Herefordshire | Eastnor | War Memorial
St. John the Baptist, Eastnor Ordnance Survey reference: SO 732373 War memorials |
A stone tablet in the church:
The dial of this clock is in loving memory of F/O Henry Wolston Parry RAFVR who gave his life for his country while on operations over Germany in the Second World War 1939-1945 July 4th 1943 aged 25 years given by his family |
A brass plaque below this:
+ THE CLOCK AND CHIMES ARE PART OF EASTNOR’S MEMORIAL TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919 |
On a wooden screen near these plaques:
+ THIS SCREEN IS ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SON CAPTAIN REGINALD SOMERS-COCKS M.C. WHO LAID DOWN HIS LIFE APRIL 24TH 1918 AGED 23 YEARS UNTO YOU IT WAS GIVEN… TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKES PHIL. 1 28 |
The main memorial is on the wall, opposite the door. There are two columns
of text, flanking a picture of (probably) St. George which appears to have
been made using inlay of various coloured stone.
IN GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF OFFICERS AND MEN OF THIS PARISH OF EASTNOR WHO TOOK PART IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919 LET US KEEP IN GLORIOUS MEMORY THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF MERCY JUSTICE AND FREEDOM HE WILL SWALLOW UP DEATH IN VICTORY |
PTE P. AUSTIN CPT R. SOMERS-COCKS M.C. PTE C.W.COLEMAN PTE E.H.COLEMAN PTE C. COURT PTE G. CROPPER CPT N. DRUMMOND PTE S.J. HART CPL W. HART L/CPL A. HART PTE W.J. LANGFORD PTE J. MARTIN PTE G. PILPS MAJ C. ROWDEN M.C. PTE H. SMITH PTE J. WOOD “THE KING OF THE WORLD SHALL RAISE US UP, WHO HAVE DIED FOR HIS LAWS UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE” |
A tablet below this:
1939-1945 IN GLORIOUS MEMORY PTE H. BUNN SGT W.J. CHAMBERLAIN L/BDR L.W. CHANDLER F/O H.W. PARRY |
A stained-glass window:
In thankfulness to God for the memory
of Reginald Somers Cocks M.C.
Captain, 7th Somerset Light Infantry
who fell in action near Kemmell Hill
24th April 1918 aged 23 years
this window is dedicated
“Greater love hath no man than this”
Examination of Ordnance Survey maps reveals that the top of Midsummer
Hill, at the southern end of the Malvern hills, approximately 2 Km east of
Eastnor church, is owned by the National Trust. This may not seem as if it
has much to do with war memorials, but how this came about is revealed by
this stone cemented into the churchyard wall:
THIS CAMP OF 30 ACRES WAS GIVEN TO THE NATIONAL TRUST IN MEMORY OF CAPT REGINALD SOMERS COCKS M.C. WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT THE YPRES SALIENT ON APRIL 24TH 1918 AGED 23 YEARS THOU WHO HATH GIVEN ME EYES TO SEE AND LOVE THIS SIGHT SO FAR GIVE ME HEART TO FIND OUT THEE AND RECORD THEE EVERYWHERE |
and just below this, is a stone with the explanatory inscription:
This stone was removed from Midsummer Hill in 1967
Inscription on a gravestone in the churchyard:
IN
MEMORY OF
SIDNEY HART
THE BELOVED HUSBAND OF
SELINA HART,
WHO DIED 9TH MAY 1921 AGED 66 YEARS.
ALSO OF THEIR THREE BELOVED SONS
BOMBDR. WALTER HART, R.F.A.
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
DECR 11TH 1917 AGED 25 YEARS
PTE. JOSPEH HART, 11TH WORCESTERS
KILLED IN SALONIKA 15TH FEBY 1918
AGED 30 YEARS
PTE. ALLEN HART, 1/7 WORCESTERS
KILLED IN ACTION IN ITALY
JUNE 15TH 1918 AGED 22 YEARS
GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
R.I.P.
ALSO OF SELINA, WIFE OF SIDNEY HART
WHO DIED 4TH AUG 1927 AGED 66 YEARS
THEY ARE NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEP
Last modified 21 January 2001