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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Preston (Rutland) |
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The War Memorial for Preston (Rutland)
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
The Preston (Rutland) War Memorial is situated in the South East part of SS Peter & Paul's Churchyard, Church Lane, Preston.
The memorial is a two-stepped square base surmounted by a square sectioned plinth with inward curved upper corners forming an octagonal sectioned upper face. Rising from the plinth is a square-footed column, transposing into a stop-chamfered, eight-sided tapering column, topped by a capital & cross. Plant holders at corners of lower step, plus another on paving stone border, 9 o'clock position. Incised inscription tablets, set into sides of plinth with WW2 names set into two riser faces of upper step. The whole memorial is bordered by a single band of paving stones.
14 names are commemorated as having lost their lives in the First World War. A transcription of these names is on the Imperial War Museum's Register of War Memorials.
2 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated on the Preston War Memorial.
Private George Alfred Clement. 47989. 9th Battalion
the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 18152 5th T R Battn. Son of Frank B. and
Emeline E. Clement, of Holly Farm, Preston, Uppingham, Rutland. Born at Castle
Bytham, Lincs. Died of wounds 21 March 1919. Aged 20.
Born Castle Bytham, Enlisted Bourne, Resided Uppingham (Rutland).
Buried CAMBRAI EAST MILITARY CEMETERY.
(Name spelt "Clements" in SDGW. Not shown in GH Gazette database)
Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com> has found a description
of the circumstances of Private Clements' death.
Private Archibald Naylor. 34117. 7th Battalion the
Yorkshire Regiment, former;y 31744 Lincolnshire Regt. Son of George and Lucy
Naylor, of Preston, Uppingham; husband of Mary Alice Naylor, of Preston, nr.
Uppingham, Rutlandshire. Killed 21 November 1917. Aged 34.
Born Preston (Rutland), Enlisted Loughborough, Resided Barrow-on-Soar.
Buried WIMEREUX COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
The Commemorations on the Preston War Memorial
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
The
Dedication on the Preston War Memorial
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
Ss Peter & Paul's Church, Preston.
(Photo : Richard Roberts <richard.nsw@googlemail.com>)
George Alfred Clement was the son of Frank and Emeline Clement of Holly Farm, Preston, and was born at Castle Bytham on 27 September 1898. He was working on his father's farm when the war broke out. He joined the 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment on 30 April 1917 and served in Italy and France until the Armistice. After the war ended, George was helping to clear up the battlefields. He was in the village of Tway, with a few men and an officer, when a German bomb he was handling exploded unexpectedly. His right hand was shattered and he was badly wounded in both legs and the abdomen. He died a week after the accident, on 21 March 1919, and was buried next day in Cambrai East Military Cemetery, grave IV.A.35. The hospital chaplain wrote: "Clement was admired by everyone, and had a host of friends. His death, and the manner of it, has caused a deep gloom to come over all of us. All ranks here and officers join with me in extending truest sympathy, and honour his memory." He was aged 20 and is remembered on Preston's war memorial.
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