Author: oldwhittingtonops

Descendants invited to Battle of Amiens centenary commemoration

It was announced yesterday by secretary of State Matt Hancock, that the descendants of those who fought at the Battle of Amiens are invited to apply for tickets to commemorate the centenary of the battle that saw one of the greatest advances of the First World War.

The closing date for the ballot for tickets to attend is 12 noon on 9th April 2018.

The event will be held at Amiens Cathedral France on 8th August 2018 and full details of the event and how to apply for tickets can be found here

 

Nation’s bells to ring out together to mark Armistice Centenary

On 11 November 2018, 100 years since Armistice, bells will ring out in unison from churches and cathedrals in villages, towns and cities across the country.

There is an interesting article on the Government website regarding the number of men lost during World War 1,who were bell ringers for their local churches. Their names are all recorded in their Great War Memorial Book held by the central Council of Church Bell Ringers.  The whole article can be found here

THANK YOU

In the final year of the WW1 centenary, The Royal British Legion is inviting the British public to say ‘Thank You’ to the First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world.

Members of the public from all walks of life can join our movement to express their gratitude to those who gave themselves to the war effort and rebuilt a better nation from its darkest hour.

For more information follow this link  here

We Remember

Below is the list of men who died in March between 1914-1918 and who are listed on Old Whittington War Memorial

  John Smitheman              Died 8 March 1916

 John Atkinson                   Died 21 March 1918

William Wood                   Died 23 March 1915

John Carlile                       Died 27 March 1918

Frank Charnley                Died 29 March 1918

color_cross_day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
        In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
        In Flanders fields. 
John McCrae (1872-1918)

The Fallen

I have finally started writing a short family history for the young men of Whittington who gave their lives in WW1 and who are  listed on the War Memorial on Church Street and the War Memorial on The Brushes.

I hope that it helps bring the soldiers stories to life in this important year for WW1 remembrance and I would again ask if any family members would like to contribute anything to these young mens stories, it can be added onto their webpage.

Joseph Sydall

Having lived in Whittington for most of my earlier life I was surprised that I  never realised Joseph Sydall, a well known artist, was born in Old Whittington at Church Street in 1864.  Mary Swanwick, from the well known Swanwick family, spotted his talents and under her patronage he went on to study at Art School.

I will look further into the history of Joseph Sydall and hopefully be able to find some copies of his drawings or sketches to put on the website.

A bit of luck!

Continuing with my research into the names of the fallen on the internet I came across a web page on Derbyshire War Memorials.  It has the  names, regiments and some brief family histories  for some of the men.

This will be at least a good starting point for the Military information.  I need to double check everything with census, parish records and military records as the sources aren’t listed and therefore need checking.  However, it has given me quite a few reference points to start with.

The web page if anyone would like to have a look can be found here