World War One

The Main Road Through Chandler’s Ford: Historical Snapshots (Part 2)

October 19, 2021 By Christine Clark 3 Comments

Part Two: 1913

Chandler's Ford War Memorial. At that time it stood at the end of Hursley Road on railway company land, only moving to its present site (outside St Boniface Church )in 1973 being re-dedicated on 4th August 1974. Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society. — Chandler’s Ford War Memorial. At that time it stood at the end of Hursley Road on railway company land, only moving to its present site (outside St Boniface Church ) in 1973 being re-dedicated on 4th August 1974. Image via Eastleigh and District Local History Society.

If we now time-travel twenty years or so to the eve of the First World War, let’s see what has changed on our route. Once again, we come up from Southampton to the Asda roundabout and up Bournemouth Road. Chandler’s Ford now has a police constable who lives at the police house at 5 York Villas, Bournemouth Road. We pass the home of one R. E. Burke, a lounge steward on HMS Titanic who sadly perished when the ship foundered last year. As we pass the Hut Hotel (see image below, forgiving the cars!), we may see Chandler’s Ford United FC training in a field behind, using the hotel as their changing room. The big brickfield on our left is still busy.

Hut Hotel, image by Christine Clark — Hut Hotel

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, Eastleigh, education, history, Hursley Road, local history, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, storytelling, war memorial, World War One, writing

Memorials to our War Dead: the Cenotaph and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

November 7, 2020 By Christine Clark 1 Comment

I wonder how many people know the history of these two significant and impressive memorials to those who fell in war.

The Cenotaph.

Cenotaph London, Armistice Day 2018. Image via UK Government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) — Cenotaph London, Armistice Day 2018. Image via UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Designed by Edwin Lutyens, the Cenotaph (meaning ‘empty tomb’) was first erected in 1919 as a temporary wood and plaster structure for a victory parade at the end of the First World War. It was to be temporary as it was thought that this parade would be a one-off. But the Cenotaph quickly captured the public imagination. Repatriation of the dead had been forbidden since the early days of the war, so the Cenotaph came to represent the absent dead and served as a substitute for a grave. Beginning almost immediately after the parade and continuing for days afterwards, members of the public began laying flowers and wreaths around the Cenotaph’s base: people needed to mourn their sons, fathers and brothers. So clear was this need for a visible monument, that in 1920 it was replaced by a permanent Portland stone structure, to the same Lutyens design, and designated the United Kingdom’s official national war memorial. [Read more…] about Memorials to our War Dead: the Cenotaph and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

Tags: culture, history, memory, Remembrance Sunday, storytelling, war memorial, World War One

VE Day 75 in Chandler’s Ford – Memories of the Original VE Day

May 9, 2020 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

Lakewood Road decided to have a socially separated street party yesterday for VE75. I replied to the invitation and said I was at an original VE day party. Several people expressed an interest in the comments so I thought Chandler’s Ford Today might like to see them. As it turns out, I am not the only one who attended an original party.
[Read more…] about VE Day 75 in Chandler’s Ford – Memories of the Original VE Day

Tags: celebrations, Chandler’s Ford community, family, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, history, interview, local interest, memory, news, storytelling, war memorial, World War One, World War Two

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2019

November 10, 2019 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

Many people in Chandler’s Ford marked Remembrance Sunday today by observing a two-minute silence at 11am.

Debbie Pearce from Debbie Pearce Photography captured some photographs of the parade on Hursley Road, and the service this morning at the Chandler’s Ford war memorial, at St. Boniface Church, and has kindly shared these with the Chandler’s Ford community.

Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography — Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography

Traditional parade on Hursley Road. Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography — Traditional parade on Hursley Road. Remembrance Sunday 2019, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh. Image credit: Debbie Pearce Photography

Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, culture, Eastleigh Borough Council, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, Remembrance Sunday, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

Armistice

December 1, 2018 By Mike Sedgwick 1 Comment

At 11 in the morning of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 the guns fell silent on the fronts of the world at war. Turn your minds to that event and write a strict 500 words to catch the moment. [Read more…] about Armistice

Tags: culture, history, memory, Remembrance Sunday, war memorial, World War One, writing

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial – In Loving Memory of William Joseph Tosdevine

November 12, 2018 By Janet Williams Leave a Comment

I walked past Chandler’s Ford war memorial this morning and saw this wreath:

In loving memory of my great great grandfather

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2018

November 11, 2018 By Janet Williams 3 Comments

There was a rainbow in the morning and the rain stopped for the Remembrance parade and services.

At the Chandler’s Ford war memorial, a crowd of hundreds – from veterans to youth groups, families, and people of different ethnic groups – all gathered to pay their respects.

Hursley Road looked like this in 1918 (peace day celebration), and 1989. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2018

Margatet Doores: Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance

November 8, 2018 By Margaret Doores Leave a Comment

In the late spring of 2014 I read with interest of the national plans to commemorate the fallen of WW1. It was accepted that these commemorations would not in any way be an attempt to glorify war but were to be an acknowledgment of the great sacrifice made by so many.

It was also decided that these commemorations would continue until November 2018. It was suggested that researching the names on local war memorials could be an appropriate way of doing this. [Read more…] about Margatet Doores: Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams

November 3, 2018 By Ben Williams Leave a Comment

Since I was very young Blackadder has been my favourite comedy show. The antics of the various members of the Blackadder family throughout history is one of Britain’s best loved comedies and for good reason.

The latest Chameleon Theatre production brought to life the show’s most beloved series – Blackadder Goes Forth, which sees Captain Edmund Blackadder desperate to escape the trenches of World War One. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Ben Williams

Tags: Blackadder Goes Forth, Chameleon Theatre, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, World War One

The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Allison Symes

November 2, 2018 By Allison Symes 5 Comments

IMAGE CREDIT: A very big thank you to Stuart Wineberg and The Chameleons for kind permission to use the images in this post.

I’m delighted to review the Chameleons’ latest production – Blackadder Goes Forth. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Allison Symes

Tags: Blackadder Goes Forth, Chameleon Theatre, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, World War One

The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Dominic Mayes

October 31, 2018 By SO53 News 2 Comments

This review is written by Dominic Mayes

Blackadder Goes Forth, performed by Chameleon Theatre Company, went beyond all expectations. It truly brought back a classic comedy set during one of the greatest conflicts in history on the Western Front in 1917. [Read more…] about The Chameleons: Blackadder Goes Forth – Review by Dominic Mayes

Tags: Blackadder Goes Forth, Chameleon Theatre, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, theatre, World War One

Book Review: Margaret Doores’ Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance

October 27, 2018 By Christine Clark Leave a Comment

If you have ever walked past the war memorial outside St Boniface Church in Hursley Road, you may have wondered about those named on it. Perhaps you wanted to know a bit more about them and how they died in the Great War. Or maybe a bit more about the Chandler’s Ford they left in 1914. [Read more…] about Book Review: Margaret Doores’ Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance

Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, culture, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance, by Margaret Doores

September 21, 2018 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Have you ever walked past the war memorial outside St. Boniface Church and stopped and wondered about the lives that lie beneath the names? Where did they live? Were they born here in Chandler’s Ford?

What sort of work did they do before joining up or were they career soldiers? And who was Margaret Caswell? She’s the only woman who is remembered here.

Well, now’s your chance to find out. [Read more…] about Love’s Greatest Gift – Remembrance, by Margaret Doores

Tags: book promoting, Chandler's Ford, community, culture, education, history, Hursley Road, local interest, memory, St. Boniface Church, war memorial, World War One

Eastleigh Remembers – Truly Memorable

September 15, 2018 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

Eastleigh is marking the 100th anniversary year of the end of the first world war today. The event pays tribute to Eastleigh’s role in the First World War.

In Eastleigh this afternoon, I visited a re-enactment of a field hospital, some vintage military vehicles, and have seen great displays by charities and businesses, such as Hampshire Scouts, One Community, Defense Medical Welfare Service, British Legion, Eastleigh and District Local History Society, Eastleigh Gurkha Nepalese Association, Royal Air Forces Association, the Rotary Club, Air Cadets, Peter Green, and local author Paul Nolan. [Read more…] about Eastleigh Remembers – Truly Memorable

Tags: community, culture, Eastleigh, Eastleigh Borough Council, entertainment, event, history, Leigh Road, music, scouting, social, The Spitfires marching band, World War One, World War Two

Days Out – Fort Nelson

May 29, 2018 By chippy minton 2 Comments

Where can you see a dolphin near Portsmouth?

Well, I suppose “looking out to sea” is a possibility, but Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill is more likely. The handles on a cannon barrel are also called dolphins – because of their resemblance to swimming dolphins arching out of the water.

Tags: days out, history, local history, World War One, World War Two

April Trio of Plays – The Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes

May 4, 2018 By Allison Symes 1 Comment

Image Credit: Many thanks to Lionel Elliott and the Chameleons for supplying the images.

It was good to be back at the Richie Memorial Hall to watch the Chameleons’ latest production on Thursday, 26th April. They staged three plays in one show. All were set in different times and backgrounds. [Read more…] about April Trio of Plays – The Chameleons – Review by Allison Symes

Tags: acting, drama, entertainment, review, Ritchie Memorial Hall, World War One

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017

November 12, 2017 By Janet Williams 4 Comments

This morning, veterans and a few hundreds people commemorated those who lost their lives in the two World Wars and later conflicts, at the Chandler’s Ford war memorial.

Remembrance Sunday, which falls on 12 November in 2017, is a day to remember and honour those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom.

A two-minute silence was held across the country and wreaths were laid at memorials.

In Chandler’s Ford, people old and young were gathering at the war memorial, outside the St. Boniface Church on Hursley Road, including 93-year-old war veteran Frank Damerell, Night Fighter Navigator (the aircraft was “The Mosquito Night Fighter”) during the Second World War. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2017

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016

November 13, 2016 By Janet Williams 5 Comments

About two hundred people gathered at Chandler’s Ford war memorial for Remembrance Sunday service and laying of wreaths this morning.

From 10am this morning, many people started walking towards the war memorial on Hursley Road at St. Boniface church. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford 2016

Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford: 8 November 2015

November 11, 2015 By Janet Williams 2 Comments

On Remembrance Sunday on the 8th of November in 2015, people from Chandler’s Ford remembered and honoured the fallen.

180 people assembled outside St. Boniface Church at the Chandler’s Ford War Memorial as poppies were laid at the foot of the memorial. [Read more…] about Remembrance Sunday in Chandler’s Ford: 8 November 2015

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

March 3, 2015 By Janet Williams 13 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, [Read more…] about Barbara Hillier: Story of My Great Uncle Wilfred Herbert Hillier and His Memorial Plaque

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

World War One

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The Cenotaph.

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In loving memory of my great great grandfather

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This review is written by Dominic Mayes

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