vicar, the Rev. J. A. Bunch, took the service and read the lessons, and Mr. W. Paulson resided at the harmonium. The brass tablet has been procured from Mr. G. Hallam, and was the subject of much favourable criticism. L&NLA 19th June, 1920. [Alvingham & North Cockerington]

George J. Blades, Private 1515. 2/5th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, formerly 50639 3rd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Killed in action 21st March 1918, aged 23 years. Son of Arthur and Mary Ann Blades of Eleven Greens, South Cockerington, Lincs. Born and enlisted Louth, resident Alvingham, Lincs. Commemorated Pozieres Memorial. Panel 76 and 77. and North Cockerington In remembrance of our dearly loved son, Pte. George Blades, R. I. Fusiliers, killed in action March 21, 1918. Faithful, even unto death. Manor Farm, Alvingham. L&NLA. 29th March, 1919. [Obits]

Charles Bratton, Private 29249. 1st (Garrison) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), formerly 13119 Lincolnshire Regiment. [20th Battalion, Notts. On © Lincolnshire Family History Society 2013 memorial] Died of wounds Egypt 1st December 1915. Born Gayton le Marsh, enlisted Alford and resident Louth, Lincs. Commemorated Helles Memorial. Panel 150 to 152.

Samuel Hand, Private 45547. 14th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action 18th September 1916. Born Barrow in Furness, Lancs and enlisted Louth, Lincs. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial. Pier and Face 14A and 15C. Samuel Dannatt, the second son of Samuel and Ellen Hand, of North Cockeringham, who fell in action 18th Sept. 1916. L&NLA 21st October 1016 [Obits]

Sidney Arnold Wright, Private 14624. 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Killed in action 3rd July 1916 (2nd July on Roll), aged 19 years. Brother of Mr L M Wright of ‘The Elms’, Alvingham, Lincs. Enlisted 1914 Louth and resident Alvingham, Lincs. Commemorated Thiepval Memorial. Pier and Face 1C. News has been received that Pte. Sydney Arnold Wright, of the Elms, has been killed in action. He was in the Lincolnshire Regiment and was only 19 years of 1ge. In a letter sent to his father, Lieut. E. B. Markham,, of Louth, who is in the same battalion, said; “Dear Mr. Wright, I enclose a letter from G. Smith, of Yarboro’, as he wished to express his sympathy to you and your family. Sydney’s death was a great blow to me. I felt it more than anything else, and I have lost several brother officers. Your boy was always so cheery and optimistic that it was good to see and hear him at all times. He was an excellent servant to me, and in battle he proved himself a brave soldier, fearing nothing. I am sure that everyone who knew Sydney out here are mourning his loss. He has paid the price of sacrifice for his country and his right. I hope to get send off to you shortly his personal effects. Again offering my deepest sympathy to you all. Yours very sincerely, E. B. Markham.” The letter from G. Smith, sent to Miss Wright, was as follows, “It is with deepest regret I write to tell you of the death of your brother. He was killed outright and did not suffer in the least. A piece of shell hit him on the head. I thought you would probably like to know that he did not suffer. Lieut. Markham and I are sending the few things he had on his clothes. We thought you would like to have them. If there is anything you would like to know I shall be pleased to tell you, and will do my utmost to find out for you. Will you please accept my deepest sympathy and that of all his chums. He was very much liked by all who knew him . . . I sincerely hope you will not grieve too much, although it is a very sad blow. But your brother proved himself a true Britisher and died the death of a hero. Will you please once again accept our deepest sympathy. L&NLA 15th July 1916 [Alvingham] Killed in action on July 2nd, by shell fire, in France, Sydney Arnold, the beloved son of J, and E, M, Wright, the Elms, Alvingham, age 10 years. L&NLA 15th July 1916 [Obits]

S. Johnson, Killed. Sydney Johnson (6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment) on Roll of Honour but not noted as casualty. Possibly Sydney Johnson. Private MC/10679. 50th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), formerly 13872 Lincolnshire Regiment. Died 9th June 1917. Born Covenham, enlisted Louth and resident Covenham, Lincs. Commemorated Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport. III.G.3B.

Researched by Mike Peck February 2009.