Remembrance: Memories and Memorials Spring Newsflash 2015

Spring Newsflash:

Dear all,

This not a full newsletter but just some items I have found and events that are coming up that you may be interested in. Please do keep me up to date with your local events and if you have been doing research please do start to send it in now so that we can get it on the system.

Best wishes and Happy Easter

Cath Pike

Disaster for Louth War Memorial:

On the 15th March 2015 a vehicle crashed into the war memorial on the corner of Eastgate in Louth. The driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. Town Clerk Linda Blankley reported that the monument will have to be surveyed for structural damage, but that the main damage appears to be to the shields relating to the Second World War that were at the base of the memorial. However photographs of the memorial and the plaques

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supplied by Lincolnshire Remembrance project volunteers for an exhibition, have provided valuable evidence that will be used to restore the damaged plaques.

From a conservation point of view it is worth making sure you have some detailed photographs of the war memorials in your towns and villages as you never know when disaster will strike.

Mendinghem Military Cemetery

I was updating the record for one of the Lincolnshire Casualties who is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery which is located 17 Kms north-west of Ypres. The Commonweath War Graves website (cwgc.org) often provides some useful insights into the history of the cemetery and why it is there. Mendinghem- sounded to me like a plausible Belgium place name. However Mendinghem like Dozinghem and Bandaghem, were the popular names given by the troops to groups of casualty clearing stations posted to this area during the First World War.

Training and Events for Lincolnshire Remembrance:

Record and Research Your Local War Memorial:

Would you like to learn more about your local war memorial, and the stories that it can tell about your local community?

Would you like to help us record that information and share it more widely?

Come and join us for a day's training at the Arts and Heritage Centre on how to record and research your local war memorial and the people who are recorded on it.

This workshop is a partnership between the Lincolnshire Remembrance, Memories and Memorials project and Down Your Wold.

Spaces are limited so booking is essential. Please call the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside service on 01507 609740 or email [email protected] to reserve your place.

Lunch is provided (please let us know if you have special dietary requirements).

We will be visiting some local memorials on the day so please bring a coat and sturdy shoes (and a camera if you wish).

Civic Voice War Memorial Condition Survey Workshop

Lincoln 23rd April 2015

As we reflect on the events of the First World War that saw so many people make the ultimate sacrifice, we believe it is vital that we ensure our memorials are fitting tributes to

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the fallen. Our project, as part of the national commemorative events will help conserve and protect the nation's war memorials for the long term.

Get Involved: Volunteers are essential to making this project a success. Sign up to attend this workshop to discuss the project, consider how you can identify and record the condition of your local war memorials, and the steps that can be taken to conserve them for the future. To sign up for this event which Lincolnshire Remembrance Project will be supporting follow the link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/war-memorial-condition-survey-workshop-lincoln- tickets-16052688022

Venue: Lincoln Drill Hall, Freeschool Lane, Lincoln LN2 1EY

Time: 10.00 - 16:00

Refreshments and a light buffet lunch will be provided.

From ‘auto’ to ‘awesome’

A beginner’s workshop on getting more from your camera when photographing historic buildings, landscapes and memorials delivered in partnership the Lincolnshire Remembrance: memories and memorials project.

A one session course FREE to new learners (age 19+) on Friday 22nd May from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at The Bowls Club, Wyndham Park, Hill Avenue, , NG31 9BB.

Join Heritage Lincolnshire’s Beverley Gormley who will help beginners to compose, shoot and edit great photos and get to know their F-stop from their aperture! Are you baffled by your camera’s settings? Want to stop using ‘auto’? Local History Collections at Lincoln Central Library (Date to be confirmed) This workshop is for beginners who want to get more from their camera when photographing

historic buildings, landscapes and memorials.

You’ll need to bring along your digital camera (point-and-shoot or DSLR, no camera phones or tablets please) outdoor clothing and sensible footwear as we’ll be venturing outside to take some photos in the afternoon. (Wyndham Park does have accessible paths)

Lunch will be provided. (Please tell us of any special dietary requirements).

Booking is essential. For an enrolment form please email [email protected] or telephone 01529 461499.

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If you have problems booking any of the above you can contact me – just send me an email [email protected] or ring me on 01522 554959

Other Events: (Please let me know of any events in your area)

Date Event Venue and Contact details 3rd April- Centenary of the Museum of Lincolnshire Life 28th June Women's Institute – http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/visiting/museums/museum- Inspiring Women 1915- of-lincolnshire-life/ 2015 Sunday 5th Thorpe Camp – opens Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Thorpe,(on the April for a new season, B1192 between and LN4 4PE complete with new First (01526 342249). World War Aviation Open every Sunday and Bank holiday from Easter to display October 1-5pm Tues 14th Follow the Machine Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 2LS (01476 April Gunners Footsteps – a 566116) 11am and walk through the site of 1.30pm the WW1 training camp with Rachael, Belton's archaeologist Western Front Association: Sobraon Barracks Burton Road, Lincoln Rope Walk Roundabout Tritton Road http://www.lincolntankmemorial.co.uk Thursday The 4th Northern Friends of Lincoln Tank 14 May Hospital Lincoln and the [email protected] 2015 VAD The Royal Naval Association Club, Coulson Road, Lincoln 7.30pm Mike Credland LN6 7BG

Saturday Family History Day Lincolnshire Archives, St Rumbold Street, Lincoln LN2 5AB 30th May Drop in to find out what (01522 782040 10.30am – the Archives can offer to 3pm the family historian. Please let me know about your events locally email me at [email protected]

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Thanks to Nev Gray for the following information about the Church Lads Brigade:

To the Glory of God! – St Deny’s, Sleaford, Church Lads’ Brigade

In St Deny’s Church Sleaford, Lincolnshire, there is a Roll of Honour in the form of a wall mounted stone plaque, dedicated to members of ‘The Sleaford Company Church Lads’ Brigade who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919’.

Nationally it is estimated that around 50,000 Brigade Lads served in the First World War during which, many honours and distinctions were awarded including 21 Victoria Crosses. The Brigade contributed to two Service Battalions of the King's Royal Rifle Corps whose members were comprised entirely of past and present members of the Church Lads' Brigade. The attack on High Wood on 15th July 1916 was a significant event in the Church Lads’ Brigade war history because the battalion suffered heavy losses amounting to more than half of its establishment.

However, the casualties on the Sleaford Church Lad's Brigade memorial appear to have enlisted in a lot of different regiments:-

13 into the Lincolnshire Regiment, 6 in the Sherwood Foresters and different ‘Yorkshire’ Regiments, 1 in the Navy, 8 in various other Regiments and only one (Cyril May) was in the 16th Battalion KRRC. Cyril May died aged 20 on 2nd June 1918 at Cologne, Germany.

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It made me realise, that in addition to our organisations past association with the 16th (and 19th) Battalion(s) of the KRRC and the sacrifices made by our members at the time, thousands of members and ex-members enlisted in so many other Regiments / Naval units etc.

Younger Brigade lads also served on the Home Front in both world wars. They worked closely with the Civil Defence organisation and the Fire Brigades while others would support the local authorities by providing bands for civic events. The Girls' side of the movement was also occupied on the Home Front in both world wars, particularly with First Aid, carrying messages and guiding soldiers through London to various railway stations.

St Deny’s, Sleaford Church Lads’ Brigade was Company No.2152, enrolled on 01/01/1903 and part of the 1st Battalion Lincoln Regiment (B51). A JTC unit (No.301) was enrolled on 31/08/1914. The Company was suspended on 23/10/1939 and finally disbanded on 10/11/1947.

Recently, while looking through the bound copies of the Brigade magazine for 1910, I came across a group photograph of Sleaford Company’. I wonder how many of those bright- eyed lads subsequently ‘joined-up’ and ‘gave their lives’?

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Also many thanks to Adrian Wilkinson from Lincolnshire Archives who has sent the following story regarding the SS Persia. Of course I knew of the SS Lusitania but I had no idea about this story: The sinking of the SS Persia (30th December 1915)

A pre-war postcard of the SS Persia at Aden

The SS Persia was an 8,000 ton passenger liner built for P&O by Caird & Company of Greenock. The Persia was launched in 1900 and when she joined P&O's fleet she was employed on the "Empire Run" between London and Bombay.

The Persia was not requisitioned in the early months of the war and on 18th December 1915 she left London, bound for India, with 519 passengers and crew on board. On 30th December the liner was steaming to the south of Crete when she had the great misfortune to be spotted by the U38. This was the same submarine that had attacked the troopship Mercian, and it was commanded by the same highly efficient captain, 34 year old Max Valentiner.

At 1.10pm the passengers were still having lunch when the Persia was struck on the port side by a single torpedo. Five minutes later one of the liner's boilers exploded and she quickly foundered with the loss of 343 lives. The sinking was very controversial, since it broke international naval law, which stated that merchant ships could be stopped and searched for contraband, but could only be sunk if the passengers and crew were put in a place of safety. Valentiner, however, had fired a torpedo with no warning and had made no provision for any survivors.

At the time of the sinking, the liner was carrying a large quantity of gold and jewels belonging to the Maharajah Jagatjit Singh, but the Indian prince had had the good fortune to disembark at Marseilles. Also on board was Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who was travelling his secretary (and mistress), Eleanor Thornton. Lord Montagu was later rescued, but tragically Eleanor was drowned. Before the war Eleanor had modelled for the sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes and she is thought to be the figure depicted in Sykes' most famous work, the "Spirit of Ecstasy" statuette that can be seen on the front of Rolls-Royce motor cars.

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Frederick Fairchild – A Lincolnshire Man Lost on the SS Persia

Frederick (Fred) Fairchild was born in Thurlby, near Bourne, on the 27th July 1892. At the time of Frederick's birth his father, Joseph, was the publican of the Blue Bell Inn and a wood dealer. However, Joseph subsequently acquired Ivy House Farm and on the 1911 census Fred is listed as being a milkman on his father's smallholding.

Fred was a regular churchgoer and he was described by the vicar of Thurlby, John Pettifor, as being a "…highly respected parishioner…a Sunday school scholar and a valuable member of the church choir."

Fred began working for the P&O Line in October 1913 as a general servant and baggage steward on the SS Mantua, before transferring to the SS Persia in August 1914. He was lost at sea when the liner was torpedoed the following year. At the time of his death he was living in Walthamstow in Essex and his name is recorded on the Mercantile Marine Memorial on Tower Hill, London.

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