April 3rd 1921
Under the great cedar tree on the highest point in the churchyard overlooking the Brixworth Road stands a Memorial Cross to the men of the parish who died in the terrible slaughter of the Great War 1914 -1918. It was unveiled on April 3rd 1921 by General Lord Horne, G.C.B., K.C.M.G., and dedicated by the vicar, Rev. George Raw. The Celtic Cross, of Hornton Stone, was made by Messrs J. G. Pullen and cost £177-6s-0d. The two Miss Bevans (Ulrica and Mildred), who lived at Spratton House, can be seen 'centre stage' in front of the right hand end of the Church Tower. Present at the ceremony were Mrs Raw, Sir Mervyn Manningham-Buller, Lord and Lady Erskine and their two children, the Misses Featherstone, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gilby, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Gilby, Mrs. Buckby, Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Markham, Mr. and Mrs. Pullen, Mr. W H Holloway OBE, Miss Bateman and others.
The names of 18 young men are inscribed on metal panels. Of the 57 men of Spratton who enlisted in the First World War, the following did not return and are commemorated on the War Memorial.
Private Charles Herbert Austin of the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, who died of wounds in May 1915 and is buried at Lewisham (Ladywell) Cemetery in London.
Corporal Frederick Balderson M.M. of the 14th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment who was killed in action aged 23 years in October 1917 at the 2nd Battle of Passchendaele. His name is on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium, which bears the names of almost 35,000 men whose graves are not known. He was the son of John Balderson and Julia Balderson and was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Private Thomas Albert Cooke of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment who was killed in action aged 30 years at Arras in September1917. His name is on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. He was the son of Thomas Cook and Sarah Ann Cook.
Pioneer Harry Owman Copson of the Royal Engineers who was killed in action in France in October 1917. He was the son of Henry Copson and Mary Ann Copson.
Private Benjamin G Green of the 7th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), who was killed in action on the Somme in November 1916. His is buried in the Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval. He lived in First Turn, Spratton, and was the son of Thomas Green and Hannah Green.
Private Walter E Hayter of the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who was killed in action aged 21 years in July 1915 and is buried in the Quarry Cemetery, Vermelles, France. He is also remembered in an inscription on the grave of his mother Priscilla in the old Spratton Cemetery on the Brixworth Road.
Lance Corporal Lewis Horne of the 8th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action aged 22 years in May 1917 and whose name is inscribed on the Arras Memorial in France. He was the son of Thomas Horne and Emma Horne
Driver John H Leeson of the Royal Field Artillery, who was killed in action in October 1918 and is buried at the Communal Cemetery in Valenciennes, France. Having fought in the Battle of Mons, he was awarded the Mons campaign medal. He was the son of Joseph Leeson and Martha Leeson.
Private E Reginald Letts of the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who was killed in action in France in May 1915.
Private George Manning of the 1st Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, who was killed in action at Vimy Ridge in May 1917. He was the son of John Manning and Sarah Jane Manning and is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France.
Gunner George A Martin of the Royal Field Artillery who died of a fever in hospital in October 1917 after being wounded in action in India. He is buried in Karachi Cemetery and is remembered on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate). He was the son of Joseph Martin and Elizabeth Martin.
Private Arthur Walter Page of the 5th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who died in Leicester in July 1915 aged 20 years from wounds received at Ypres. He was buried in the old Spratton Cemetery on the Brixworth Road with full military honours together with his parents Alfred Page and Sarah Page.
Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes- Moorhouse V C of the Royal Flying Corps who was killed in action over Courtrai on 26th April 1915.
Private John William Smith of the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, who was reported missing in October 1914 and confirmed dead in April 1915 aged 21 years. His name is recorded on the Menin Gate at Ypres. He was the son of Elizabeth Smith and Reuben Smith.
Private Ernest Tite of the 13th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who died in April 1918 aged 20 years at Ypres and whose name is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. He was the son of Thomas Tite and Charlotte Tite.
Joseph Tirrell of the Royal Army Service Corps who was killed in action in France.
Private John Edward Wadhams of the 6th Bedfordshire Regiment who was killed in action in Flanders in March 1918.
Private Thomas Edwin Wadhams of the Machine Gun Corps who was killed in action in France.
Image Reference: 1858
Related Searches: Church | War 1914-1918 | 1920
Men who served:
Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
| Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
| Private Thomas Albert COOKE (known as Albert)
| Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
| Private Benjamin Gammage GREEN
| Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
| Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
| Driver John Henry LEESON
| Private Edward Reginald LETTS (known as Reginald)
| Private George MANNING
| Private Arthur Walter PAGE
| Gunner George Albert MARTIN
| Lieutenant William Barnard RHODES-MOORHOUSE VC
| Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
| Private Ernest TITE
| Private John Edward WADHAMS
| Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
