Forum Topic

War Memorial St Lawrence's Church

I read a recent article on this site which mentions plans to resite the war memorial to Brentford Library.  I have just added details of this 1914-1919 war memorial and a photo of it in its current setting to my Brentford High Street web site at http://www.bhsproject.co.uk/indexWW1memorial.shtml; I hope to add details of the men recordedCelia Cotton, Leicester (my grandfather H A Dunn is one of those men)

Celia Cotton ● 6204d26 Comments

KevinThanks for your helpful suggestions: new sources for me to try.  I am concentrating on the St Lawrence's memorial as it includes my grandfather and is sited on Brentford High Street,the subject of my local history project.  This memorial includes the casualties from just the 1914-1919 war.  I am not a local person and haven't seen the other memorials - yet; something to do on one of my annual Brentford visits!Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6158d

CeliaA very worthwhile project. I was involved in a similar effort when living in Essex. Have you contacted the local Royal British Legion branch(es)? They may well have their own records, which could assist in compiling a more complete list. I did not see any mention of WW2 casualties. Is there a separate memorial or should they also be incorporated? We used a general criterion of having lived, worked or main family members in the area.Congratulations on the project and hope you can get some local business sponsorship.Have you contacted the UK National Inventory of War Memorialsc/o The Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZTel: 020 7207 9863/9851; Fax: 020 7207 9859E-mail: memorials@iwm.org.uk which is a Registered charity (no: 1108563) working to compile a record of all war memorials in the UK and to promote their appreciation, use and preservation? They may be able to offer advice on where additional information may be gathered.Good luck!!

Kevin Regan ● 6166d

Hi MyraThanks!  If Julia receives any photos I can include them on the site.Have been able to add quite a few details over the last fortnight,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6176d

Julia, I was very intersted in Alfred Pearce as the house he and his parents lived in is opposite mine. Would love to see the photo of him and his medals. Yes it would be great to have something like a 'blue plaque' on the houses these brave men lived in their honour.Is there a project coming here!Wonderful achivements Celia - hope there will be exhibition, happy to help.Thanks, Myra

Myra Savin ● 6177d

Hi I am decended from the pearces Celia did some research on the pearces for me which she has detailed on her wonderful site. i would love to see the photo of pearce that you mentioned or to get in touch with the lady or gentleman that as them.  A exhibition sounds great what a fantastic idea !!!  Joanne tansley

Joanne Tansley ● 6180d

Hi JuliaThat's great to hear, it sounds like some interesting conversations are taking place at 206.I am thoroughly enjoying the research. I was surprised to see how many different regiments the men served in (not all Middlesex or London as I expected) and finding they had fought in Greece, Israel, Belgium, France, Turkey, Italy, Egypt.It would be possible to include photos by the way, if the person can either scan the original or take a digital photo of it.Best wishesCelia

Celia Cotton ● 6183d

Hi CeliaWe are getting such a great response in respect of all your research on the names.  I have a copy printed on my desk and lots of people are looking at it.  We are now thinking of having some sort of exhibition although it won't be for a while.  It will be great to get some photos etc of the men.  I have been offered a photo of Pearce already and even to see his medals.I feel I am basking in the glory of your hard work!Speak soon and thanks again.

Julia Quilliam ● 6185d

Thank you Mike, this initiative was started before I found out about the plans to restore and re-site the memorial, so timing was fortunate.  So far about 50 men's details have been added to the site, so good progress is being made.Celia Cotton

Celia Cotton ● 6185d

An excellent initiative - please keep us updated.

Mike Hardacre ● 6185d

JuliaThanks - I enjoy research and have an attachment to Brentford as my father was born there in 1916: he was just a baby when his father died on the Somme.  I will call you tomorrow,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6193d

No I'm afraid not - at the moment I am still trying to find out anything about him, I think he probably came from South London and he was a regular and fought in the Boer War too. Ancestry has proved to be useless, however I work for The National Archives so will find a bod there who can send me in the right direction I hope.

Vanessa Smith ● 6194d

CeliaI have just spent ages reading your website www.bhsproject.co.uk.  It is absolutely fantastic and with so much interesting information.  You must have been working day and night to put so much detail together. Your work on the names on the memorial is outstanding.  The details of the men you have listed is so interesting which makes it all the more sad particularly when looking at their young ages and family situations.  I would love to have a chat with you.

Julia Quilliam ● 6194d

My goodness you were all so busy last night.  I am so pleased to hear this is moving forward in such a positive way.  It will be lovely to get to know these men.  Let me know if you would like me to do anything.  I will start a new thread and talk to the local papers.  My brother Craig got lots of information on our family who served during the first world war so I will get him to add anything which might help.Many thanks for everything.

Julia Quilliam ● 6194d

Vanessa - some of the burnt records have been painstakingly copied onto film at the archives - and boy it is difficult to read some of the few they have restored.  You may strike it lucky, hope so.  Cheers.

Sarah Felstead ● 6194d

VanessaJim recommended CWG site and I've spent an hour or so looking for the men named on the memorial, with reasonable success. Is your grandfather one of those named on the St Lawrence memorial?Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6194d

JuliaHappy for you to start another thread particularly if this one shows signs of faltering!  Local newpapers may be another route? I am happy to aggregate any bits of info passed on to me on the bhsproject site,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6194d

Hello Sarah & JuliaI have started looking up details on the Commonwealth War Graves site suggested by Jim and managed to find quite a few entries, but contributions from family members will add details that may otherwise not get 'caught'.  If there is a way of involving local schools that sounds good - over to you!  If you pass on any findings I can add them to the site for now,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6194d

I got my Grandfather's details from the CWG site and have been to Thiepval in France where he is remembered on the memorial - having no known grave. I am also going to try the Ancestry site to try and track him down as I have no more than his name regiment and number. A lot of the WW1 records were destroyed in the second WW courtesy of Adolf so not sure how far I will be able to get.

Vanessa Smith ● 6194d

Julia - you may find that the local schools already know the history of some of the people named.  Isleworth & Syon know about a couple of lads from their school who died in battle and I think they go over to see their graves?

Sarah Felstead ● 6194d

Just thinking Celia... shall we post a new thread asking if anyone locally is related to any of the men named.I can start a thread or if you would prefer.

Julia Quilliam ● 6195d

JimThanks for the suggestion.  So far I have looked at records on the ancestry.co.uk web site and found a couple of matches to unusual name/initials on the memorial. I have just looked at the WGC site and it looks promising,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6203d

You may be able to find details of the men recorded on the memorial on the Commonweath War Graves Commision site:http://www.cwgc.org/JL

Jim Linwood ● 6203d

Hello SarahThanks; your suggestion about contacting the Editor is a great idea, I will do just that,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6204d

Hello SarahThanks; your suggestion about contacting the Editor is a great idea, I will do just that,Celia

Celia Cotton ● 6204d

What a lot of work detailing the names Celia.  Perhaps our Ed could post a direct link to your site on the front page with your plea for information about people named?  :-)

Sarah Felstead ● 6204d

Hi CeliaPlease have a look at the thread 'Brentford at Watermans' on this site which will tell you all about the fundraising for the memorial.Plans are going really well to get the stone restored and moved to the library.It is lovely to hear from someone who is a relative and in fact you are the first.I am on holiday from today but staying in the UK.  I will try to log on to the forum but should you like to speak with me please phone the office on 8847 4737 (speak to my brother Craig) and he will give you my mobile number.

Julia Quilliam ● 6204d