IPSWICH WW1 & WW2 FIELD of HONOUR

IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL | Posted on 20th April 2016 |

IPSWICH FIELD OF HONOUR

25th March 1921 Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury newspaper.

In the south-western corner of Ipswich Cemetery, on the crest of a little hill, 140 British heroes await the “Reveille” in a picturesque Garden of Sleep. In the earlier days of the war, and during its four and a half years’ process, they were brought to Ipswich, bruised and tired, from the battlefields of France and Flanders, and succumbed to their injuries; the names of over fifty lads on the painted wooden crosses testify to a long struggle against physical disabilities sustained in action, and to the ultimate victory of the Great Reaper. Ipswich has set aside for these men from the shires of the land and from many climes – Australia Canada, and South Africa – a Field of Honour in her midst.

There are no distinctions of rank in this terraced plot of land. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen lie side by side, their graves ranged in orderly tiers with head crosses bearing the brief and matter-of-fact official particulars concerning the numbers, ranks, names, and regiments of the fallen, and the dates of their deaths. Here and there a relative or friend has placed a garland of flowers, but for the most part the Field of Honour pays its own tribute to its silent company by reason of its quiet dignity and lofty conception. It is intersected by paths, which divide it into four rough squares, and at the centre crossing of the ways rises a fine obelisk, surmounted by a cross, and bearing the word “Remember” on a small panel. On the sides of the column are the dates 1914 and 1918, marking the commencement and the conclusion of the titanic struggle in which these men laid down their lives. There are no mounds in the Field of Honour. The neatly trimmed grass gives no appearance of having been disturbed, but as the present scheme approaches finality stone crosses, bearing more permanent details of the service of these men will be sunk in the grave above each grave. The fencing from the general Cemetery has been carried out in yew, and while it will mainly be trimmed to a height of about four feet, the growth will be permitted to rise to about 20 feet at regular intervals of a few yards. A number of trees have been planted within the Field of Honour itself to commemorate the sacrifices of individual Ipswichians in numerous theatres of war, and in a western corner a metal tablet at the foot of a beech announces that the tree was planted “In loving memory of Sylvia Gurney, V.A.D.”

A visitor standing near the obelisk, and facing the entrance is confronted with a striking memorial cloister of pleasing and original design. On its inner walls are inscribed the words. “Their name liveth for evermore,” and tablets bearing the names of the 140 men are to be erected beneath this inscription. The Ladies Guild of Ipswich has been responsible for the erection of the obelisk and the memorial, and for the recent alterations which have made the Field of Honour worthy in every respect of its appropriate name.

A large stone in the entrance to the enclosed portion of the cemetery bears witness to the honour and privilege felt by the members of two platoons of London Territorials who were permitted to clear the site of its trees and undergrowth in 1915 to enable it to be used for its present purpose.

IN MEMORY OF IPSWICH’S MISSING.

1st April 1921 – Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury newspaper

In the near future a memorial to the “missing” Service men is to be erected in the Field of Honour. Preharps the most tragic section of the war casualty lists was that which contained tidings of men who were missing from their units, and of whom no definite news has been received to the present day. Several of the women of Ipswich whose menfolk were reported missing expressed a wish to place wooden crosses in the Field of Honour in memory of their loved ones, and Mrs. E.M.Fletcher endeavoured to secure the necessary permission. Consent was withheld, however, because it was felt that such crosses would be too numerous to be placed in the space provided, or even round the outside of the hedge, as was a subsequently suggested. It was intimated to Mrs. Fletcher that if one memorial to the missing was offered the Committee of Management of the Field of Honour would receive it sympatrically.

Mrs. Fletcher accordingly suggested at a meeting of the Committee that the women of Ipswich should give a figure of the Good Shepherd, that it should be placed on a pedestal and protected from the ravages of rain and weather. The memorial would bear the text from Ezekiel xxxiv..12. “I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day,” and also the inscription: “To the Glory of God and in proud and loving memory of the men of Ipswich missing in the Great War, 1914-1918. Given by the women of Ipswich, June 1921.” This offer was accepted, and the Burial Board passed the design quite recently. The figure is to be carved in London, and Mr. Saunders is carrying out the remainder of the work. A Cyprus tree will be planted at each corner of the memorial. These are being brought from the South of France by Mrs. W.F.Paul, and will be given by Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Kingsnorth in memory of their sons.

In order that the gift shall be truly from the women of Ipswich, Mrs. Fletcher is asking for sixpence only from each woman, and she will require 6,000 sixpences. A request is made for volunteers to collect the money in different districts of Ipswich. It is proposed to issue to collectors a printed description and pictures of the memorial as a guarantee of their authority to collect sixpences.

Editors note:

Mrs Emily Marcella Fletcher, mother to Second Lieutenant. NOEL WILLIAM SCOTT FLETCHER Kia.

& Mrs Sarah Ann Kingsnorth, mother to Bombardier CHARLIE KINGSNORTH Kia.

IPSWICH FIELD OF HONOUR

1st July 1921.

Suffolk Chronicle& Mercury Newspaper

On Tuesday evening Bishop Wood, the Rector of Witnesham, dedicated a
memorial cross in the Ipswich Field of Honour and a shrine which has
been erected there to the memory of the Ipswich missing. There was a large and representative congregation, including a colour party and members of the Suffolk Territorials, the British Legion of ex-Service Men, the R.A.F., and Red Cross Workers.

The memorial, which has been raised by the women of Ipswich to the missing, takes the form of a representation of the Good Shepherd, with the text from Ezekiel xxxiv.: “I seek out My sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Mrs. Fletcher made herself entirely responsible for its erection,
and its cost is being subscribed in sixpences by the women of Ipswich.
The carving has been executed by Messrs. Maile, and the remainder of the
work was carried out by Mr. Ernest Saunders, of Ipswich, who is responsible for the design.

The Field of Honour, which has previously been described in the “Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury,” was laid out by ex-Service unemployed men, under the direction of Mr. F.B.J. Groom. Members of the Ladies’ Guild and relatives on Tuesday placed roses – England’s flowers – on the heros
graves, and on the memorial cross was a beautiful wreath of palm leaves and victory laurel, tied with Royal purple ribbon, and a cross of rosemary, laurel, bay and myrtle, symbolic of remembrance, victory, and love.

The choir of St. Mary-le-Tower, under the conductorship of Mr. J.Job,
and the robed clergy assembled in the Cemetery chapel, and, headed by
the band of the British Legion, sand a processional hymn as they slowly
advanced towards the Field of Honour. In the meantime representatives of
the Free Churches – with members of the St. Nicholas Congregational
choir – had assembled around the memorial cross. Near the shrine were
three mothers whose sons are missing, and three wives whose husbands are
missing, and six orphans accompanied by Mrs. Fletcher. Many relatives
who attended the service were accommodated within the Field of Honour,
but, owing to the restricted area, the general public was not admitted,
and there was a dense assembly of sympathisers, representative of all
classes, in the Cemetery.

The service commenced with the singing of the anthem. “O Valiant
Hearts,” by the choir of St. Mary-le-Tower Church, and the Rev. E. J.
Gilchrist afterwards read the Lesson. The hymns, “When I survey the
wondrous Cross,” “Jesu, Lover of my soul,” and “Abide with me,” were
sung to the familiar tunes, and Canon Douglas Hamilton and the Rev. J.A.
Patten, M.C., led the devotional portions of the service, General S.
Massy Lloyd impressively read the roll of honour, and Bishop Wood
performed the dedication ceremony. The “Last Post” and “Reveille” were
sounded at the conclusion of the service, the Blessing was pronounced by
the Bishop, and the Nune Dimittis was sung.

WW1

FIELD of HONOUR

1915

(*Not on the Christchurch Park Memorial)

ROBERT DAVID L. DAKIN*

ARCHIBALD THOMAS MILLER

EDWARD THOMAS RUFFELL*

FREDERICK STRINGER*

EUGENE STUART*

JAMES ERNEST TEBBY*

VICTOR CHARLES RUFFLES WELLS

FIELD of HONOUR

1916

EDMUND THOMAS ADAMS*

BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER BLOOMFIELD*

GEORGE ALBERT CALVER

JOSEPH CASTLE*

CHARLES SAMUEL COTTON

WILLIAM CHARLES FULLER DUTTON

CHARLES VALENTINE FULLER

WILLIAM GALLOWAY*

PETER ALICK HOGGAR*

CHARLES HENRY INGLETON*

CHARLES W. LLOYD*

JOHN HENRY MUNNS*

ARTHUR RICHARD WILLIAM ROBERTS

GUY TWEED WEEKS*

CHARLES ALFRED JOHN WICKS

Ernest Ingleton at his brother’s grave in Ipswich cemetery.

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT IPSWICH FIELD OF HONOUR.

November 1916 Suffolk Chronicle & Mercury Newspaper.

An impressive memorial service was conducted by the Rev. H. Fauvel at
the Field of Honour in the Ipswich Cemetery last week. On the previous
day several ladies belonging to the Ipswich Women’s Guild had spent some
considerable time place wreaths and crosses on the graves, and these all
looked very beautiful. There was scarcely a mound that had not on it a
tribute from friends, and more than one floral token expressed the
esteem of fellow-workmen and neighbours of the departed.

The following are the names of those who lie buried in the Field of
Honour:- 1, Prvt. Robert Dakin, 3rd Royal Berks Regiment; 2, Prvt.
Frederick Stringer, 3rd Worcestershire Regiment; 3, Sergt. Archie
Miller, 4th Suffolks; 4, Driver James E. Telby, Army Service corps; 5,
Prvt. Edward T. Ruffell, 2nd Suffolks; 6, Prvt. Victor C. Wells, 1st
Leicestershire Regiment; 7, Prvt. Eugene Stewart, Irish Guards; 8, Prvt.
Charles Wicks, 4th Suffolks; 9, Prvt. Guy Weeks, 22nd London Regiment;
10, Prvt, Charles Fuller, 3rd Suffolks; 11, Sapper William Galloway,
Royal Engineers; 12, Prvt. William Dutton, Garrison Artillery; 13, Prvt.
Jack H. Munns, 13th London Regiment; 14, Charles S. Cotton,
Mine-Sweepers; 15, Prvt. Thomas Adams, 3rd Suffolks; 16, Prvt. Arthur
R.W. Roberts, Army Service Corps; 17, Prvt. Peter Eric Hogger, Royal
Engineers; 18, Prvt. Charles Ingleton, 57th Australians; 19, Prvt.
Leonard Francis, 4th Suffolks; 20, Prvt. Joseph Castle, Army Service
Corps; 21, Prvt. George Calver, 4th Suffolks.

IPSWICH FIELD OF HONOUR

IN MEMORY OF IPSWICH’S MISSING.

IPSWICH FIELD OF HONOUR

1st July 1921.

WW1

FIELD of HONOUR

1915

ROBERT DAVID L. DAKIN*

EDWARD THOMAS RUFFELL*

FREDERICK STRINGER*

EUGENE STUART*

JAMES ERNEST TEBBY*

FIELD of HONOUR

1916

EDMUND THOMAS ADAMS*

BENJAMIN CHRISTOPHER BLOOMFIELD*

JOSEPH CASTLE*

WILLIAM GALLOWAY*

PETER ALICK HOGGAR*

CHARLES HENRY INGLETON*

CHARLES W. LLOYD*

JOHN HENRY MUNNS*

GUY TWEED WEEKS*

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT IPSWICH FIELD OF HONOUR.

FIELD of HONOUR

1917

FREDERICK ALTHAM*

GEOFFREY EDGAR CUSHING*

FRANK LEONI CULLEN*

FRANK DALBY*

NORMAN DURHAM*

WILLIAM GEORGE FENSOM*

PERCY WILLIAM FOSTER*

ARNOLD LEIGH HUNT*

JOHN MacMILLAN*

FIELD of HONOUR

1918

SYDNEY ASHBY*

THOMAS HARRY BANTICK*

WALTER RUPERT OSMOND BARKER*

WILLIAM THOMAS BEDFORD*

CHARLES EDWARD BENNETT*

HARRY EDWARD DEAN* _

JOHN WILLIAM FUDGE*

ARTHUR GAME*

EDWARD HOUSTON*

JOHN PHILLIP TREVERS KEMP*

FRANK WILLIAM LAMBERT*

GORDON SHAW WILKIN*

FIELD of HONOUR

1919

CECIL WILLIAM BLAIN*

EDWARD BUCKINGHAM*

FREDERICK COLLINGS*

GEORGE MATTHEW COOK*

PERCY WALTER CUCKOW*

CHARLES EDWARD CURTIS*

CHARLES DOCHERTY*

ALFRED FREDERICK DORSETT*

WILLIAM GODFREY*

GEORGE EDWARD LAUGHLIN*

GEORGE FITZ-GERALD ROPER*

JOHN A. SHERMAN*

GEORGE SMITH*

WALTER HERBERT SMITH*

HERBERT LAWRENCE SUDDS*

EDWARD WILLIAM SYMONDS*

GILBERT LEE WILLIAMS*

FIELD of HONOUR

1920

HERBERT WILLIAM BROWN*

JOHN HENRY CRISP*

WILLIAM HENRY CRACKNELL*

JAMES FELIX GARDNER*

ROBERT HENRY KING*

WILLIAM EMMANUEL POTTER*

PERCY LOWE RIDDETT*

STANLEY GEORGE SMITH*

THOMAS EDWARD STEVENS*

ARCHIBALD EDWARD WILKINS*