New Artington War Memorial

Published on: 21 Nov, 2018
Updated on: 23 Nov, 2018

The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, of Loseley Park, and relatives of the late Ralph Hodd by the new Artington war memorial by St Francis church in Littleton.

By Phil Gorton

A new war memorial commemorating the men of Artington who died in the two world wars has been completed and dedicated. It is built into the wall of St Francis church in Littleton.

The dedication took place on Tuesday, November 6. More than 50 people attended the event, including the daughter and grandchildren of the late Ralph Hodd whose research was the catalyst for the project.

Also in attendance were the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey Michael, More-Molyneux, and owner of Loseley Park; representatives of the Royal British Legion; SSAFA; Seafarers UK; members of Artington Parish Council; stonemasons Richard Stone of Anstey & Stone Ltd; and local residents.

More than 50 people gathered to witness the dedication of the new memorial.

Mr More-Molyneux reminded those present of the many millions of different nationalities and faiths who gave their lives in two world wars. The Rev James Rattue, rector of St John’s Church, Farncombe, conducted the service and blessed the new war memorial, reading out the names of each of the 11 men listed.

Rachel McCraith read the same poem The Western Front by Alfred Noyes as her father Ralph Hodd had read at the 2016 Service at St Francis on the eve of 100th anniversary the outbreak of the Battle of the Somme, where Alfred White was killed.

Roger Musson, former chairman of Artington Parish Council, thanked members of the local community for their huge team effort in bringing the wish for a new memorial to fruition and especially the 11 men named who gave their lives. He said: “It seems particularly poignant that Alfred was a pupil at the village school that was converted to become St Francis church in 1904.”

The new memorial.

The names of the men killed in the Great War are listed on a framed list in the church and there are also two who died in the Second World War whose identities were discovered by local historian Vicky Good.

She has produced a booklet with short biographies of those commemorated and is now attempting to find information about all those men and women of the parish who served in the armed forces and the Home Guard.

The idea for the war memorial came about as the result of an email received by the parish clerk several years ago from Ralph Hodd who enquired if there was a memorial anywhere that listed his ancestor, Alfred White, who served in the Royal Field Artillery.

Artington Parish Council began the project which was later taken on by the Loseley estate who planned and funded the memorial’s construction.

About 35 people attended a short service that was held at St Francis church in June 2016 to commemorate Alfred and the other men listed on the memorial.

Our report of the 2016 event can be found in here: Message from a Somme Casualty’s Great Nephew Leads to Special Memorial Service.