When you walk along Hursley Road in Chandler’s Ford, outside the Parish Church, do you ever pause and look at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial? Do you ever read the names on the stones?
Chandler’s Ford resident Hazel Bateman told me this story of the War Memorial at the St. Boniface Church, Parish of Chandler’s Ford.
“About three years ago, I was given the fascinating job of researching the war memorial that stands in the grounds of St. Boniface church. Some of the names are hard to read, and the vicar wished to establish whether or not the church had responsibility for its upkeep. I had a lot of help from an archivist and subsequently spent an interesting morning at Hampshire Records office looking at old papers relating to the war memorial. It was funded by public subscription after WW1 and originally stood roughly opposite the Monk’s Brook pub.”
“When the roads were re-organised, it was moved onto church property. I was able to establish that the church does not have responsibility for it. Chandler’s Ford Parish Council has taken over the project of restoring it and adding the names of Chandler’s Ford people who have died for their country in subsequent conflicts. It is hoped that it can be re-dedicated next year – 100 years since the outbreak of WW1.”
By Hazel Bateman from Chandler’s Ford, from Remembrance Day in Southampton, Janet’s Notebook, on November 12
Amazingly, I have also found a project named Chandler’s Ford War Memorial on Youtube. It was only posted on Nov 10 this year. The creator is a student named James Hanslip. This is his “History project for class.”
The video is beautifully made. The facts are well researched. The story is told with sombre music in the background. The video is moving. James also found out that on his birthday of 8th of May, it was also the day that one of the troops, George Herbert Browning, was killed in action in 1915. James has linked the past and the present and made history alive with this connection.
I don’t know James Hanslip, but I think it is such a brilliant piece of work. Well done James! (I think you’ll get an A*.) Well done for this important research and beautiful presentation for Chandler’s Ford’s history.
I have captured a few still images from James Hanslip’s video clip. (Note: Jan 2014: The video on Youtube has been removed.)
For further reading, I have also found an image ( © D Len Peach) of War Memorial, Chandlers Ford, 1920 on Hampshire County Council Website.
The image comes with this description:
The Memorial to those who fell in the First World War, shown here soon after its unveiling, was originally on the corner of Hursley Road and Station Road. It was subsequently moved to a site outside St Boniface Church. The unveiling was on 6 March 1920. The ceremony was performed by Major Hennessey, M P, with dedicatory prayers by the Archdeacon of Winchester and the Roll of Honour (of 48 names) read by Mr Carpenter. Reference: Hillier, Barbara J. [1980s]. The story of Chandler’s Ford, p 46.
Post Series: Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research, by Margaret Doores:
Chandler’s Ford War Memorial by Janet
- 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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- Janet’s Notebook: Memorial: grief and celebration
- Janet’s Notebook: “Their name liveth for evermore” – Brookwood Military Cemetery
- Janet’s Notebook: Visiting Brookwood Military Cemetery
- Janet’s Notebook: Remembrance Day in Southampton
- Janet’s Notebook: The Uplifting Changi Murals and Stanley Warren
- Janet’s Notebook: Changi stones and Prisoners of War in Singapore
- Janet’s Notebook: Story of a British veteran’s Pingat Jasa medal from Malaysia
[…] the end of the Great War (as it was then known) the government issued guidance notes on war memorials. One of the pieces of advice was that memorials should not include overtly religious symbols such […]