Memorial To Victoria Cross Hero ‘Should Be Moved To Castle Grounds’

Published on: 1 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 31 Aug, 2015

A call is being made to move a stone memorial honouring a First World War hero from its current site in Tunsgate Arch to the Castle Grounds.

Guildford borough councillor Bob McShee (Con, Worplesdon), who has a keen interest in military history, says the memorial honouring Capt Francis Grenfell who won the Victoria Cross (VC) on August 24, 1914, and who was born at Hatchlands, East Clandon, is in the wrong place and is hard to see.

The stone memorial to Captain Francis Grenfell mounted on a wall in Tunsgate Arch. Note the rough and cheap looking metal frame that surrounds it.

The memorial, that has been mounted on the back wall of Tunsgate Arch, off the High Street, is in fact a paving stone, and designed to be set into the ground. Such stones are part of a government scheme and grant to recognise VC heroes of the First World War as the nation commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Great War.

The memorials can be applied for by local authorities for First World War recipients from the town, city, or borough where they were born. Captain Grenfell’s was installed on August 24, 2014.

Although Captain Grenfell was born at East Clandon, his family’s main home was at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, with a second home in London.

Tunsgate Arch. Can you see the memorial?

Mr McShee says: “The current VC memorial in honour of Captain Francis Grenfell is obscured by the awning of a bakery stall, and when it is visible it is too high to clearly read.

“I do not think that this is a fitting location for a First World War hero regarded as the first officer of the war to receive a VC while leading a cavalry charge to save the guns in August 1914 near Mons.

See it now? It’s partially visible behind the awning.

“There should also be an information board adjacent to the memorial giving details of how he won his VC.

“The government have stated that the paving stones ‘should be sited in a position where they will be visible to members of the public’.”

Guildford has, in fact, another First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross and a paving stone in his memory will also be coming to Guildford.

Second Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith VC.

Second Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith who won his VC in December 1915.

He was Second Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith, of the 1/5 East Lancashire Regiment, who was killed on December 22, 1915, during the Gallipoli campaign. He was 24 years old.

Born in Sandfield Terrace, the family moved to Burnley in Lancashire. Alfred attended Burnley Grammar School and his father was Burnley’s chief police constable. His story is well known in Burnley.

A better place for the memorial paving slabs – in the Castle Grounds by the town’s war memorial as Cllr Bob McShee points out.

Bob McShee adds: “I feel that a suitable place for both VC memorials is by the town’s war memorial in the Castle Grounds, where they can be clearly seen and where Guildford holds its Armistice Day commemorations on November 11 and Remembrance Sunday service each year.

“The two VC holders would then be remembered together with all those who gave their lives in both world wars.

“I would be interested to hear if any Guildford residents have a view on this matter.”

Woking has erected one of these memorial to a VC recipient from its town. The memorial to Major Richard Willis was unveiled on April 25, 2015. It has been placed on the Town Gates in Jubilee Square, near Christ Church. A plaque beside it tells the story of the wartime hero.

If you have a comment about Guildford’s paving stones ing memory of a First World War VC and where they should be placed, please leave a reply in the box below.

Responses to Memorial To Victoria Cross Hero ‘Should Be Moved To Castle Grounds’

Jan Messinger Reply

September 1, 2015 at 11:46 am

I agree with Cllr Bob McShee. The memorial stone honouring Capt Francis Grenfell who won the Victoria Cross and the memorial stone to be laid for Second Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith who won the Victoria Cross in 1915 should be sited in the Castle Grounds near the memorial.

As a lasting memorial along with many others from Guildford and surrounding villages whose names are listed there for us to remember the sacrifice they gave for us all.
Janette Panton Reply

September 1, 2015 at 12:59 pm

I also agree wholeheartedly with Cllr McShee that this memorial stone should be resited.

The most logical and fitting place for these memorials would be the Castle Grounds, as suggested.

It is so wrong that this memorial is hidden from view for a lot of the time and difficult to read when it is on view.

I also agree there should be an information board included as to how this hero won the VC.

I also hope that when Guildford receives the memorial for Second Lieutenant Alfred Victor Smith that GBC ensure this is placed in the Castle Grounds.

Thanks to Cllr McShee for raising this important matter.
Dave Middleton Reply

September 1, 2015 at 6:58 pm

I agree too. The Castle Grounds, near the War Memorial is a good place for this commemorative stone and any others that may follow.

Right from the time that this stone was placed in its current position I’ve wondered who it was that decided to put it where is when it’s obscured most of the time.

Why on earth it wasn’t put on the corresponding wall on the east side of the arch, where there’s no market stall to obscure it, I just can’t comprehend?
Michèle Lyon Reply

September 3, 2015 at 2:21 pm

My views concur with Cllr McShee and others who have commented.

It should be moved to the Castle Grounds’ war memorial which is clearly a more fitting position.

It is totally inappropriate under Tunsgate Arch, often obscured by the fresh bakery stall.

Surely those who have the authority will see sense and arrange to have it relocated swiftly.
Les Knight Reply

September 4, 2015 at 9:28 am

I agree with Bob McShee, the Castle Grounds should be the place for the memorial. But our council will not move it as there is no money in moving it.

I understand Guildford Museum might lose some important artefacts to Woking, now that there’s money in selling off Castle Arch. The council are so short sighted at times.

Perhaps they should move the castle and the castle grounds to Woking too? After all, they could save all the maintenance costs.
Sarah Best Reply

June 26, 2019 at 7:03 pm

I think the best place for these stones would be in the gaps either side of the WW2 plinth, meaning that they would be close to the WW1 plinths, one of which bears the name of Alfred Victor Smith.