Special Commemorations at Stoke Poges 11-11-11

REMEMBRANCE DAY, 11TH NOVEMBER 2006

This year we remember all those who died in the two world wars and other conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan. This year is the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme which lasted from 1st July until 19th November 1916. By the end of the battle more than 300,000 British, Commonwealth, French and German soldiers had been killed and more than twice that number wounded.

The distinguished historian Sir Martin Gilbert writes in his book on the Battle of the Somme "As a historian of the human condition, I have always tried to give a place and a name to those on whose shoulders fell the burden of the decisions of others - their rulers and their commanders - and who did their duty without questioning, or seldom questioning, either the cause or plan. Their stories deserve to be told in every generation, as an integral part of war, and as a testimony to human suffering and to the human spirit."

Six men from our village died in that great battle and we remember them today.

JAMES EVANS
Sergeant Jim Evans had been a regular soldier and he married Lily Turner, a Stoke Poges girl. The family lived in Hockley Hole and in civilian life Jim was a keen footballer. At the time of the battle Jim had only just returned to the front, having been discharged from hospital after being wounded. He died on the first day of the battle when the second battalion of the Berkshires attacked Ovillers. One of the 19,240 British soldiers who died that day, Jim was 32 years of age. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

HAROLD SEARLE SKUES
Harold was born in Denham but the family moved to Stoke Poges and lived in North Lodge, Stoke Park. After leaving Stoke Poges School he worked for 14 years at Stoke Park. He joined the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry in 1915. Corporal Harold Skues died on 24th August 1916 in the second stage of the battle in the attack on Delville Wood. Delville Wood was the scene of fierce fighting as it was taken, retaken and part occupied. Harold was 28 and unmarried. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His father, whose only son he was, died a year later aged 69 and is buried in Stoke Poges churchyard.

ARTHUR JAMES BIRCH
Arthur Birch was born in Stoke Poges and educated at the local school. He worked first at Sefton Park and then at Wyfold Court as a gardener. Arthur served in the 64th Machine Gun Corps. On 16th September 1916 his company marched from Pommier Redoubt Camp to take part in an attack on enemy trenches near Flers. Private Arthur Birch died later that day, aged 26. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. His brother William Joseph was killed the following year.

WALTER ROGERS
Walter Rogers was born in Denham. His family moved to Stoke Poges and lived in the Gate House, Fulmer Grange, then within Stoke Poges. Walter and his brother Leonard were gardeners at Alderbourne Manor. Lance Corporal Walter Rogers served with the Royal Fusiliers and was wounded in the trenches west of Gueudecourt and died at the Heilly Casualty Clearing Station on 9th October 1916. He was unmarried and aged 22. He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe.

ARTHUR WILLIAM PLUMRIDGE
The Plumridge family lived at 2,Farnham Road Cottages, Templewood Lane. Arthur left Stoke Poges School and worked for the Post Office. Private Arthur Plumridge served in the 56th Machine Gun Corps and was killed in Stuff Trench, near Thiepval, 1st November 1916. He was only 20 years of age and in buried in Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval. His friend wrote to his mother "I felt it very much as he was my best chum. We came out of the same regiment and went to Grantham and came out here together." Grantham was where the machine gunners were trained. Arthur's older brother, Percy, survived the war and was awarded the Military Medal.

HARRY NEWNS
Harry Newns had served 18 years in the army before re-enlisting in September 1914. He had married Emily Didcock of Stoke Green the year before. Harry was
killed near Serre, 15th November 1916, aged 42. One witness of the battle wrote home "Sergeant Newns was last seen wounded in the head but still carrying on". A later witness adds "The Sergeant was killed by a shell whilst bandaging up the wounded." Harry is buried in the Serre Road Cemetery No.2. As you leave St.Giles Church a little way down the path on the left hand side you will see the Didcock family grave and he is commemorated on it.

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.