GREAT LINFORD - WAR MEMORIAL

The memorial is within the memorial hall in the High Street, Great Linford, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It takes the form of a rectangular Portland Stone tablet with the names in encripted lettering; there are a further four smaller rectangular Portland stone tablets each with a separate regimental encripted insignia. There is also a separate dedicatory plaque to those who died in World War 2. There eleven names for World War 1 and three names for World War 2. The names here are sorted into aklphabetical order within conflict for ease of reading and research.

Extract from Bucks Standard Saturday 17 April 1920:

GREAT LINFORD
GREAT LINFORD’S FALLEN SOLDERS.
DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL TABLET.

There was a crowded congregation at Great Linford Parish Church on Sunday afternoon, April 11, when with reverent and beautifully simple ceremonial the memorial tablet erected in the sacred building to the ten gallant men of the parish who fell in battle was unveiled by the Rev. F. B. Gunnery, vicar of Newport Pagnell and Rural Dean. The tablet is of white marble with a border of Verde Antico, and is inscribed: -

“In thankfulness to God, and in honoured memory of the men of Great Linford who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Capt. Ronald Montague Purvis, 3rd Batt. 2nd Black Watch,
Sgt. William Hobbs, 3rd W. Yorks,
Lce.-Cpl, Frederick Thos. Seamarks, M.G.C.,
Private Ernest Brightman, 1st Oxon and Bucks L I,
Private Glencoe Fincham, 14th Northumberland Fusiliers,
Private Walter Reginald Herbert Flute, 2nd South Wales Borderers,
Private Walter Charles Riddy, 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers,
Private Christopher Lorton Sapwell, R.A.V.C.,
Private Harry Seamarks, 6th R. W. Fusiliers,
Private Joseph Spriggs, 7th Wilts.
‘That Britain might stay free, full price
They paid a worthy sacrifice.’ “.

The service, which was conducted by the Rev. John Turnbull (vicar), opened with a processional hymn, “Ten thousand times ten thousand.” Other hymns sung were “On the resurrection morning,” “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” and “For all the saints.” The choral portion of the service was nicely rendered by the choir, with Mr. E. Whittaker at the organ. Major Mead read the lessons. For the dedication the Rural Dean used a special form of service, after which he gave an appropriate address from the pulpit. At the close Messrs. F. Horne, R. Daniells and C. Kingham sounded the “Last Post,” and Mr. Whittaker played Gounod’s “March Relieuse” and Smart’s “Grand March.”

Great Linford sent 100 men to the war, and in addition to the tablet in the church it is also intended to erect a memorial hall in the village.

Added to the War Memorial at a later date was the name of Walter Chamberlain, who died at his parents’ home on 30 July 1920.

The Memorial Hall, when built, was of a wooden construction and was sited approximately opposite the present Memorial Hall, at the end of the High Street.

In the same issue of the Bucks Standard of 17 April 1920 it was reported that on 9 April 1920, a village fete followed by two evening concerts raised the sum of £120 for the War Memorial Fund and was the grand result of a ten week’s effort of the sewing party, consisting of twenty-seven willing workers, who sold their creative garments to make it a successful occasion.

Great Linford Memorial Hall © Jo Roberts (WMR-8223)

THIS BUILDING IS
DEDICATED AS A
MEMORIAL TO THE MEN OF GREAT LINFORD
WHO DIED IN
TWO WORLD WARS
1914 - 1919

John Maxwell Edmonds

Last updated 13 July, 2023