Special Commemorations at Stoke Poges 11-11-11

REMEMBRANCE DAY, 11TH NOVEMBER 2008

Remembrance Day this year falls on Tuesday, 11 NOVEMBER and once again, on the 11th starting at 10.30 am around the flagpole, on the corner of Bells Hill and Hollybush Hill, we will be remembering Villagers who died in the Wars

We will remember all those who gave their lives for our Country. We will also remember especially five of the men from Stoke Poges with more detailed information about them than just their names.

Private Herbert ALBROW, aged 39, who served with the Motor Transport RASC, 14th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, and who lived in Farnham Road Cottages, Stoke Poges, where he worked as a House Decorator. He was killed in action in Palestine, on 27 APRIL 1918 when he was en route to Alexandria on a ship with his unit, that was torpedoed. He left a widow and six children, and is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.

Corporal Robert ALSFORD, aged 29,was not married, lived in Rex Cottages,Wexham Street, and served with the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (13th Battalion Middlesex Regiment). He was killed on 4 NOVEMBER 1918 and he was the last Stoke Poges’ man to be killed in the First World War, just 7 days before the end of the War. He is buried in Cross Roads Cemetery, Nord, in France, and is commemorated on both the Stoke Poges’ and George Green War Memorials.

Lieutenant Harold BOWEN, aged 27, while living in Canada he had served for 3 years with the British Columbia Horse, a Militia Unit, before the War broke out – giving his occupation as Rancher - and he then enlisted, in DECEMBER 1914, in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles for service in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. He was born in Stoke Poges, and lived in Appletons, Grays Park Road. Lieutenant BOWEN survived a wound he sustained in his head in SEPTEMBER 1916, when a bullet went through his helmet and traced its way along the top of his head. Later in the War, however, on 1 JANUARY 1918, he was wounded by a shell in the trenches and never regained consciousness. He is buried in the Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.

Private Reginald CLIFTON, aged 20, lived in The Bungalow, Framewood Road, and enlisted when just 15 as a Private in the RAMC, not being old enough to join a regiment. The following year – 1916 – he transferred into the 1/9th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment, travelling with them first to Egypt and then to France. He was killed in an advance on the Somme, on the Western Front on 31 MARCH 1917. He is buried in Queen’s Cemetery, Bucquoy, Pas de Calais, and he is commemorated in a mounted, stained glass window in the entrance to St Andrew’s, Rogers Lane. This was originally part of a window in St Wilfred’s Chapel in Chapel Lane, Stoke Poges, that was demolished in 1973.

Private George CLINCH, aged 40, lived in Hockley Hole, working as a Carpenter, he joined the 13th Kensington Battallion of the London Regiment. He served more than 2 years in Salonika, then a long spell in Egypt, and finally Palestine, where he died of dysentery in Gaza on 28 OCTOBER 1918. He left a widow – who he had not seen for more than 18 months – and three children. He is buried in Gaza Military Cemetery, which has tended by Ibraham JERADEH, as Head Gardener, now with 47 years’ service, who was awarded an MBE in 1994 for his dedicated care of the Cemetery for so many years.

Images from previous ceremonies...

The Vicar, Harry Latham, Alan Day, Lionel Rigby and the Chairman of the Parish Council, Kathie Webber

Pupils of Stoke Poges School reading the citations of those being remembered.

Villagers join in the Remembrance Day Service at 11am on 11th November 2006

The Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr. Kathie Webber with the six pupils from Stoke Poges School who placed Crosses at the foot of the Flag Pole.

Mrs Edna Mayer holding the scroll that commemorates her Great Uncle, L/Sgt James Evans.