At the end of World War 1 most
of the 140 Upchurch men who had fought in the conflict returned home, thirty
four didn’t. Discussions took place in the village about how to greet those who
had survived and what should be done to remember those who had perished.
The first major event took
place on May 24th, 1919 when a marble memorial tablet and stained
glass window named ‘Soldiers at the Crucifixion’ were dedicated by the Rural
Dean in the church. With the building packed to capacity the parish magazine of
June 1919 described the service as a highly emotional event with tears streaming
down many people’s faces as a bugler played ‘The Last Post’. The 34 names of
those who had died in the conflict were then read out and a sermon given by
Reverend J. G Easton in which he quoted from Rupert Brooke’s poetry:
Blow out you bugles, over the rich dead.
There’s none of these so lonely and poor of old.
Best, dying has made us rarer gifts than gold.
Such was the intensity of
emotion that Upchurch vicar Reverend Dicker was moved to comment in the
following month’s edition of the village magazine that those who had openly wept
at the service should not be ashamed.
 |
Memories of Upchurch. |
On June 3rd
1919 a vote took place in the village for the best peace memorial. Residents
had the choice of a clock for the church tower, a new recreation ground, a gate
to the churchyard or a sun balcony for a hospital which had all been put
forward at the parish council ‘Memorial Committee’ meeting. After residents had
voted for the options a memorial clock for the church tower came first with 240
votes. The clock was eventually fitted to the church tower after a series of
fund raising events in 1921.
A victory celebration fete
took place at Holywell Meadow followed by entertainment for the soldiers and
sailors from the village who had survived the war on Saturday July 19th
1919. The Upchurch Nuggets performed a variety of clown acts followed by sports
events after which old people and children were treated to a meat tea in the
marquee. Gifts of tobacco were given to the old people and sweets to the
children. The fete ended with the playing of the National Anthem.
The last celebration took
place at the Infant’s School when welcome home celebrations for soldiers and
sailors were held on August 8th 1919. With the building decorated with red,
white and blue bunting guests sat down at long tables decorated with flowers.
After Reverend Dicker had given a brief address packets of cigarettes and
tobacco were distributed and a concert party with music took place to entertain
everyone.
Finally, on November 11th
1920 people in Upchurch were requested to stand still for two minutes at 11 a.m.
followed by the tolling of a single church bell 34 times in memory of those
from the village who had died in the war. A Sunday Remembrance Day service also
became established which is still observed in the church every November.
About David:
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David on: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters.
price £12 + p+p £2.
David Wood
space
