Outside, in the churchyard, I spy a CWGC headstone dead, if you’ll excuse me, ahead of us.
It’s interesting to note that the CWGC headstone is actually a fairly recent addition to this grave; the red writing on this GRRF is dated March 2001 (now you know that these old forms are still updated in modern times should changes occur),…
…as is this schedule for the erection of the CWGC headstone.
Doesn’t look great after only twenty years, but presumably a good clean would do the trick.
Behind, this headstone includes a memorial to Petty Officer Stoker Walter John Penygate,…
…killed in action on 31st May 1916 aged 29 when H.M.S. Invincible (pristine, inset left, exploding, main picture, & sinking, inset right) was sunk with the loss of 1,026 officers & men during the Battle of Jutland; there were just six survivors.
Private William Snelling, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), aged 40, was killed in action on 8th August 1917, his body lost, his name now to be found on the Menin Gate Memorial.
My dad was a Merchant seaman. My mum chose that passage from Bible for his funerl -about those who go to the sea. Poignant for me.
Interested yo read about CWGC updates though. Blessings this Easter
Poignant indeed. Likewise Morag.
The church doesn’t have the look of an ancient building. Except for the steepness of the roof. I wonder if it has been refurbished, or is it a newer building replacing an older one ?
Grayswood parish was only created in the 1890s and they needed a church, so turn of the century. That’s the 19th century…..
Thank you for visiting the churchyard at All Saints Grayswood.
We have a second CWGC grave but the family chose not to have a ‘standard CWGC’ headstone and so it often goes unnoticed.
George William Whittall served as Lieutenant in the 3rd Dragoon Guards in the First World War and died on 30 December 1919.
George was awarded the Military Cross. This is taken from the Supplement to the London Gazette 16th September 1918
Lt. George William Whittall, D.G. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer acted as liaison officer between regimental headquarters and the front line for two days and nights, continually carrying messages across the open under heavy shell and machine-gun fire. When the line became disorganised owing to repeated enemy attacks he was always on the spot, where the situation was obscure or touch had been lost, reorganising and keeping regimental headquarters accurately informed as to the situation.”
You can find more on our church website on those who served their Country.
I may have to revisit, in that case!
When you do you might also want to walk up the hill towards Haslemere. On the same side of the church and set down from the road is the Grayswood War Memorial.
Ah. Well I have actually been there, taken the photos, and at some point they will appear in a post. Promise.