War memorials, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire War Memorials, -
Great Smeaton,
St. Eloy's Church
War memorials, North Yorkshire
Close Window to return to main page

The First World War Memorial in St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton The First World War Memorial in St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton
Photo : Edward Nicholl

The principal War Memorial inside St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton, is a marble plaque that commemorates five men who lost their lives in the First World War, and 3 men who dies as a result of the war.

The names on this memorial are;-

Lt. Col Lawrence Godman, DSO. OC 46th Brigade R F A (*)
Pte F C Wright, 2nd Batt. Suffolk Regt.
Pte J Dixon, 9th Batt. Yorkshire Regt.
Pte J R Wakefield, 11th Batt. East Yorks Regt.
Pte S Sturgess, 9th Batt. Durham L I
Pte H Bainbridge, 17th Batt. Durham L I
and
Pte W Ripley, 7th Batt. Yorks Regt.
Pte. J R Haw, 8th Batt. West Yorks Regt.
Pte C H Thompson, 8th Batt. West Yorks Regt.

In addition to this plaque, a carved pulpit commemorates these men together with Alderman Godman and his son and grandson, - one of whom was killed in the First World War and the other in the Second World War. For details and a photo of this pulpit, see below.

There is also a stained glass memorial window commemorating those who lost their lives in the First World War.

Private John Dixon, 28349. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Mrs. J. Dixon, of Boltby, Thirsk; husband of Amy Dixon, of The Battlement, Sutton, Thirsk, Yorks. Killed 7 June 1917. Aged 35.
Born Dalton (Thirsk), Enlisted Northallerton, Resided Great Smeaton.
Commemorated on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

Private William Ripley, 16269. The Yorkshire Regiment. Died December 1918. Aged 38.
(From the records, Private Ripley enlisted on 18 November 1914, went to France on 19 August 1916, and was discharged due to wounds on 6 July 1916.)

The Carved Pulpit

The pulpit in St. Eloy's Church commmeorates on one face;-
Colonel Arthur Fitzpatrick Godman, C.B., V.D., D.L., J.P. County Alderman. 6th Dragoon Guards. The Carabiniers.
1st V.B. The Yorkshire Regiment. OF SMEATON MANOR.
1841 - 1940.
his son
Lt. Col. LAURENCE GODMAN D.S.O. Royal Horse Artillery.(*)
DIED OF WOUNDS 30 SEPT 1917
his grandson
Capt ARTHUR PETER GODMAN, Oxfordshire and Bucks Light Infantry. KIILED IN ACTION 27 MAY 1940.

(* In the CWGC register, Lt Col Godman is shown as being "Laurence", but of the Royal Field Artillery.)

On the other face, the above names (less that of Lt. Col. Godman) from the First World War are commemorated, together with two men from the Second World War, - Flight Sgt Kenneth Fawcett, R.A.F.V.R. and AC.I. J Vernon Fawcett, R.A.F.V.R. and AC.I.

The Pulpit in St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton
The Pulpit in St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton
Photo : Edward Nicholl

The Stained Glass Memorial Window

Beside the First World War Memorial plaque there is a stained glass window which is dedicated to those men of the parish who lost their lives in the First World War.

The First World War Memorial Stained Glass Window in St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton
The First World War Memorial Stained Glass Window in St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton
Photo : Edward Nicholl

"In memory of those from this parish who fell in the war 1914 - 1918.
THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE PEACE"

St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton St. Eloy's Church, Great Smeaton
Photo : Edward Nicholl

-----------------> Return to top of the page