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You are here: Home / Community / Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

March 3, 2015 By Janet Williams 14 Comments

Last Saturday (28th February 2015), Chandler’s Ford historian Barbara Hillier shared a poignant story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier, who died on the 7th of October 1916 in action in France, aged only 30.

Barbara’s storytelling was linked with a unique memorial plaque, which was once lost, but was never forgotten.

It was a story about a conscientious objector who later changed his mind, his love for his family, community and the world, and how the life of a fine young man from Chandler’s Ford was tragically lost in the Great War.

Reverend Peter Cornick, Barbara Hillier, and her daughter Jo Nash in front of the plaque which remembers  Barbara's great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier.
Reverend Peter Cornick, Barbara Hillier, and her daughter Jo Nash in front of the plaque which remembers Barbara’s great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier.

The plaque which remembers the life of Wilfred Herbert Hillier was re-dedicated by Reverend Peter Cornick. You’ll now see this plaque in the Dovetail Centre at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church.

Rev. Peter Cornick: commit ourselves to the cause of peace

Reverend Peter Cornick, when re-dedicating the plaque, emphasised the importance of this plaque being put in a public place.

He said the plaque is not just about Wilfred Herbert Hillier, it also serves “as a lasting reminder to us of the tragedy of war, and to commit ourselves to the cause of peace.”

The plaque is particularly significant as the nation marks the First World War Centenary.

The memorial plaque carries the text:

In loving memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier
A devoted servant of God and this church
Who fell in action in France
October 7th 1916
Aged 30 years
Erected by the Congregation and Sunday School

According to Barbara Hillier, the plaque was first erected by the old Methodist Church on Brownhill Road, soon after her great uncle was killed in the war. However, in the 1950s, the plaque was somehow lost as the church was moving and expanding.

Wilfred Herbert Hillier was the great uncle of local historian Barbara Hillier.
Wilfred Herbert Hillier was the great uncle of local historian Barbara Hillier.

The Hilliers in Chandler’s Ford

Barbara said her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier was the second of four sons of her great-grandparent, and his elder brother was Barbara’s grandfather.

Barbara’s great-grandparents moved to Chandler’s Ford in 1898 when Wilfred Herbert was 12 years old. They lived in where Brownhill Surgery is now located.

Two of the brothers – Wilfred Herbert and Barbara’s grandfather Frederick – were very involved in the first Methodist chapel.

1900: The first Methodist Chapel was opened in Brownhill Road. Image: Children looking down Brownhill Road. (Image credit: Chandler's Ford Methodist Church)
1900: The first Methodist Chapel was opened in Brownhill Road. Image: Children looking down Brownhill Road. (Image credit: Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church)

Barbara is the fourth generation of her family living in Chandler’s Ford. Her daughter Jo Nash, who also present at the re-dedication service, is the fifth generation.

A conscientious objector who later went to war

Barbara said her great uncle was a very gentle, non-violent young man.

“When the war broke out, my great uncle’s first instinct was to be a conscientious objector.”

However as he heard lots of stories coming back, he later changed his mind and decided to join, Barbara said.

Barbara Hillier in Dovetail Centre: sharing the story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier.
Barbara Hillier in Dovetail Centre: sharing moving story of her great uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier.

A watch from Chandler’s Ford to France

Barbara also shared that during the last Sunday service at the chapel, people from the church presented her great uncle with a watch and he took it to France with him.

In 1916, shortly before he was killed, Wilfred Herbert Hillier met up with his younger brother in France. Wilfred asked his younger brother to take the watch home with him to England.

Perhaps her great uncle sensed that he was not coming home.

You'll find the name of Wilfred Herbert Hillier on Chandler's Ford War Memorial, St. Boniface Church, Hursley Road.
You’ll find the name of Wilfred Herbert Hillier on Chandler’s Ford War Memorial, St. Boniface Church, Hursley Road.

Mystery of the plaque

Barbara said since the plaque’s disappearance from the church, no one seemed to know its whereabouts. However, her mum often wondered what had happened to the plaque and she mentioned the plaque to Barbara very often.

One day, John Discombe, property manager of the church at the time, found the plaque somewhere from the bowels of the church. John told me that he couldn’t remember where he had found the plaque, and it could have been from the safe.

Barbara kept the plaque at home ever since, until Reverend Peter Cornick asked if anybody in the church was involved in the WW1 before the last Remembrance Sunday. The story of her great uncle and the mystery of the plaque got ‘dished out’ since.

Brian Hopwood kindly add a wooden frame to the original plaque.

Barbara Hillier attended the re-dedication service of Chandler's Ford War Memorial on Sunday 19th October 2014 at St. Boniface Church.
Barbara Hillier attended the re-dedication service of Chandler’s Ford War Memorial on Sunday 19th October 2014 at St. Boniface Church.

Barbara: great story-teller

It was a moving re-dedication service. Many who listened to Barbara Hillier would agree that Barbara is not only a great writer and historian for Chandler’s Ford, but also a gifted story-teller.

Visitors who had tea and coffee at The Coffee Room in the Dovetail Centre last Saturday morning was lucky to hear Barbara sharing her family story.

There were also a few children in the audience listening to Barbara’s story. It was especially important for them to appreciate the history of the First World War, and how the newly restored plaque is linked to our community in Chandler’s Ford.

About Barbara Hillier

  • Barbara Hillier was born in Chandler’s Ford in 1941 and has lived here all her life.
  • She is the 4th generation living in Chandler’s Ford.
  • In 1898, her great-grandparents, Mr and Mrs Herbett George Hillier, came to Chandler’s Ford from Bepton.
  • Their eldest son married the younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Henry Orman, who also came to Chandler’s Ford in 1898 from Exbury.
  • Both great-grandfathers worked in the brickfields in Chandler’s Ford.

From the book of The Chandler’s Ford Story by Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting

Chandler's Ford books by Barbara Hillier Gerald Ponting.
Chandler’s Ford books by Barbara Hillier Gerald Ponting.

Books by Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting

Barbara Hillier has published a few books on the history of Chandler’s Ford, including:

  1. The Story of Chandler’s Ford (Barbara Hillier)
  2. The Chandler’s Ford Story: From Earliest Time to the 21st Century (Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting)
  3. Chandler’s Ford: Yesterday and Today (Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting)
<em>The Chandler's Ford Story</em>, by Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting.
The Chandler’s Ford Story, by Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting.

You can now buy The Chandler’s Ford Story in Chandler’s Ford in the following places:

  • WH Smith at the Fryern Arcade
  • Andersons on Hiltingbury Road
  • Spar Shop On Hursley Road

This book now contains a bookmark, which gives you an update (latest update 2015) about Chandler’s Ford since the book’s publication in 2005.

You can read more stories on Chandler’s Ford War Memorial and related posts in Chandler’s Ford Today:

Post Series: Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research, by Margaret Doores:

  • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. Can You Help?
  • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 2
  • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 3
  • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 4
  • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 5


Related Posts:

  • In Loving Memory Of Wilfred Herbert Hillier
  • My Poignant Visit To Auschwitz 30 Years Ago
  • Beyond The Sunset
  • Remembrance Sunday In Chandler’s Ford 9 November 2014
  • Re-dedication Of Chandler’s Ford War Memorial
  • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Rededication
  • Story Of Chandler’s Ford War Memorial
  • Renovating Chandler’s Ford War Memorial
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Related posts:

A restored plaque at the Dovetail Centre in Chandler's Ford Methodist Church: remembering Wilfred Herbert Hillier.In Loving Memory of Wilfred Herbert Hillier Margaret Doores on Chandler's Ford War MemorialChandler’s Ford War Memorial. Can You Help? Re-dedication of Chandler’s Ford War Memorial William Henry Kelsey featureChandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 2 Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research: Part 3
Tags: Barbara Hillier, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Dovetail Centre, education, event, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Methodist Church, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War One

About Janet Williams

I created Chandler's Ford Today. I use this website to share our passions and inspiring stories, to build a connected community. We inform, educate and enlighten. We share resources.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Peter Ealing says

    September 9, 2016 at 4:22 pm

    Dear Mrs Hillier

    I am a Committee Resident at BrendonCare Knightwood Chandlers Ford and have several of your well documented interesting books, lots of memories come flooding back when you describe your life in Chandlers Ford。

    I can recall when most of C/Ford was densely wooded with unmade roads.(96 years). Quite a few of our Residents formally lived in C/Ford. We would dearly love to listen to some of your Lectures. I would be grateful if I could make contact with you if you have lecture tour.

    Peter Ealing

    Reply
    • Janet Williams says

      September 9, 2016 at 6:21 pm

      Dear Peter,

      Many thanks for your lovely message.

      I’ll pass on your message to Barbara Hillier, including your phone number too.

      (I deleted your phone number on this public platform.)

      All the best to you

      Janet

      Reply
  2. Jan Melichar says

    December 30, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    Thank you for this interesting story. Could you please let me know which tribunal Wilfred Herbert Hillier applied to for exemption from military service and the date if you know it.

    Thanks

    Reply
  3. Margaret Fowler says

    September 6, 2018 at 9:06 am

    I have just had great pleasure in reading one of Barbara Hillier books. I missed getting into one of the Sherbourne House School photos by one year. I was brought up in Eastleigh and remember a lot of the places well.

    I think Barbara must be an old school friend from Eastleigh high school. Can you put me in touch with her?

    Reply
    • Janet Williams says

      September 6, 2018 at 4:10 pm

      Margaret,

      I’ll pass on your contact details to Barbara when I next go to the Methodist Church. I see Barbara regularly. All the best to you.

      Reply
  4. Martin Harman says

    December 23, 2021 at 12:42 am

    I am trying to find any information and photos of the tennis courts in Kingsway where the Freshwater Court flats now stand. Information about when the courts were built, the membership and when the club closed would all be welcome. Thank you, Martin Harman

    Reply

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