Millfield School, Thornton Cleveleys.

I very nearly became a teacher at Millfield School. The actual interview was one of the first "proper" interviews I ever had. However not to be. Little did I know that 20 years on I would be back. I gatecrashed the unveiling ceremony. Almost no-one knew who I was, certainly not the civic dignitaries that were there. In fact I may have been the ONLY person there who was not specifically invited.  There was a 1 inch column in a corner of our local paper, the "Evening Gazette" announcing that this memorial had been found, restored, and rededicated. Couldn't resist. There was a considerably larger article in the Gazette later.

Blackpool Evening Gazette article

I am in big danger of standing on toes here because I believe one of  the members from Thornton Cleveleys Rotarians is working on a history of the three memorials in this close knit community. I have much to thank Tom Williams for. Information freely given - but of course he retains the copywrite.

I am not sure that he was aware that I have now recorded and photographed quite a few of these memorials - and perhaps he was unaware that this would end up on the internet. The memorial at Four Lane Ends has now been published too. I suspect that there will be names that are on both memorials.

 My purpose has never been to repeat verbatim what is already on the internet, but to try and give information and photographs to people researching their past. A starting point perhaps. Thornton has a fascinating history. There is much photography to be done. It has an everchanging urban landscape.
These are my photographs of the small yet quite poignant event at the end of what seemed like a normal school day.

About to be unveiled

Sean Bullen(Head), Tom Williams, Dr Harry Pindred(Chairman of Governors)
North Fylde Rotary Club President - Karol Bialwas

The head teacher -Sean Bullen

The roll of honour in place in the main hall of the school

The Roll of Honour

This miniature plaque is now in place
beneath the Roll of Honour

 Amongst the papers given me on this evening was a transcript of the original speech given by Brig-General Gator, published in the in the "Fleetwood Chronical, Fylde News and Advertiser" Friday the 9th of July 1920. Again I feel copywrite may well still be an issue - even though the paper is now defunct.  I do not believe this speech is on the internet. It seems from research that Brig-Gen Gator was in charge of the artillery Ordnance) at the assault of Sevastopol. (This was the only reference to him on the internet). However this link provides a good overview of the battle itself. This blogpage is still in development. Information is forwarded to the National Inventory of War Memorials.I took other photographs from the schools history and I have placed them in this link here in the Datastore.

St Agnes War Memorial

This page is one of a series about St Agnes. I spent a Sunday there. 
Unusually I suppose the War Memorial is in the grounds of the Methodist church. A church service was taking place. A quite austere building. It is well placed easily visible and unlike many of the memorials in Cornwall polished. It is placed in its own small garden and well maintained.

The memorial in front of the church

From just in front of the church
Looking towards the road

The inscription on the front face says:

TO THE 

GLORY OF GOD

AND IN

REMEMBRANCE OF OUR MEN,

WHO, LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES

IN THE GREAT WAR

1914-1918

---- - ----

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

--- - ---

ALSO SECOND WORLD WAR

1939 -1945

Facing the road

1914-1918

HENRY WILLIAM THOMAS

WILLIAM HENRY BENNETTS

CHARLES JOHN COLBRAN

JAMES CORTIS

JOHN COWLING

STEPHEN DAVEY

ROBERT GILPIN

BERNARD GRIBBEN (CRIBBEN?)

STEPHEN CLARENCE HARRIS

HAROLD ALFRED HOARE

EDWIN LEWIS JONES

JOHN LANGDON

ARTHUR JOHN LORD

WILLIAM JOHN MILLS

HENRY NANKIVELL

HAROLD GORDON MENADUE

THOMAS JOHN WILLCOCKS

Some of these names appear to be out of alphabetical order - or even added later.

Facing North

1914-1918

ALFRED QUICK NOEL

MATTHEW CHARLES PARKIN

JOHN PARKIN

REGINALD SPENCER PEARCE

SAMUEL RADCLIFFE

ALFRED RICKARD

GEORGE ROBERTS

MARTIN JAMES ROBERTS

HAROLD JOHN ROGERS

ERNEST STRIKE

SYDNEY STRIKE

WILLIAM THOMAS TROUNCE

HAROLD LLEWELLYN TWITE

WILLIAM ALBERT WHITWORTH

LEONARD JAMES GOWLING

WILLIAM STANLEY HARRIS

The side actually facing the church has the names of the fallen from the 1939-1945 War.

Facing the Church

1939-1945

FRANK BEARD

CHARLES EWART BUTSON

RICHARD HENRY BENNALLACK

DENNIS DONAHUE

THOMAS JOHN DYER

REGINALD ELLIS

WILLIAM FIDDOCK

EDWARD FOOTE

THOMAS HENRY GEAKE

OTHO LEWIS HANCOCK

WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON

WILLIAM CECIL LUKE

ERIC LETCHER MITCHELL

FRANK STANTON NEWMAN

GEORGE EDWARD PASCOE

WILLIAM AUSTIN RICHARDS

JOHN GREESE SMITH

JAMES HENRY SOLOMAN

THOMAS HAROLD THOMAS

ALBERT LEWIS TRELDAR

FROWYKE TROTTER

Those are the four sides of the memorial. The text is identical on all four sides of the memorial is identical. Well maintained and is kept painted.

From the left hand side of the church

This is the final photo I took of the memorial. There will be links to the other St Agnes pages here.


This is the reference from the UK War Memorial register

ST AGNES METHODISTS

UKNIWM Ref: 9206

St Bridget's at Brean

On our way to Cornwall we stopped at Brean. We found a huge camping site called Northam Farm - Pretty good too. Gave me a chance for a run with the camera. The light was going. However quite pleased with the results. The sepia image is a scan from a postcard that I found on eBay for 99p. Little bit of Gimp work there but it is a real photo - not a print. It shows quite a few changes especially on the tower. Difficult to judge the year - but I suspect between the wars. I don't think the War Memorial has been erected then, so maybe even before WW1. This makes it quite an old post card.

St Bridgets at Brean - Allegedly 6th Century, founded by Irish Monks.

However back to the present day. I took a series of photos within the church grounds.

There has been some brickwork altered on this end of the church between the time of the sepia photo and this one. I don't know if this church has a peal of bells

This is the War Memorial. It is end on to the road, strangely it is on the "wrong" side of the main path - there is no inscription on the back it is just rough hewn stone. However the man looks towards the sea which is quite fitting for a sea side town. The list of the fallen is at the end of this page

From the Road - the large grey object is the memorial. The door that you can see is the main door to the church. Entrance to the south. Its a shame the church wasn't open Will have quite an interesting layout inside.

Towards the back of the church

190636 GUNNER
L. EVANS
ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY
13TH FEBRUARY 1919

Lot Evans, He is also on the memorial. The stone looks absolutely pristine. The turf actually looks like it has been dug recently. A mystery perhaps? Is it usual for a separate grave for those who died at home - found this site This is like an official regiment stone
Not one that I thought Lot's family would put up.

The north side of the church. Big strong buttresses and what looks like a chimney!

The North side again - Long shadows from the sun!

View from the rear of the church - The south side.
The main road is just beyond the church

The Lych-gate well cared for and with a new set of doors.
The war memorial is just to the left

John Ginchens
Church Warden
Anno Domini 1729

According to the guide book the church was struck by lightning in 1729. The tower is now much shortened and had a saddle back roof. Partly demolished. I can't find any information about John Ginchens.Makes you wonder if there is a link between John Ginchens and the lightning

St Bridget's, Brean

The inscription:

IN MEMORY OF THOSE MEN
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

1914 - 1918

CHAMPION IVOR E

DIBBLE GEORGE

EVANS LOT

GIBLETT SIDNEY

PHILLIPS METFORD

STARBUCK RICHARD

WEBB WILLIAM

MEN FROM BREAN

ERECTED BY THE PARISHONERS

A great little place, worthy of a second visit, more research. There are other monuments in the area which really did need photographing and researching.

More information here at the Brean Parish Council site.

I left Brean in Somerset, and continued down to Northam in Devon. I then joined the A39 and disappeared over the North Cornish border. At 50 mph it is almost possible to miss Kilkhampton. However heading south on a left hand bend is the Church and the memorial.

The memorial from the road

The main inscription is facing the road. It is quite a fine memorial and there are many names on it. According to Wikipedia, Kilkhampton has a population of only just over a thousand. The Wiki write up is quite informative and worth a visit. At the time the actual space around the memorial seemed to be used as a carpark.

Memorial through the Lychgate

Looking south from the church along the A39

From the middle of the A39

Close up of the base of the cross

On the column of the cross this is inscribed:

REMEMBER

THESE MEN

OF

KILKHAMPTON

WHO GAVE

THEIR LIVES IN THE

GREAT WAR

1914 - 1919

The names on the memorial are:

Lieut. Col. A.C. Thynne D.S.O. R.N.D.H.

Quar. Mast. Sergt.  J Box R. Berks.

 Quar. Mast. Sergt.  A Cornish Devon Regt.

Sergt.  J Bonetto R.E.

 Sergt.  C. Tape  R.A.M.C.

LC Cpl. H.M. Phipps L.R.B.

Pte. F. BaileyD.C.L.I.

Pte. W Bonnetto R.A.S.C

Pte.  J. Brock. D.C.L.I.

Pte.   W. Colliver

 Pte. A Heard  Canadians

 Pte.  R Heard  5th Lancers

 Pte.  E. Hoskin  R.A.S.C.

Pte.  J. Jennings  Hants.

 Pte.  F. Jordan   D.C.L.I.

 Pte.  F.R. Jordan  

 Pte. W. Jordan  Som. L.I.

Pte.  J. Taylor  Devon Regt.

Pte. W. Vanstone  D.C.L.I.

 Pte. A Withers

1939 - 1945

LDG. STR   C. Burrows. R.N.

A C/I     J. Curtis D.C.L.I.

Driver    H. Fanson R.A.

L.A.C.    R Francis R.A.F.

L/Cpl   C. James Dorsets

Sergt. A. Jeffrey R.A.F.

Flt. Segt.  A Trewin  R.A.F.

The inscription on the opposite side states:

THIS MEMORIAL

WAS ERECTED TO 

COMMEMORATE THE MEN

WHO HAVE SACRIFICED

THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR

COUNTRY IN THE GREAT 

WAR 1914 - 1919

The information about Lieut Col Thynne has been drawn from various sites on the internet and although appearing sound it may contain errors.  National archives does have a medal card. A copy will cost £2.

Information from the Angloboer War website and also Neate Auctions who were commissioned to sell off some of the Thynne estate.

WW1 War memorial Plaque

Lieutenant Colonel Algenon Carteret Thynne DSO

THYNNE, ALGERNON CARTERET, Captain, was born 9 April 1868, second son of Francis John Thynne, of Haynes Park, Bedfordshire, and of 67 Eaton Place, London, and grandson of the Reverend Lord John Thynne, DD. His mother was Edith Marcia Caroline, eldest daughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, of Frampton Court, Dorset. He was educated at Charterhouse, and subsequently became Captain in the Bedfordshire Regiment (3rd Battalion). He went out from Bath, as a Lieutenant, in the North Somerset Yeomanry, to serve in South Africa, and served throughout the campaign, first in that capacity, and afterwards as a Captain in the 7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. He took part in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1902, including operations at Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Algernon Carteret Thynne, Captain, 7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He became Honorary Captain in the Army in August 1902, and was transferred in 1903 to the Royal North Devon Hussars. He served in the European War, 1914-17, in Gallipoli and Egypt, also in Palestine, as Lieutenant Colonel in command of his regiment, until he fell mortally wounded at the Battle of Sheria 6 November 1917. Colonel Thynne had succeeded to the Grenville Estate, Cornwall, on the death of his father in 1910. He was an Alderman of Cornwall County Council, and a Magistrate for Cornwall, and at the outbreak of war was Master of the Tetcott Hounds. A Memorial Service for him and those who fell with him in Palestine was held in St George's, Hanover Square, London (where Prebendary Thicknesse officiated); also in Stratton Church, Cornwall. He married, in 1904, Constance, daughter of Edward Bonham, of Bramling House, Kent, and widow of Francis Philips, of Lee Priory, Kent.

The church of St James the Great has also got an interesting cross next to the lychgate which is also interesting as it also has the raised area in the middle to allow the coffin to be rested before entering the consecrated area.

Reverend Arthur Christopher Thynne was born on 9 November 1832.¹ He married Gwenllian Elizabeth Fanny Isabel Kendall, daughter of Russell Kendall, on 28 June 1859. He died on 2 January 1908 at age 75.¹He was the son of Reverend Lord John Thynne and Anne Constantia Beresford.¹ He held the office of Hon. Canon of Truro. He was the Rector at Kirkhampton, Cornwall, England. I do not have a family connection between these two Thynnes, investigation will reveal a close link I think.

Viewed from the memorial. The lychgate is just to the left of this cross

The base of the cross the inscription is just visible.

 The inscription on the cross says:

"Arthur Christopher 

Thynne

Rector of Kilkhampton

1908

This cross was erected

by parishoners and friends

who loved him 1909"

The war memorial is listed on the UK War Memorials index as

KILKHAMPTON

UKNIWM Ref: 9243