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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Graves and Monuments

9 Comments

Replica Battlefield Cross
Replica Battlefield Cross
Photo: Rev David Long
Views: 2,939
Item #: 32918
Of the many hundreds I've logged, this is the only such gravestone commemorating a WW1 casualty whose remains are elsewhere which I've come across in the region. As you'll notice, it resembles the one in the photograph visible in the actual battlefield cross for Lt. C Collingwood just posted.
It's in St Elizabeth's churchyard at Aspull. A recent history booklet claims it's Donald Mather's actual grave - but as he was killed in Belgium, and no bodies were brought home, that cannot be true.
The carving in the roundel at the centre took a bit of identifying - it is supposed to replicate the cap badge awarded to the Liverpool Pals Regiment with whom Mather served - which featured the Eagle and Child from the Coat of Arms of Lord Derby... but it looks more like a swan here.

In Lymm churchyard there's a small replica of the type of permanent headstone erected post-WW1 and since by the CWGC.

Comment by: Tom on 29th January 2021 at 19:07

Rev long if you Google captain arthur derrick hamer it shows his name on a grave in grove cemetery harrogate but he was k.I a on 6/11/ 1918 with my grandfather he also was a man of the cloth before joined up in ww1

Comment by: Rev David Long on 29th January 2021 at 22:39

Tom, as the CWGC records Capt. Hamer as being in a grave in Hargnies Communal Cemetery in France, he cannot be buried in Harrogate. He may, however, be commemorated, along with thousands of others, on a family grave in Britain.
I have recorded hundreds such commemorations on the Imperial War Museum's site.
All those buried in graves over here are recorded on the CWGC site. Hamer is not listed as buried at Grove Cemetery, Harrogate.

Comment by: Keith on 30th January 2021 at 10:35

My great uncle, Mansel Bowen is commemorated with a grave headstone at Sardis Church, Kilgetty. 307166 Pte., Mansel Bowen 2nd/8th Battalion XX The Lancashire Fusiliers 197 Inf Bds of 66 East Lancs Division was taking part in the Battle of Poelcappelle (third battle of Ypres) on October 9th 1917, his body never found. Despite this I'm told he died at Deck Wood, not sure how this can be determined.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 30th January 2021 at 15:09

Tom and Keith, graves with such commemorations should be recorded on the IWM's website - as I've stated above, I have created hundreds such records. If you send me details (and, preferably) images of the graves, I will put them up on the website.
I'm happy to do the same for anyone else - but, if it's in a local graveyard, check on the IWM website to see if I have already recorded it.

Comment by: Tom on 30th January 2021 at 18:44

Rev long if you Google arthur derrick hamer grave, it will come up on grove cemetery in harrogate it says he is buried here .I have visited the hargnies cemetery in France and seen his grave , it is with 25 manchester regiment soldiers .his father was the Canon of Newcastle

Comment by: Rev David Long on 30th January 2021 at 21:21

I'm not quite sure what you're saying, Tom - you have visited his grave in France, so you know he's buried there, along with your great grandfather, and other local Manchester Regiment men. The commemoration on his family grave in Harrogate, whatever the wording on the grave or on a website, can only be his family's remembrance of him.
He is remembered on the war memorial in his father's church, St Paul's, High Elswick, Newcastle. Unfortunately, the church closed some years ago and was subsequently vandalised - so that memorial might not still be around.

Comment by: Tom on 30th January 2021 at 21:51

Sorry rev I thought you wanted a image of the grave in harrogate

Comment by: Keith on 31st January 2021 at 15:19

I do have a photo of it but thank you for the offer Rev., it is already registered on the Imperial War Museum's Register.

Comment by: Rev David Long on 31st January 2021 at 17:08

Keith - I've searched every which way, including through my contributor's portal, but I cannot find an entry for your Mansel Bowen on the IWM site. The only M Bowen I could find in that area was on a modern memorial at Templeton (ref. 93703).
Can you send me the ref. no., please? (Use my email address... to save boring others.)

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