Unveiling of Leigh’s War Memorial December 1920
The Unveiling of Leigh’s War Memorial December 1920
On Sunday afternoon, 12 December 1920, under a bright winter sun, shining upon the snow which lay upon the village green and glistened from roof and tree, the simple but imposing Cross erected as a War Memorial by the parishioners of Leigh was unveiled and dedicated. A distinguished soldier living in the vicinity, Lieut. General Sir George Fowke, KCB, KCMG, performed the unveiling, followed by a brief address delivered extempore and couched in simple, eloquent and searching phrases. There were probably 300 persons present at the service, representing all classes and interest in the parish and, despite the cold weather, the congregation stood reverently and attentively during the half-hour which the service occupied.
The Memorial is an English Medieval Cross in Portland stone, from the design of Mr Arthur Cooksey, the contractors being Messrs A Burslem of Tunbridge Wells. The scheme was initiated by the Parish Council, who called a public meeting, at which Mr G W Gordon was elected Chairman, Mrs Harold Cox Hon. Treasurer and Mr G W Boby, Hon Secretary. The Committee, a representative one, was composed of the following: Lady Bright, Miss Gordon, Miss Hicks, The Rev. G E Weston, Dr Fraser, Dr Tunks, Messrs W Goodwin, C Atkinson, C Friend, M M Williams, Harold Cox, J Brooker, B W Baker, W Seal, H Faircloth and C Pocock. Subscriptions were invited and the amount required – £400 – has been entirely subscribed, with the result that the parish has a fitting and worthy memorial.
The service was conducted by the Vicar (the Rev G E Weston) who, with the surplice choir, marched in procession from the Church to the Village Green, the organist (Mr H Hitchcock) presiding at the harmonium during the service. After the hymn “O God, our help in ages past,” the Vicar read the names of the fallen, and the unveiling by Sir George Fowke followed during the next hymn “Then thousand times ten thousand”. Relatives placed their wreaths and flowers around the base of the Cross. The closing hymn was “Praise to the Holiest in the height”. “The Last Post” and “The Reveille” were sounded by ex-Sergt J Page (late R. E. ) and the National Anthem was sung.
In an address, Lieut. General Sir George Fowke said that “it was his proud privilege to be associated with those comrades from the parish who gallantly gave their lives for King and Country. When he passed the smiling Green, unscarred by war, so often thronged with youth at play, his mind inevitably went back to those villages in Northern France, where such scenes could not be possible for years to come. Could we not continue that noble spirit of comradeship which prevailed throughout the war. Could we not practise and teach loyalty to the community, loyalty amongst classes and peace and goodwill on earth? Leigh was a small parish, but the Memorial was a worthy symbol of a parish grief and gratitude. The sons and daughters of Leigh had shown themselves worthy of their forebears and of their traditions in history of their inheritance. Might those who came after make them their examples?”
Chris Rowley: Adapted from a Kent and Sussex Courier article (Parish Mag for Nov 2024)