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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Matlock Bath, Derbyshire |
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The War Memorial, Matlock Bath
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
The War Memorial for Matlock Bath is a white Carrara marble
sculpture of a uniformed soldier and sailor holding the British flag, on a
tall square grey Cornish granite pedestal bearing the dedication and commemorations.
The soldier is wearing khaki service dress with infantry puttees and the sailor
is in Ratings No 1 dress. They are standing one each side of a stone cairn
and holding a billowing Union Flag. The pedestal is of compound construction.
At the top, forming a base for the sculpture, is a moulded capstone with dentiles
below and this surmounts a plain frieze which has the opening inscription
on the 6 o'clock face.
The main central pillar is formed from oblong slabs decorated at the top corners
with short pilasters with dentilated capitals and bearing the inscriptions
and names on the faces and resting on a plain thin plinth with a further inscription
on the 6 o'clock face. Below the pillar is a base, also of compound construction,
with a moulded capstone, a plain central section with a laurel wreath in relief
on the 6 o'clock face and a projecting deep plinth with moulded upper edges.
The whole surmounts a plain two-step ashlar base and is encircled by kerbstones
and a narrow flower bed.
Adjacent to the memorial is a building housing a history of the memorial and information on the men killed, as well as a Roll of Honour for all those who served.
22 names are commemorated as having lost their lives in the First World War, and 10 in the Second World War.
2 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the memorial.
Private Frank Wigley Boden, 33604. 8th Battalion the
Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 269791 RASC. Son of John William and Amy Wright
Boden, of South Parade, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Killed 18 October 1917.
Aged 19.
Born Matlock Bath (Derbyshire), Enlisted Matlock
Buried HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY.
Information from Rachel Farrand is that Private Boden's name is recorded in the Roll of Honour in the book on the First World War: "The Bath at War: A Derbyshire Community and the Great War", by Charles Beresford, 2007, ISBN 978 1 901214 91 8. The book is a detailed history of Matlock Bath and those who served in the War. This book also records that the name of Private Boden can be found on the War Memorial in Glenorchy Congregational Church (a brass plaque).
Corporal William Ernest Knight, 9550. 2nd Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William James and Sarah Jane Knight, of York House,
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Died of wounds 25 April 1917. Aged 23.
Born Plymouth, Enlisted York, Resided Matlock (Bath).
Buried BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX.
Information from Rachel Farrand is that Corporal Knight's name
is recorded in the Roll of Honour in the book on the First World War: "The
Bath at War: A Derbyshire Community and the Great War", by Charles Beresford,
2007, ISBN 978 1 901214 91 8. The book is a detailed history of Matlock Bath
and those who served in the War.
The book has a significant number of references to Knight as the author has
been able to source family letters etc. Knight was a regular soldier having
joined at the age of 16 in 1910. The information includes a photograph of
Knight (p264) and a photograph of his grave in France with the original cross,
"In Loving Memory of/ Corporal Wm Ernest Knight/ 2nd Yorkshire Regiment
age 23 years/who died for his country on April 25th 1917" (p265).
The Names on the War Memorial, Matlock Bath
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
The Sculpture on top of the War Memorial, Matlock Bath
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
The Memorial Building to the Left of the Matlock Bath War Memorial
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
The
Memorial Building beside the Matlock Bath War Memorial
Photo : Wayne Bywater (<waynetyke123@aol.com>)
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