KINGSTON ST MARY WAR MEMORIAL Erected 1920 INDEX Page 2… First steps Page 3… The public appeal leaflet Page 4 …Newspaper report of the unveiling of the Memorial Cross Page 5….Other war memorials (The Scout Memorial & Playing Field) Page 7… The War Dead Page 29.. The Roll of Service This booklet was compiled and researched by Ray Stokes on behalf of the Kingston St Mary History Society. Every care has been taken to ensure accuracy but if you spot any errors or omissions, can add to the information or supply photographs, please contact me on – Tel: 01823 762417 or email [email protected] 1 FIRST STEPS At a General Meeting of parishioners 28 May 1919, it was resolved that a Memorial should be erected in the churchyard on a site close to the south gate, to honour the local men who lost their lives while serving in the First World War. Mr Frederick Bligh Bond of Bristol, a noted church architect, was employed to design and supervise the erection of the Memorial Cross. The estimated cost, including bronze tablets with the names of the Fallen and the architect’s fees was £350. The following month a printed pamphlet was circulated in the parish appealing for donations. The committee felt it would “add greatly to the value and interest of the Memorial, if the cost of its erection is shared by every parishioner and by all who have an interest in Kingston.” The chairman of the organising committee was the Vicar the Rev Percy Shattock and the treasurer for the appeal was Mr Louis Hawkings, the headmaster of the school, who had served in the fledging Royal Naval Air Service during the war. Mr Bligh Bond produced a sketch plan of the proposed memorial in December 1919 which met with the approval of the committee and it was erected the following year. Made of Doulting stone and standing more than 14 feet high, the memorial takes the form of an octagonal Latin cross on a square plinth and three stepped octagonal base. The names of the 35 men who died in the First World War appear on plaques on the memorial. An additional plaque was added after the Second World War listing the names of the seven men who died in that later conflict and the inscription on the base updated to read: “IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 18 AND IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.” The memorial is a Grade 2 listed monument because of its historic interest “as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.” It is described as “a modest but good example of a memorial in the form of a Latin cross”. It was unveiled during the morning service on Christmas Day 1920 by Colonel Walsh of Kingston, and remains the centre point of the village’s Act of Remembrance each November. 2 3 This account of the unveiling ceremony appeared in the Somerset County Gazette Jan 1st 1921 KINGSTON’S FALLEN DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL CROSS In commemoration of the men of Kingston who fell in the war a memorial cross has been erected at the entrance to the parish church. The dedication and unveiling took place at the morning service on Christmas Day. The cross which is of Doulton stone, stands about 14 feet in height, and the design is similar to those erected on the battlefields of France and Flanders. It was designed by Messrs Bligh Bond, Falconer and Baker, the well-known Bristol architects, and it stands on a plinth at the base of which is inscribed: “In grateful memory of the men of Kingston who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1919.” On either side of the cross are the names of those who made the supreme sacrifice, their number being 35. There was a crowded congregation at the morning service, which was conducted by the vicar (the Rev P.E.F. Shattock) while Mr C Minett, Taunton town missionary read a portion of Scripture (Rev. vii.,9, to end). The unveiling of the memorial was to have been performed by Brigadier-General H.C. Frith C.B., but owing to unforeseen circumstances he was prevented from attending, his place being taken by Colonel Walsh C.B., of Kingston, who belongs to a well-known military family. Before the unveiling an eloquent and appropriate address was delivered in the church by the Bishop of Taunton. Fortunately, the weather was fine, the sun shining brightly when the congregation assembled around the cross in the churchyard. Following the singing of the hymn “For All the Saints” Colonel Walsh unveiled the memorial by releasing a Union Jack with which it was covered. He paid tribute to the heroism of those who had fallen and to the sacrifice of many who had survived the conflict, although still suffering from the effects of the hardships and dangers they had endured. The form of service explained that the cross had been “erected in thankfulness for the gift of victory; in remembrance of our brothers from this parish who served and suffered in the war; and especially those who gave their lives.” Their names were as follows – Geoffrey Francis Arnold, Percival Arthur Berry, Charles Billing, Wilfred Blackmore, Arthur Chidgey, Sidney Clemow, Victor Dicks, Daniel Dykes, Edward Ferris, Reginald Furzer, William John Furzer, Ernest Gamblin, Robert Anderson Gault, William George Gillett, William Hakes, Charles Hayes, Gilbert Hurford, Frederick Elworthy Kidner, William Lowman, William Harry Lye, John William Miles, Frank Ernest Palfrey, William Ring, Bertie Rowcliffe, William Samways, Walter Saunders, Walter Sealey, Henry Short, Frederick Sloley, William Edward Sully, John Charles Templeman, George Totterdell, Frederick George Tucker, Frank Walford, Frank Woodley. After the ceremony the Last Post and the Reveille were sounded by ex-Bugle-Major Hughes of the 2/5th Somerset Light Infantry while the service which followed in the church concluded with the playing of the National Anthem by the organist (Mr H.J.Treeby). The cross was subscribed for by the parishioners. After the ceremony wreaths and flowers were placed at the foot of the memorial by friends and relatives of those who served in the war. 4 Other Memorials There are a number of other war memorials in the village although they are not always immediately recognisable as such. The Scout Memorial Just a short distance away from the cross, is a lantern hanging over the churchyard gate. It was put up by the local Scouts to commemorate two of their former members Geoffrey Arnold and Frederick Sloley who died in the First World War. The Scout emblem is incorporated in the ironwork from which the lamp hangs and a carved wooden plaque recording the two men’s names is set into the gate pillar. The Village Hall Although not officially registered as a war memorial, the erection of the hall came about as a result of events in the village during the Great War (1914-1919). In 1915 the ladies of the village formed a Christmas Present Working Party (CPWP) to make and send parcels to all the soldiers and sailors from Kingston. One later recalled: “Forty of us crammed into the small reading room at the Club, an atmosphere of bootlaces, smokes, knitting and warmth; for all those things and many others went into those parcels.” Fund raising events, including whist drives, dances and jumble sales, were organised to meet the costs. After the end of the war Miss Arnold, who had been vice chair of the group, wrote: “How I shall miss it all. We’d been happy working together.” However, the village school where many of the events had been held was not entirely suitable so it was decided at a meeting in the Vicarage, on March 4 1919, “to remain in being until the Parish Hall be built”. The ladies stepped up their fund raising and over the next three years raised a total of £426. After making donations to the Welcome Home supper for local servicemen on Armistice Day 1920 and the War Memorial fund, they handed over £355 7s 7d (£355.38) towards the cost of the Village Hall which was eventually opened in 1923 by the Hon Mrs Mary Herbert. For a detailed account of the opening ceremony go to the hall website (ksmvillagehall.co.uk). 5 Air Mechanic William Samways Some memorials are in the most unlikely places. This memorial stands beside the drive to Volis Farm, now the home of the Taylor family. William Samways was the eldest son of Alfred Edward Samways, a shepherd on Lord Portman’s estate, and his wife Flora (nee Watts) who lived at 14 Volis, Kingston. After serving with an artillery unit, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He was killed in action over France less than three weeks later. Playing Field In 1948 the Hon Mrs Mary Herbert of Tetton House gifted into Trust a parcel of land of just over two acres for the purpose of providing “a recreation ground mainly for the use of children and young people”. In 1984 the Trust became a registered charity (No: 288912) under the title “The Kingston War Memorial”. The Parish Council is the managing trustee with the day to day running of the playing field being carried out by a volunteer general management committee. The playing field provides play equipment for children of all ages, a football pitch, croquet lawn and a small pavilion for small meetings and children’s birthday parties.