On Remembrance Sunday 2010 the village War Memorial at Thurgarton was rededicated following restoration work. It was erected in 1919 in the old village pound next to the blacksmith’s forge at the central crossroads of the village. It is an impressive cross of white Portland Stone set on a stepped octagonal base on which are carved the names of ten village men who died in the 1914-8 War and two from the 1939-45 War. An additional victim of the first war has been added to the restored memorial – that of Thomas Paling who died from war wounds in 1920.

Rededication of Thurgarton war memorial 2010

Thurgarton men in the 1914-8 war

The census of 1911 shows a parish population of 285 of which roughly 60 young men would have been eligible for active service in the 1914-8 war. The Parish Roll of Honour numbers over 40 names who served, about two in three of the village’s young men.

The eleven men who died were : –  Charles Baylay, William Bentley, Harry Fisher, Arthur Marson,  Thomas Paling, George Smith,  Richard Thornton, William Tyler,  Thomas Upton, Guy Usborne, Vincent Warriner

Charles Baylay Born in 1876 he was the oldest child of Alice and the Rev.Atwell Baylay, vicar of Thurgarton and grew up in the Old Rectory. He moved to Bromley Kent and joined the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs). He was killed in action during the Battle of Arras ( 9 April –16 May 1917) when British and Allied troops attacked the German trenches around the city of Arras and although succeeding in capturing strategically important gains, especially the Canadians at Vimy Ridge, did so at the cost of over 120,000 British casualties.

John William Bentley

John William Bentley was born in 1896, the fourth child of Robert and Alice Bentley of Manor Farm. He worked on the family farm until joining the army on 13^th March 1915 aged 19 years; after basic training he was posted to the 3^rd battalion Rifle Brigade. He was killed in action in the trenches at Hooge during the bitter battle for the Ypres salient on 13^th February 1916.

Harry Fisher

Harry Fisher was the third child of Rose and Job Fisher, Railway Station Master at Thurgarton for over 20 years.  He joined the 12th Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters which moved to France in August 1915 and was killed in action in the lines at Ypres on the 15^th February 1916.

Arthur Marson

Arthur was born in 1889 the second of three sons to Mary and Charles Marson of Hill Farm cottages. He joined early and was posted to the 6^th Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal but was killed in action near Ypres on 15^th August 1915.

Thomas Paling

Thomas was born on 19/3/1887 the fourth child of Elizabeth and Henry Paling, joiner who lived on Bleasby Rd. We have little detail of his war service but we know that he joined the Durham Light Infantry and was severely wounded in France. He died on 20 July 1920.

George Smith

We have no further details on Private G H Smith.

Richard Thornton

Richard Lacey Thornton was born in 1888 the fifth child of Emma and Richard Thornton, farmer at Old Farm. He joined the 11^th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and was killed in action on 7^th June 1917. At 3.10 that morning the battalion went ‘over the top’ on the far left of the British  mass attack on the Messine Ridge

William Tyler

William Tyler born on 22/4/1896 was the second child of Sarah and David Tyler, farm worker who lived at Laurel Cottage, Thurgarton (demolished for Corner Croft bungalows).  He joined the 2^nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at the outbreak of war. In August 1915 he was severely wounded (a gun shot to the abdomen) and was shipped home for convalescence. In 1916 he embarked for Basra as part of the ill-fated Kut campaign but came down with malaria. Having survived all this he sadly fell victim to the Spanish flu epidemic and died at home on 4^th March 1919.

Thomas Upton

Mrs Upton of Thurgarton Priory lost two grandsons in the war, both are commemorated on the village war memorial. Captain Thomas Upton and his parents would have been houseguests at The Priory. He joined the 1^st Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and was killed in action a mere 3 days before the armistice. The regimental diary states that he was killed in fierce fighting as the battalion attacked Douriers and the Avesnes Road. His grave is one of three war graves in the small churchyard at Semiouses.

Thomas Richard Guy Usborne

Sub-lieutenant Royal Navy   Born on 9/10/1900, Guy Usborne would have lived at Thurgarton Priory for some of his youth – his parents and grandmother (Mrs Upton) lived there before and during the war.  The Usborne family had a strong naval tradition and Guy served as a junior officer in the British Baltic Fleet fighting in 1919 alongside the Finns, Estonians and White Russians against the Bolsheviks.  On 18/8/1919 he joined a small squadron of fast Coastal Motor Boats which attacked the naval fortress at Kronstadt  – two battleships and a submarine were sunk but he was one of several casualties and was mentioned in dispatches.

John Vincent Warriner

John Vincent Warriner was born in 1897 the first child of Francis and John Warriner, postman who lived on Bleasby Road. On leaving school he became a farm worker and joined up early after the outbreak of war. He joined the 10^th Battalion Sherwood Foresters which shipped out to France in July 1915.  In December 1915 the regiment was in the lines near Ypres on the Menin Road. Both sides suffered heavy bombardment during the first weeks of December with a steady stream of casualties. Vincent was one such casualty and died of his wounds.

Those who survived

Ainger   G, Sherwood Foresters, Ainger   A, Notts Hussars,   Baylay John, Royal field Artillery (Old Rectory), E   Francis, Royal Engineers , Bird Henry, Royal Garrison Artillery (Beck St),  Featherstone  William, Royal Field Artillery(Hill Top cottage), Featherstone  Arthur, Sherwood Foresters, Fisher  George, Coldstream Guards(Railway Stn ), Fisher  Alfred, Sherwood Foresters , Fletcher Leonard , Sherwood Foresters (Coach + Horses),  Francis John Ernest, Royal Marine Artillery, (Butt Lane), Francis  Sidney James, Sherwood Foresters –wounded, Francis Bernard Radford, Australia Contingent – wounded 4 times, awarded Military Medal,  B.A. Francis, West Africa Rifles, Heather Robert , Sherwood Foresters,   Hunt  George, Rifle Brigade (Beck St), Killick  Walter, Rifle Brigade –wounded (Priory Gatelodge), Marsden  C, 17^th Lancers (First House),  Marson   John, Royal Field Artillery – wounded (Hill Farm), Massey   M, Sherwood Foresters,  Mott   Herbert, First Class Boy, Royal Navy (Bleasby Rd.), Paling  Fred, Army Service Corps M T,(Bleasby Rd), Richards  Edward, Canadian Division, Richardson Frank, Seaman, Royal Navy(cottages by Coach and Horses, now the kitchen), Scrivener   G, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve,  Taylor   Edgar, Royal Garrison Artillery(Checkers cottage), Taylor  Harry, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Taylor  Arthur, First Class Boy, Royal Navy, Taylor  G, Leading Seaman, Royal Navy, Thornton Noel, Sherwood Foresters – wounded(Old Farm),  Tyler  Arthur, Army service Corps and Sherwood Foresters – wounded (Laurel Cott –now Corner Croft), Warriner  William, Royal West Kents – wounded (Warriner’s cottage)

Putting faces to names

This early school photograph of 1905-6 contains many of that generation of young men destined to fight in the 1914-8 war. Those who can be identified have been highlighted in the photo.

 Bernard Francis

Born and raised in a large family in Thurgarton where  his father was a railway signalman. Bernard emigrated to Australia c 1910 and joined the Australian forces at the outbreak of war. He was posted to France with the 4^th Australian Brigade who were involved in heavy fighting during summer 1916 at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm ( called MooCow or MuckyFarm by the troops). He was awarded the Military Medal

The commendation reads :- “ Near Mouquet Farm.  For splendid work as a Company Runner between 13^th-16^th August 1916. During a night attack on 14/15^th August he insisted on running in front of his Platoon Commander to shield him and act as a bullet stopper. Later with total disregard to danger he carried by himself several wounded men from the enemy trench back to our lines. He moved about continuously under all kinds of fire bandaging and carrying in wounded for 4-5 hours and finally brought in a message into Battalion headquarters through a heavy barrage”

Thurgarton men who died in the 1939-45 War

Sergeant Jack Allwood D.F.M.

Sergeant 633511 160 Squadron RAF Gunner  Born in 1920 he lived at Holly Cottage on Priory Road.  Jack was shot down near Tobruk on 26/9/1942 aged 20 years.  A tree now stands in St Peter’s church graveyard in memory of Jack – it was grown from a seed of a pine tree that once stood in Ramleh War Cemetery near Jerusalem where he was buried.

Geoffrey Fletcher

Private 5052596 2^nd Airborne Division South Staffordshire Regiment. Born in 1917 he lived in Wyer’s Cottage on Beck Street. He was killed in action in Sicily on 9^th July 1943 aged 26 years and is commemorated on the Cassino memorial, Italy.

Roll of Honour World War 2

William ‘Bill’ Atkin joined up in 1939 A Company Sherwood Foresters Captured in Norway campaign and spent rest of war as POW. Came home in 1946

Kathleen Atkin  ATS

Ernest Bentley joined up 1939 A Company Sherwood  Foresters  Served in Norway campaign

John Bentley joined 1939 served with Tank Regiment in France

Hilda Bentley Sgt, WRAF served at RAF Cranwell

J Banton lived in The Park

D Banton

John Bowley joined 1939 A Company Sherwood Foresters

George Bowley joined 1939 A Company Sherwood Foresters

Grant Burgon son of licensee of Magna Carta Lowdham. Lived in Appletree Cottage Beck St.

Hilda Bowley ATS

Ernest Crowder joined 1939 A Company Sherwood Foresters but mumps prevented service in Norway.

Sid Crowder Home Guard where he learnt Morse Code and signalling so on call up in 1943 was posted to The Royal Signals. Served 1944 to 47 in India and Malaya

R Farrands Royal Medical Corps served in India

Jack Holmes Territorial Army, oldest of six boys who lived on Beck St.

Bernard Holmes Royal Artillery served in India and Berwick Garrison

Wilfred Hornbuckle joined 1939 A Company Sherwood Forresters, served in Norway.

Les Lovett joined up at 17 into Sherwood Forresters served in Europe but legs badly injured by mortar shell, leaving him with a life long limp

H Massey family had threshing machine and lived in old cottage on Beck St

Edward Marsden  Sherwood Forresters but too young for Norway, lived in First House

Doug  Marsden long service in army in India in 1930s

Cyril Marsden oldest of Marsden boys became career soldier and obtained senior rank

Geoff McLean oldest of 6 children in Gate Lodge became Lieutenant in Army, served in Palestine.

A Morris son of licensee of Coach and Horses pub.

Robert  Richardson

Jack Reeve Asthmatic but passed fit for Navy – two years at Portsmouth.

Arthur Sharp TAs and then joined Sherwood Forresters at 17 – too young for Norway. Lived in Beck St.

Harold Statham village shop

Robert Scrivener RAF served in Iceland.

Nelly Scrivener WRAF sergeant

 Eric Scrivener

Percy Warriner

The Home Guard

The Home Guard at Thurgarton, about 20 men, drilled at The Hut, an old World War 1 barracks hut  which stood on the present village hall site. Amongst many duties they mounted a 24 hours guard at the Railway Station.

Rededication of the War Memorial, Thurgarton on Remembrance Sunday 2010