THE  DOVER WAR MEMORIAL  PROJECT

 

war memorial at dusk, photographed by Michelle Cooper

 

Miscellany
of interesting, curious, or notable items found during research

 

Prince of Wales

While researching one of our casualties, surnamed Prince, we came across this appealingly-named casualty. Listed under "Prince of Wales" on the CWGC site, he was Private B/321, serving in the Inland Water Transport service of the Royal Engineers.

He died on 6 September 1917, and is commemorated on the Freetown Memorial, in Sierra Leone.

 

Airman's Lifeboat

On Cromer, Norfolk, seafront is a plaque to "The Foresters' Centenary", a lifeboat in service between 1936 and 1961. The lifeboat itself is now on display in Sheringham museum. Known to her crew as "The Pea Pod", the lifeboat was donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by The Ancient Order of Foresters' Friendly Society, at a cost of £3,569. She was launched 129 times and saved 82 lives. During World War II she rescued more airmen than any other lifeboat, hence her commemoration as "The Airman's Lifeboat". 

 

tree-shaped headstone, by Simon

Headstone

Visiting Brandwood End cemetery, Birmingham, in search of the grave of our casualty Leonard John "Billy" Bailey, we noticed this unusual headstone.

Shaped in the form of a tree-trunk, it commemorates Frank Starkey Barnett. He was born on 26 January 1860 and died on 13 November 1915. Also inscribed there is the name of his wife, Bertha Barnett (nee Harrison), born 1 November 1863, and died 28 March 1940.

They married in 1885 in the Solihull registration district.

 

 

 

 

Headstone

At St Mary the Virgin church, Lapworth, Warwickshire, amongst the graves, is this unusual little memorial. The headstone reads:

"In loving memory of Frank Wise, aged 13 years, Sidney Warren, aged 11 years, and Ernest Spight, aged 11 years, who were drowned through the breaking of the ice on Spring Pits on which they were sliding as they returned from school and church on Ash Wednesday, February 13, 1907.. Also of Arthur Wise, aged 10 years, who gave his life in a brave attempt to save his companions. This stone was erected by the parishioners of Lapworth as a token of sympathy with their parents and as a warning to the children of future generations. 

 

 

 

Samuel Plimsoll

At St Martin's church, Cheriton, while looking for war casualties we came across the grave of Samuel Plimsoll, famed for the maximum loading marks on ships to ensure safe buoyancy in various conditions.

The inscriptions at the front of the grave have a representation of a loading mark, and read, "Samuel Plimsoll "The Sailors Friend", born at Briston Feb 10th 1824, died at Folkestone June 3rd 1898." Beneath is inscribed "He giveth his beloved sleep".

On the right face is written, "Harriet Frankish, his wife. March 12 1851 - May 22 1911. "I will lift up mine eyes until the hills from whence cometh my help" "

On the left face appear the words, "Enid Mary, dear wife of S R C Plimsoll, July 2nd 1893 - August 21st 1937. L.M.N.B.M."

 

 

set 2475The Only Greek Soldier

From a visit to Botley cemetery, Oxford, we learnt that there is only one Greek soldier buried in the UK. His name was T, Lagos, and he died from wounds on 18 October 1944. His grave in the picture is marked by the cross.

In the same cemetery is a CWGC headstone for Private H Gibbons, who died on 23 February 1919. Unusually it has an inscription on the back, presumably commemorating his wife.set 2475

 

 

 

 

 



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