The Memorial was erected in 1920 in memory of the men from Hurst Hill, killed in action in the First World War and the adjacent window was also dedicated to them. This memorial has, since its dedication on the 7th November 1920, been a focal point of the church ground and 74 names recorded on it.
I was a reader and a member of the PCC of St Mary the Virgin at time the war memorial (its called the Calvary at the church) was being discussed at the PCC meeting concerning the condition of the figure of Christ. After it was resolved on what to do I brought up the fact that most of the names on the memorial were unreadable and should also be restored. The members of the PCC and the vicar were very negative over the idea, saying the cost would be to great and anyhow we had a list of the names in a book, which was kept in the vestry of the church. (These names are still read out in the Remembrance Service every year.) Undaunted I kept the argument going saying that what was already put there by our ancestors in memory of those fallen in war should be kept, and would be failing in our duty if we let the memorial disappear. It was said that I obviously had a connection with one of the names on the memorial as I felt so strongly about having it restored but after I told them I had no connection whatsoever there were a few moments of silence! After a long discussion it was agreed to get an estimated cost of the restoration.
The result of the survey was that because of the type of stone the names were engraved on, it could not be re-cut and the only way was to have four new stone tablets made of black granite and fixed over the face of the originals.
The cost would be just under one thousand pounds. This was a lot of money as the church was not very well off at the time. At the next PCC meeting the cost was put before the members, and it was felt the money could be better spent elsewhere but it was agreed to discuss the matter further at the next meeting in one months time.
I spent that month gaining support from the members and finally it was agreed to go ahead with the restoration. It was completed in 1988 by a stonemason from Bilston. (his name escapes me at the moment) Although the list of names that you see in your photo are not the originals, the originals are still there under the new tablets of stone!.
The act of Remembrance takes place at the memorial and a wreath laid on it every Remembrance Sunday (November 11th).
Church & Memorial |
Dedication |
Names A-L |
Names M-W |
| The insciption on the memorial reads:
"To the Glory of God. Here beneath the shadow of the cross of Christ are inscribed the names of the men of Hurst Hill, who made the great sacrifice for King and Country 1914 - 1918, Rest eternal grant to them O'Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them." |
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| ADDIS, Thos.(My Great Uncle - See his story) ALLDEN, Jno. Wm. ALLEN, H. Oliver ASTON, Jos. BAKER, Walter L. BAUGH Jas. BENNETT, Thos. BENTLEY, Thos. CADDICK, Sam. L. CHAVASSE, Fred. CLARKE, Thos. COLE, Jabez S. CHESWORTH, Fred C. COLLEY, Jas. COOPER, Geo. COX, Clifford COX, Jno. Wm. COX, Geo. Wm. DARBEY, Jas, Wm. DAVIES, Sid. J. DAVIES, Thos. DRAISEY, Jno. H. ELWELL, Wm. FELLOWS, Jas. FELLOWS, Job FELLOWS, Mervyn FLAVELL, Arthur FLEET, Geo. R. FLETCHER, Walter FLETCHER, Walter (yes two!) FONES, Isaac F. FOSTER, Wilfred E. GUEST, Jno. HICKMAN, Elijah HUGHES, Daniel JACKSON, Benj. |
JAMES, Jno. LAWTON, Jno. MEESE, Fred. MILLARD, Eli. MILLARD, Jas. H. NICHOLLS, Albt. V. NICHOLLS, Jas. H. NICHOLLS, Thos. NICHOLLS, Thos (yes two!) PERKINS, Alfred PERKINS, David PICKERILL Thom. MM (Military Medal???) PINCHES, Jas. PRUDEN, Sylvanus RICHARDS, Simeon ROOKER, Emmanuel ROLINSON, Wm. H. RUDGE, Alfred RUDGE, Thos. SCREEN, Thos. SHEPERD, Geo. SHINTON, Henry SIMNER, Wm. SMITH, Ernest SMITH, Reuben SMITH, Jno. Wm. SWINNERTON, Thos. TAYLOR, Arthur TAYLOR, Jno. TURNER, Howard TURNER, Jno. Wm. TURNER, Samuel VICKERS, Arthur WATERHOUSE, Wm. WEBB, Benj. WEBB, Wm. WILLIAM, Saml. WRIGHT, Jas. |
Rest in Peace, God bless. |
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