World War I centenary: Paving stones to honour heroes

One of 3 VC winners from Carluke, hopefully I'll get along there soon to see it - I guess that Thomas Caldwell's will be placed alongside in 3 years and if they carry on to WW2 winners Donald Cameron's will follow in a while.

I'm looking forward to 2017 to see where William Johnstone Milne's is placed as he was born near me.

Alistair

 

Company Sergeant Major 1539 Frederick William Hall vc
Hi stone was recently laid in-front of the cenotaph in St.Helens.

http://www.sthelensrollsofhonour.co.uk/casualty-3407-Frederick_William_Hall.html

 

Pte William Kenealy VC of Ashton-In-Makerfield.
The stone was wall mounted on the Library Building and the childrens section of the Library opened to him.
The final image is his Grave Stone in Gallipoli.

 

Edward Courtney Boyle V.C. paving stone
The WW1 Centenary Paving stone for Edward Courtney Boyle V.C. was dedicated at Carlisle, Cumbria on Friday 26 June 2015 as part of the build-up to Armed Forces Day (Saturday 27 June 2015). It was placed close to the Cenotaph in the City Centre.

The order of proceedings was as follows (from information supplied by Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council):

11.00 am - Speech by the Mayor of Carlisle (Councillor Steven Layden) and laying of wreath for the City Council;
11.05 am - Speech by Commander Richard Jermy, R.N. and laying of wreath for the Royal Navy;
11.07 am - Dedication of the paving stone and prayers led by Reverend Keith Teasdale;
11.10 am - The Last Post, two minutes silence for Edward Courtney Boyle V.C. and all who have been lost in wars and conflicts;
11.12 am - The Reveille, end of the two minutes silence.

Attachment:
Cumbria County Council tribute for Lieutenant Commander Edward Courtney Boyle V.C.

 

Private Harry Christian 10210, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. VC.

Paving stone laid at Pennington war memorial at Cross a Moor, Cumbria.



Harrys headstone in Egremont cemetery.



http://www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com/christianvc.htm

Private Harry Christian VC
Victoria Cross awarded to Private Harry Christian, number 10210, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

Born in 1891 at Wallthwaite, Pennington near Ulverston, Harry Christian was educated at the National School in Ulverston. After several farming jobs he enlisted in the King’s Own in 1910 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in India. Having returned to England with his unit in December 1914, he went to France in February 1915 and was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at Givenchy on 18th October, during the Battle of Loos.

The citation in the 'London Gazette' is as follows:-

“For most conspicuous bravery. He was holding a crater with five or six men in front of our trenches. The enemy commenced a very heavy bombardment of the position with heavy Minenwerfer bombs, forcing a temporary withdrawal. When he found that three men were missing, Pte. Christian at once returned alone to the crater, and, although bombs were continually bursting actually on the edge of the crater, he found, dug out, and carried one by one into safety all three men, thereby undoubtedly saving their lives. Later he placed himself where he could see the bombs coming, and directed his comrades when and where to seek cover.”

He was subsequently badly wounded and returned home. In September 1917 he received his Victoria Cross from King George V in Glasgow. This was the first Victoria Cross to be awarded to the Regiment in the war. He later returned to the 2nd Battalion in Salonika and was eventually discharged in 1919. For 40 years he was landlord at the Park Head Inn, Egremont, Cumberland and was a lifelong member of the Regimental Association. He died at Thornhill, Egremont, on 2nd September 1974, aged 82.

His Victoria Cross, and other medals, were purchased in 1974 by the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.

I think Joseph can fill in some more details regarding Harry.

 

Harry Christian V.C. memorial paving stone, Pennington, Cumbria.

As Michael knows, the date on the memorial paving stone is incorrect. It has 19th October written on it rather than the 'official' date of Harry Christian's V.C. action which was 18th October. I gather it will be replaced in due course.

The problem with the date seems to have arisen because the spreadsheet on the 'official' Government website listing the V.C. paving stone recipients gives the date as 19th October. Hence, that was the date engraved on the stone. When the paving stone arrived at the council the discrepancy with the date was noticed and enquiries made (I was asked about it and checked in different reference books, etc).

The King's Own Royal Regimental Museum at Lancaster, which has the actual V.C. medal, has the date as 18th October, which is the date stamped on the back of the medal. Thus, the unveiling of the paving stone took place on Sunday 18th October but it was too late to a replacement in time with the correct date on it.

Click on the following link to see the page on the King's Own Royal Regiment about Harry Christian, which has a photograph towards the bottom of the page showing the reverse side of the V.C. medal and the date as 18th October:

http://www.kingsownmuseum.plus.com/christianvc.htm
................
Attached image is the memorial book mark card produced by Cumbria Libraries to mark the achievement of Harry Christian's V.C. award in WW1. Although I was unable to attend the unveiling ceremony I understand the problem with the date did not detract from the ceremony honouring Harry Christian. Although he was born at Pennington, near Ulverston, for most of his life Harry Christian lived near Egremont, Cumbria, where Michael (Deacs) has his present abode.

 

The last exhibition from the "DOOMED" DLI Museum featured the `Stones` to local men . The one for Thomas Kenny VC is missing from the display as it has already been laid.

Kyle

 

Was trying to quote this with Joseph's thread but was unable to sorry.

But this is the Centenary Paving stone for Edward Courtney Boyle.

 

This paving stone for Edward Corteney Boyle is also just in front of Carlisle's Crown & Mitre Hotel. President and Mrs Woodrow Wilson of the United States paid a short visit to this hotel at the end of December 1918 shortly before they went to France. President Woodrow Wilson was one of the "Big Four" at the Versailles Peace Conference of 1919.

The reason for the visit to Carlisle was because Woodrow Wilson's mother had been born in the city. His maternal grandfather, Rev. Thomas Woodrow, had been a minister of religion in the city before emigrating to the United States.

 

We are always talking about one little corporal from WW1

Here is one we should never forget.

Corporal Sidney Day V.C.


http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norwich_s_forgotten_war_hero_sidney_day_to_have_permanent_memorial_1_4627669

 

Lance Sergeant Frederick William Palmer, V.C., M.M.
17 February 2016
The centenary paving stone for Lance Sergeant Frederick Palmer from Hammersmith was laid near the war memorial at Shepherd's Bush, West London, as reported in the local newspaper:

First World War Shepherd's Bush VC hero remembered

According to the newspaper report, Frederick Palmer went on to serve in the R.A.F. in WW2, flew in the Battle of Britain attained the rank of Wing Commander. His medal set is rather impressive to say the least!

 

John Cornwell East Ham and West Ham War Memorial.

Jack Cornwell - Wikipedia

 

Edgar Myles,East Ham and West Ham War Memorial.

Edgar Myles - Wikipedia

 

George Drewry,East Ham and West Ham War Memorial.

George Drewry - Wikipedia

 

Frank Depasse
Embankment London

Frank de Pass - Wikipedia

 

Leonard Keysor
Embankment London

Leonard Keysor - Wikipedia

 

John Campbell
Embankment London
John Vaughan Campbell - Wikipedia

 

William Rhodes-Moorhouse
Embankment London

William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse - Wikipedia

 

William Johnstone Milne of the 16th Manitoba Scottish earned the VC and was killed at Vimy, he is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, I paid my respects to him there a couple of years ago. I couldn't get time off for the unveiling but my Dad was there and got me the order of service, I will go back on Sunday (the actual anniversary).

William Johnstone Milne - Wikipedia