The Fallen Heroes of Threlkeld, Cumbria
Photographs (Top to bottom):
1. Threlkeld War Memorial, Cumbria
2. Memorial Tablet (detail) of the War Memorial
3. Headstone of WW2 casualty Gunner A. Tangye, R.A.
4. Headstone of WW1 casualty Gunner T.A. Watson, R.A.
For additional information click on 'Comments' below
posted by ritsonvaljos at 6:29 pm
8 Comments:
Additional information
(a) Threlked War Memorial
The Threlked War Memorial commemorates 13 casualties from the 1914 - 1918 war and 5 casualties from the 1939 - 1945 war. Inscribed on the Memorial Tablet, which is made from local Skiddaw slate, is the following inscription:
In honour of the men of Threlkeld District who died in two World Wars
1914 - 1918
T.P. Greenwood, Sgt
F. Atkinson, Pte
W.E. Crooks, Pte
W. Hind, Pte
C. Stuart, Pte
R. Todhunter, Pte
T. Stuart, Sgt
E. Bell, Pte
H. Earl, Pte
B. Stuart, Pte
J.B. Stuart, Pte
F. Wilson, Pte
T.A. Watson, Pte
1939 - 1945
G.J. Purcell, Maj.
A. Tangye, Pte
J.B. Hindmoor, Pte
T.W. Taylor, Pte
T. Wren, Pte
Their name liveth for evermore.
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NB - In addition to the five WW2 service casualties commemorated on the Threlkeld War Memorial, there was at least one other 'official' CWGC WW2 casualty who was a native of Threlkeld. This was Joseph Stuart, a Home Guard Volunteer. He is actually buried in Threlkeld (St Mary) Parish Churchyard.
Joseph Stuart was baptised in Threlkeld Parish Church on 29 January 1882. To read a previous article written about Joseph Stuart and see a photograph of his headstone, click on the following link:
In a Country Churchyard.
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(b) Threlkeld in the war years
The community of Threlkeld in northern Cumbria is about 4 miles (7 kilometres) east of the market town of Keswick. The war memorial lies on the northern side of the road from Keswick to the entrance of the village. The village churchyard of St Mary's Parish Church contains the graves of three official war casualties - one from WW1 and two from WW2.
Until 1982 Threlkeld was an important centre of mining and quarrying and also has traditionally been a settlement with many established farming families. Although many miners and farmers were exempt from military service, nevertheless men and women of the district did serve in both wars, a number of whom made the 'Ultimate Sacrifice' of their lives.
On the outskirts of the village, on the lower fellside slopes of Blencathra (Saddleback) was Blencathra Sanatorium. This was previously the main Cumberland county centre for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Those patients who died while receiving treatment at the sanatorium were mostly taken back to their 'home' district for burial. The former sanatorium buildings have latterly been used as an outdoor pursuits centre.
Of the 13 WW1 casualties listed on the memorial Birkett Stuart, Thomas Stuart and Charles Henry Stuart were brothers. They were the sons of Thomas and Jane Stuart of Brooklyn House, Threlkeld. As referred to above, during WW2 another family member of the Threlkeld Stuarts, 60 year-old Joseph Stuart a Home Guard Volunteer, is interred in Threlkeld Churchyard. Joseph Stuart was also a son of Thomas and Jane Stuart.
Additionally, a cousin of these four brothers also lost his life in the First World War. He was James Bowes Stuart, also from Threlkeld, who was son of Robert and Margaret Stuart of the Post Office, Threlkeld.
If it was necessary to find a reason not to have another World War then one need only think of the sacrifice of the Stuart family of Threlkeld. The loss of five close family members in two World Wars must have been hard to bear for family and friends.
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Dedication:
Lift up your eyes friend, look around and see
The names of those who died so you are free;
These young lads went forth and will not return
Here, their memory will forever burn.
(December 2011)
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(c) Threlkeld's WW2 casualties
These are the Commonwealth War Graves Commission citations for Threlkeld's service casualties of WW2:
(i) Major George James Purcell
Casualty Details
Name: PURCELL, GEORGE JAMES
Initials: G J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Major
Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment
Unit Text: 2/4th Bn.
Date of Death: 07/03/1940
Service No: 20817
Additional information: Husband of Jessie Purcell, of Threlkeld.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Ward 5. Sec. A. Grave 65.
Cemetery: CARLISLE (UPPERBY) CEMETERY, Cumberland (UK)
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(ii) Gunner Arthur Tangye
Casualty Details
Name: TANGYE, ALFRED
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery
Unit Text: 540 Bty., 88 Searchlight Regt.
Age: 33
Date of Death: 14/12/1941
Service No: 1742990
Additional information: Son of Alfred and Elizabeth Jane Tangye, of Threlkeld.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: S.E. portion. S.E. of church.
Cemetery: THRELKELD (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Cumberland (UK)
The epitaph on Gunner Tangye's headstone in Threlkeld St Mary's Churchyard reads as follows:
"In ever loving memory
Until we meet again.
Rest in Peace."
---------------------------------
(iii) Private John Birkett Hindmoor
Casualty Details
Name: HINDMOOR, JOHN BIRKETT
Initials: J B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 08/08/1944
Service No: 3607641
Additional information: Son of William Abraham and Elizabeth Ann Hindmoor, of Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. E. 2.
Cemetery: ST. CHARLES DE PERCY WAR CEMETERY, Calvados (France)
---------------------------------
(iv) Private Thomas William Taylor
Casualty Details
Name: TAYLOR, THOMAS WILLIAM
Initials: T W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: King's Own Scottish Borderers
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 17/03/1945
Service No: 14715526
Additional information: Son of James and Janet Taylor, of Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 6. E. 7.
Cemetery: UDEN WAR CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant (Netherlands)
------------------------------
(v) Private Thomas (Tom) Wren
Casualty Details
Name: WREN, TOM
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Age: 23
Date of Death: 07/01/1943
Service No: 7623468
Additional information: Son of William and Florence Edith Wren, of Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. B. 10.
Cemetery: ENFIDAVILLE WAR CEMETERY, Tunisia
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(d) Threlkeld's WW1 Casualties
(Included for completeness)
(i) Sergeant Thomas Porter Greenwood
Casualty Details
Name: GREENWOOD
Initials: T P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps
Unit Text: 2nd/2nd North Midland Field Amb.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 19/12/1917
Service No: 46923
Additional information: Son of Richard and Annie Greenwood of Garden Villa, Threlkeld, Penrith, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. A. 11.
Cemetery: RIBECOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord (France)
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(ii) Private Fred Atkinson
Casualty Details
Name: ATKINSON, FRED
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 07/08/1916
Service No: 23436
Additional information: Son of George Atkinson, of Scales, Threlkeld, Penrith, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 7 C.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme (France)
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(iii) Private William Ernest Crooks
Casualty Details
Name: CROOKS
Initials: W E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 39
Date of Death: 07/05/1918
Service No: 23441
Additional information: Son of William and Elizabeth Crooks,
Home address: Rigg's Cottage, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumberland.
Born at Threlkeld, Penrith, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: D. 1.
Cemetery: HEDAUVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme (France)
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(iv) Private William Hind
Casualty Details
Name: HIND, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 17/04/1918
Service No: 14469
Additional information: Son of Joseph Hind, of Crummock View, Threlkeld, Penrith.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. C. 6.
Cemetery: MONT NOIR MILITARY CEMETERY, ST. JANS-CAPPEL, Nord (France)
----------------------------
(v) Private Charles Henry Stuart
Casualty Details
Name: STUART
Initials: C H
Nationality: South African
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: South African Infantry
Unit Text: 1st Regt.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 18/07/1916
Service No: 4992
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. H. 10.
Cemetery: DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL, Somme (France)
NB: Son of Thomas Stuart and Jane Stuart (nee Bell) of Brooklyn House, Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Baptised at Threlkeld (St Mary) Parish Church, 2 Janauary 1881
Husband of Mrs Stuart, Cape Town, South Africa.
Living in Cape Town at the time of enlistment
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(vi) Private R. Todhunter
Possibly the following casualty:
Casualty Details
Name: TODHUNTER
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: East Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Date of Death: 07/02/1917
Service No: 11560
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXIV. B. 6.
Cemetery: AMARA WAR CEMETERY, Mesopotamia (Iraq)
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(vii) Sergeant Thomas Stuart
Casualty Details
Name: STUART, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 8th Bn.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 05/07/1916
Service No: 12941
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 6 A and 7 C.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme (France)
NB: Son of Thomas Stuart and Jane Stuart (nee Bell) of Brooklyn House, Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Baptised at Threlkeld (St Mary) Parish Church, 7 June 1891
--------------------------------
(viii) Private Edwin Bell
Casualty Details
Name: BELL
Initials: E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Unit Text: 10th Bn.
Date of Death: 10/04/1917
Service No: 42653
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: O. VIII. N. 6.
Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN, France
Previously served with the Middlesex Regiment.
Died of wounds.
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(ix) Private Harrison Earl
Casualty Details
Name: EARL, HARRISON
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 12/10/1917
Service No: 260649
Additional information: Son of Robert Earl, of Threlkeld, Penrith, Cumberland, and the late Elizabeth Earl.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 85 to 86.
Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL, Belgium
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(x) Private Birkett Stuart
Casualty Details
Name: STUART
Initials: B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 7th (West. and Cumb. Yeomanry) Bn
Age: 20
Date of Death: 04/11/1918
Service No: 260721
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: A. 20.
Cemetery: ENGLEFONTAINE BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord (France)
NB: Son of Thomas Stuart and Jane Stuart (nee Bell) of Brooklyn House, Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Baptised at Threlkeld (St Mary) Parish Church, 20 February 1898
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(xi) Private James Bowes Stuart
Casualty Details
Name: STUART
Initials: J B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 1st/4th Bn.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 16/11/1918
Service No: 201587
Additional information: Son of Robert and Margaret Stuart, of Post Office, Threlkeld, Cumbria.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 6.
Memorial: KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL, India
NB: Baptised at Threlkeld (St Mary) Parish Church, 30 December 1888
Enlisted: 8th March 1915
Disembarked in India: 25th March 1916
Died of influenza and pneumonia at Jubbulpore, India
------------------------------
(xii) Private Fred Wilson
Casualty Details
Name: WILSON
Initials: F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment
Unit Text: 15th Bn.
Age: 19
Date of Death: 16/08/1916
Service No: 19327
Additional information: Son of F. H. and Jane Wilson, of 1, Blencathra View, Threlkeld, Penrith.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 23.
Cemetery: BRONFAY FARM MILITARY CEMETERY, BRAY-SUR-SOMME, France
----------------------------
(xiii) Gunner Thomas Alexander Watson
Casualty Details
Name: WATSON
Initials: T A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Garrison Artillery
Secondary Regiment: Labour Corps
Secondary Unit Text: transf. to (483802) 47th Agricultural Coy.
Age: 29
Date of Death: 14/11/1918
Service No: 136198
Additional information: Son of Mr. W. A. Watson, of The Grange, Threlkeld.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: South of Church.
Cemetery: THRELKELD (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Cumberland (UK)
Gunner Tom Watson's headstone is shown in one of the above photographs.
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(e) Additional WW2 casualties
(Threlkeld district)
[Thanks to Kevin Battle (WW2 Talk) and "Geoff's Search Engine" for the link to these details].
There are a further two casualties linked to the Threlkeld district commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission but for some reason are not listed on the Threlkeld War Memorial. Their details are listed here:
(vi) Private Henry Routledge
Casualty Details
Name: ROUTLEDGE, HENRY
Initials: H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Durham Light Infantry
Unit Text: 16th Bn.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 22/04/1943
Service No: 4465963
Additional information: Son of Thomas Henry and Jane Routledge;
Husband of Ada Elizabeth Routledge, of Threlkeld, Cumberland.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. C. 8.
Cemetery: MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY, Tunisia.
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(vii) Civilian Mrs Helen Elizabeth Fennell (nee McFarren)
Casualty Details
Name: FENNELL, HELEN ELIZABETH
Initials: H E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Age: 41
Date of Death: 08/03/1945
Additional information: of 10 Great Turnstile, Holborn.
Daughter of Mrs. McFarren, of 5 Railway Terrace, Threlkeld, Cumberland;
Wife of Thomas William Fennell.
Died at Smithfield Market.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: LONDON CITY, U.K.
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(f) Additional WW1 casualty
(Threlkeld district)
[Thanks to Mr Stuart Nicholson, Parish Archivist for Whitehaven (Church of England) for this information].
Inside the Parish Church of St Mary's, Threlkeld is another war memorial for 'The Fallen' associated with Threlkeld and district. In addition, there is a further memorial to a WW1 casualty with family links to the district but who has not been included on the Threlkeld Village Memorial. He was Lieutenant Caradoc Stuart McLeod Prinsep, R.N (whose assumed date of death was 1 November 1918).
For completeness, the details of this casualty are included here. Lieutenant Prinsep is the fourteenth identified casualty from the district from WW1 and listed as xiv below. He was serving on a submarine (H.M. S/M G7) patrolling the North Sea when communications were lost on 23 October 1918. It was subsequently declared lost with all the crew as of 1 November 1918.
This is Lt. Prinsep's CWGC citation:
(xiv) Lieutenant Caradoc Stuart McLeod Prinsep, R.N.
Casualty Details
Name: PRINSEP, CARADOC STUART McLEOD
Initials: C S M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M. S/M. "G7."
Age: 25
Date of Death: 01/11/1918
Additional information: Son of Capt. J. F. U. Prinsep (Essex Regt.) and Mrs. Prinsep.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 28.
Memorial: PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL (U.K.)
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Lieutenant Prinsep's memorial inside Threlkeld Parish Church was donated by his aunt. This is a transcription:
In Loving Memory of
Lieut. Caradoc Stuart McLeod Prinsep, R.N.
Who lost his life serving his King & Country
1 Nov. 1918 through the sinking of Submarine G7.
Aged 25
This tablet is erected by his aunt, Audrey C. Howard.
"I only yield thee what is thine."
************************
I am led to believe my ancestors built the war memorial at threlkeld.
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