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North Leigh Methodist Church Roll of Honour - This records the names of the members of North Leigh Methodist Church who served in the armed forces during the Great War of 1914-1918, and details those who lost their lives. It is dated April 2nd 1920. Written in fine calligraphy on paper, with an ornamental edging surround and headed Roll of Honour. In a dark oak frame, glazed, 72*59cm. The names are arranged over three columns, containing respectively, 26, 27, and 14 names, giving a total of 67 names, nine of whom died. A fourth column repeats further details of eight men who died in action, and a fifth column contains dedications from their families. [First Column]:
Ernest BARTLETT. Horace JENNINGS. Leonard GOUGH. Killed in Action France Oct. 16 1918. Frank ARIS. Killed in Action France Oct 7th 1918 Arthur BECKLEY. Killed in Action France Aug 8th 1918 William BREAKSPEAR. Tommy HILL Discharged through loss of right leg. Heath WALKER. Sydney WALKER. Joe COULING. Herbert COX. George TOWNSEND. Charlie CLACK. Alfred DUNSBY. Died of wounds France 1916. Sydney BREAKSPEAR. Frederick GOUGH. William GOUGH. Amos GOUGH. Gilbert BECKLEY. George BUCKINGHAM. William BARTLETT. Fred GOODMAN. Hubert WILLIS Died at Cologne Jan 26th 1919. Horace WILLIS Percy CLACK.
[Second Column]:
Frank HICKS. Alfred BECKLEY. Lewis WILLIS. Lewis LANGFORD. William LANGFORD. Charlie LANGFORD. Lewis FATHERS. Alec FATHERS. George CLACK Walter BREAKSPEAR. Mark BROWN. Percy GOODMAN. Ernest CLACK. Edward CLACK. Ernest GOUGH. Ernest BROWN. Albert ADAMS. Prisoner of war in Germany. Returned. Fred ADAMS. Archie GOODMAN. George HILL Died of wounds Aug 27th 1917. Robert GOUGH Died of wounds in France Sept 1917 Wallace JENNINGS George HEMMINGS Prisoner of war in Germany. Returned. Fred FATHERS William GOODMAN Charlie BUSBY. [Third column]:
Andrew CLARIDGE Prisoner of war in Germany. Returned. Sydney CLACK. Albert HILL. Gilbert DUNSBY. Wilfred RHYMES Missing Harry HILL. Michael RHYMES (Horace) Randolph BARTLETT Bert HILL (Jack) Lewis RHYMES. Joe GOUGH Killed in Action France. Oct. 4. 17. Cyril WALKER. Killed in action France Sept 21. 18 - Good Friday April 2nd 1920. - Hubert WILLIS Died at Cologne - Germany, Jan 26th 19. He left his house in perfect health He looked so strong and brave We little thought how soon he be laid in a deep grave. We still can see his loving face. When he said his last goodbye, But he left us all for ever, In a foreign land to die. We miss him more than words can tell, - Forget him - No we never - shall. [Fourth column - list of those killed in action]
Killed in action France. Oct 16th 1918. - Frank ARIS. Killed in action France. Oct 7th 1918. - Arthur BECKLEY. Killed in action France Aug. 8th 1918. - Alfred DUNSBY. Died of wounds. France. 1916. - George HILL. Died of wounds. France. Sept. 1917. - Robert GOUGH. Died of wounds France. Sept 1917. - Joe GOUGH. Killed in action France. Oct 4th 1917. - Cyril WALKER. Killed in action France. Sept 21st 1918. [Fifth column - family dedications to those listed in column 4 ]
loved ones from our homes, but never from our hearts" - "With aching hearts we shook his hand. Tears glistened in our eyes. We wished him well, but little thought It was our last goodbye. The cup was bitter, the blow severe To part with one we loved so dear Though the trial is great, we'll not complain. But trust in Christ to meet again" - "Thy will be done" - "Peace. Perfect Peace." - "God calls our loved ones, but we lose not wholly what He has given; They live on earth in thought and deeds as truly as in Heaven." - "May the Heavenly winds blow softly o'er the grave we cannot see. Though the sea divide it from us Forgotten he ne'er will be" - "Gone from among us, sadly we miss him, Loving him dearly his memory will keep, Not until life ends shall we forget him, Dear to our hearts in the grave where he sleeps." - "A loved one sleeping. There is a link death cannot sever. Love and remembrance live for ever. From Father, Mother, brothers and sisters." [ The Roll of Honour was displayed for many years in North Leigh Methodist Church, where Leonard Gough, one of those killed, had a senior role, and where there is a memorial stone in his name. It was rediscovered in 2017, while clearing the storage area. It was subsequently relocated to the foyer of North Leigh Memorial Hall, alongside the village memorial board that had been erected in the 1920's at the time that the original memorial hall was built. The village board contains all nine of the Methodist Roll of Honour names, and a further ten names of other North Leigh men who gave their lives in the Great War. ]
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