Visitors from Upchurch and Lower Halstow attended the
WWI Commemoration Weekend
organised by Newington History Group.
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Richard Oldfield, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent; Cllr George Bobbin,
the Mayor of Swale; Mrs Brenda Bobbin, the Mayoress, and Gordon Henderson,
the Sittingbourne and Swale MP, examine the Book of Remembrance. |
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Thelma Dudley, Dean Coles and Debbie Haigh of Newington History Group who
researched the Book of Remembrance. |
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Villagers and dignitaries gather around the Memorial Cross for its re-dedication
exactly 95 years to the hour after it was unveiled. |
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Wreaths and remembrance crosses laid at the memorial during the
commemoration service on Sunday. |
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The Book of Remembrance to the Newington men who fought in the Great War. |
Pictures courtesy of Graham Dudley and Reverend Ron Partridge.
Exactly 95 years to
the hour after the unveiling of their Memorial Cross, more than 300 Newington
villagers and visitors crowded around the monument to remember their World War
One dead on Sunday.
It was the
culmination of a WWI Commemoration weekend organised by Newington History Group
(NHG) at the Sittingbourne village’s parish church.
The Bishop of Dover,
the Rt Rev Trevor Willmott, re-dedicated the memorial and Sgt Ricky Stephenson,
of the Royal Engineers, read the address originally given at the 1919 service
by Brig-Gen Hugh Adair.
The names of 31
Newington men killed in WWI were read out by Dean Coles, chairman of NHG, and The Exhortation was read by Tim Phipps,
a descendant of several enlisted villagers who survived the war. Wreaths were
laid by WWI victim Frederick Lloyd’s niece Maisie, the Royal British Legion and
parish council, while children from Newington primary school laid posies.
Uniformed members of
the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Living History Group presented arms and Mark
Hinchliffe sounded The Last Post.
Among those in
attendance were: the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Richard Oldfield; the MP for
Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Gordon Henderson; the Mayor of Swale, Cllr George
Bobbin; Maj Simon Dean, of the Kent Army Cadet Force and grandson of Donald
Dean, VC, from Sittingbourne; Susan Featherstone, of the Imperial War Museum, representatives
of the Royal Engineers, the Royal British Legion and county, borough and parish
councillors.
Earlier, during a
commemoration service, the Bishop had received and blessed a Book of
Remembrance detailing the lives of the Fallen and some of the 130 troops who
returned to the village. The unique book, researched and produced by NHG, will
go on permanent display in the church.
Hundreds of visitors
also attended the other weekend events that included displays and exhibitions
detailing the group’s two years of research, information about Newington’s role
in the frontline of Britain’s WWI defences, and descriptions of what it was like
living in a Kent village in 1914.
There were themed
music, film, poetry and floral display events, with performances by the UK
Paper brass band and Newington Concert Party.
Mr Coles said: “The
weekend was a fitting commemoration to our villagers who fought and died in the
war. There has been huge interest. In particular, it was noticeable how many
children were engaged and enthused by the exhibitions and hearing about the
bravery of ordinary men – many in their teens – who gave their lives.”
During Sunday’s service, members of the Queen’s Own Buffs discovered
that Private Edward Carver, of the East Kent Regiment, The Buffs, who died in
November 1918, is buried in Newington churchyard.
Later, they gathered
at his grave in tribute and Jack Jarrett, chairman of the Queen’s Own Buffs in
Sittingbourne, laid a wreath on behalf of the regiment.
For more information contact
Richard Thompstone: 01795 842405 / 07896412427
Richard Thompstone
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