Commemorative Events At Guildford Cathedral, Wonersh And Charlotteville To Remember The Fallen

Published on: 10 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 10 Nov, 2018

Report by David Rose

Events to remember those who died in conflict took place in and around Guildford today (Saturday, November 10).

Military vehicles on display at Guildford Cathedral.

At Guildford Cathedral there was a display of military vehicles, while military living history historians Tim Richardson and friends were dressed in First World War army uniforms, with a display of original pieces of equipment and personal items soldiers would have had on active service.

Tim Richardson (seated third from left) with his fellow military living history historians.

A display of First World War helmets at Guildford Cathedral.

Throughout Wonersh there were displays that included biographies of men who fell in both world wars, archive material and artefacts, a display created by Wonersh and Shamley Green School. Plus, films and talks, children’s church trails, scouting and guiding memorabilia, and period clothing.

The well attended display inside Wonersh Memorial Hall.

Hosted by Wonersh History Society, along with Blackheath Village Society and Shamley Green History Society, the Armistice centenary event was held in the Memorial Hall, St John the Baptist Parish Church, the United Reformed Church, Wonersh Scout Hut, Wonersh Bowling Club and St John’s Seminary.

Wartime items on display in the memorial hall.

It was extremely well attended and a credit to all the local historians and villagers who staged the event.

Event organisers Joan Tubbs and Jan Cooper from Wonersh History Society.

Dennis Cruickshank from Wonersh History Society, another one of the event organisers.

Carol Ramplin with the display by 1st Wonersh and Bramley Guides.

Great War-era clothing displayed by Marion May at Wonersh Reformed Church.

Learning about the First World War and the parcels from home servicemen received, pupils from Wonersh and Shamley Green C of E Primary School made their own replicas with items of their choice.

During the evening Wonersh Players performed The Village – A WWI play, an immersive theatre production set in the village at the time of the Great War.

With the mid-afternoon skies darkening and threatening rain, people gathered in Charlotteville for its annual service of remembrace at its war memorial in front of Addison Court.

The Revd Rod Pierce leads the service of remembrance in Charlotteville.

As the service began the heavens had already opened. With brollies raised all around him, the Revd Rod Pierce from Holy Trinity Church led the service.

Gemma Bartlett, a first year music student at the University of Surrey, played the Last Post and Reveille.

During the two-minutes silence I imagined a padre on the Western Front in the First World War in the rain and mud, perhaps conducting a burial service with comrades of the fallen standing in silence, far wetter than we were!

Val Crompton lays a wreath at the Charlotteville war memorial.

After wreaths were laid and laminated cards with the names of Charlotteville’s war dead were placed at the memorial and with their names read out, with the rain still beating down and a clap of thunder above, the Revd Pierce decided to halt the service and continue it inside the lounge area of Addison Court.

Wreaths laid and laminated cards with the names of men commemorated on the war memorial in Addison Road, Charlotteville.

Once everyone was inside, the Kohima epitaph was read and the National Anthem sung. Val Crompton read details of her great uncle Arthur Newman, who lived at 52 Addison Road, and who died on June 10, 1918, age 22. Click here for details about him and the other men from Charlotteville who made the supreme sacrifice.

The Charlotteville War Memorial website has been created by local residents Ian Nicholls and his partner Julie Howarth. Well worth a look as there is much local history details on it.

At the service Julie also gave some fascinating details about not only Charlotteville’s war dead, but others from Charlotteville who served in ancillary services such as Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses.

Ian and Julie have also created a self-guided 1914-1918 Charlotteville Heritage Trail with posters put up in Addison, Cline and Cooper Roads.

Learn of the 100 men who served in the military and the women and men who enlisted in the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments. Learn about old Charlotteville, its eight shops, pub, St Luke’s Church and Institute and laundries – all now gone.

The street display will be available over the next two weeks.