The War Memorials of Aspatria, Cumbria
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| 1. Entrance to Aspatria War Memorial Recreation Ground |
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| 2. St Kentigern's Parish Church & Churchyard, Aspatria |
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| 3. St Kentigern's Parish WW1 Memorial Tablet |
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| 4. St Kentigern's WW2 Memorial Tablet |
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posted by ritsonvaljos at 11:04 pm
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Additional information
Aspatria's 'Fallen Heroes' of WW2
A separate article has been written about the WW2 casualties of Aspatria. To read this article click on the following link:
The WW2 casualties of Aspatria, Cumbria
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Aspatria's Recreation Ground
The parish and town of Aspatria is in north-western Cumbria (previously Cumberland) situated on the road between the towns of Wigton and Maryport. Following the First World War the people of created a new recreation ground to commemorate those who had died during the 1914 - 1918 war. Money for the recreation ground was raised by public subscription. The entrance to the recreation ground can be seen above [Photograph No. 1].
Above the entrance gates is a commemorative tablet confirming its original purpose:
"ASPATRIA
WAR MEMORIAL
RECREATION GROUND
_____________________
Purchased by public subscription
to perpetuate the memory of
Aspatrians who fell in
the Great War."
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Beneath the tablet dedicating the ground to the memory of the townsfolk who died in the so-called "Great War" (i.e. the 1914 - 1918 World War) is a panel listing their names and the names of those who died in the 1939 - 1945.
These are the names found above the gates of Aspatria's Recreation Ground:
(a) 1914 - 1918
D. J. Allison
T. Atkinson
F. Barton
J. G. Barton
T. Barton
G. Bell
H. Bell
J. Bell
W. Berwick
J. Birney
J. Birney
J. Blair
W. Blair
T. G. Blenkinsopp
J. Bowes
G. E. Brown
S. G. Brown
G. Bulman
M. Clulow
E. Cooper
R. Dixon
W. Dixon
W. Dixon
W. Eland
W. J. Elliott
R. Fell
R. Fisher
A. Glaister
C. Graham
M. M. Greenwood
R. Hewitt
T. Hewitt
J. Hodgson
A. W. Holliday
H. Holliday
J. Holliday
J. W. Holliday
J. S. Johnston
J. Law
J. W. Lawman
T. Maxwell
J. McCulloch
R. J. Miller
R. W. Miller
E. E. Moffatt
H. H. Moffatt
J. W. Moffatt
N. Moore
J. Murray
J. Newton
C. E. Pass
P. Peile
J. Rayson
T. J. Richardson
H. Ridley
A. Ross
J. W. Rumney
J. W. Smith
J. G. Strong
W. Tate
J. A. Thompson
J. W. Tinnion
J. H. Tolson
W. Troughton
T. W. Ward
H. C. Webb
G. Wilson
J. A. Wilson
D. Yeowart
J. Young
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(b) 1939 - 1945
J. Allen
D. Barnes
J. D. Beattie
J. Blackburn
W. Bulman
R. Connelly
G. W. H. Demand
G. B. Douglas
H. Douglas
J. G. Douglas
H. Glencross
K. C. Graves
L. Hodgson
A. Little
R. H. Monkhouse
J. Pattinson
R. S. Baty
R. H. Brough
R. G. Reay
J. Richardson
A. A. Robin
R. Salmon
R. Skelton
G. Steele
J. T. Stoddart
L. B. Tunstall
D. Hodgson
T. Cooper
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Within the memorial park, a tree has been planted for every son of Aspatria who has lost his life in the service of his country. Thus, there is a tree in the park for each individual who died in either the First or the Second World War. However, the commemorative tree planting did not end with remembering those who died in the Second World War.
In the 21st Century trees were planted in the park to commemorate two soldiers who died while in the Armed Forces. Both these soldiers are buried in the churchyard of St Kentigern's, Aspatria in the western part of the churchyard with St Kentigern's Church on the hill above. This part of the churchyard can be seen in Photograph No. 2 (above).
The first of these two tragic deaths was that of Lance Corporal Richard Matthew McGough, Royal Logistical Corps. He died in a civilian hospital in Germany on 23 June 2007, aged 30. At the time of his death, Lance Corporal McGough was 30 years old. The epitaph on Lance Corporal McGough's gravestone reads as follows:
"Too dearly loved to be forgotten. Rest in Peace."
Just over three years later, on 17 July 2010, there was another soldier from Aspatria died while serving in the Armed Forces. He was Sergeant David Thomas Monkhouse (known as 'Bob'), Royal Dragoon Guards was killed while serving in Afghanistan. The epitaph on Sergeant Monkhouse's gravestone includes the motto of the Royal Dragoon Guards:
"Quis separabit?" (i.e. "Who will separate us?")
In July 2011, Sergeant Monkhouse's family and friends also donated a memorial bench to Aspatria Bowling Club. This was an especially apt choice for the bench as Sergeant Monkhouse's late father, Robert ('Bob') Monkhouse, was an enthusiastic bowler and a member of Aspatria Bowling Club. The Bowling Club is adjacent to the memorial park.
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The War Memorials of St Kentigern's Church, Aspatria
Inside St Kentigern's parish Church, Aspatria, the church where Sergeant David Monkhouse's funeral service took place, are memorials for parishioners who lost their lives in earlier wars. The earliest of these memorials, made of white marble, dates from the Second Boer War (1899 - 1902). It commemorates Private Thomas Ponsonby Jackson of Aspatria who died of illness, aged 19.
Private Thomas Ponsonby Jackson was born on 8 May 1881 he was a member of the 3rd (Volunteer Battalion) The Border Regiment. During the Boer War, Private Jackson served with the 1st Battalion The Border Regiment for 9 months before dying of fever at Germiston, South Africa on 31 October 1900. Germiston is situated a short distance to the east of Johannesburg.
There is also a memorial tablet listing the names of Aspatrians who lost their lives during the First World War [Photograph No. 3]. Following the Second World War a wooden tablet was dedicated which lists the names of the sons of Aspatria who died in the 1939 - 1945 war [Photograph No. 4].
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Dedication
During the funeral of Sergeant David 'Bob' Monkhouse at St Kentigern's Church on 4 August 2010 the poem "I Saw Thee Weep" by Lord Byron (1788 - 1824) was read out aloud. It is a poem that reaches into the deep emotions of sadness and joy of the bereaved.
There is sadness and emotional pain in losing a loved one through war. It is balanced to some extent at the joy and pride in having known and loved the one they will see no more. Many believe that emotional pain will grow less as time passes even if the sense of loss never really goes away.
Below is Lord Byron's poem. It is dedicated to the memory of all the sons of Aspatria who have lost their lives in wars and conflicts, as well as their bereaved families and friends.
I Saw Thee Weep
I saw thee weep---the big bright tear
Came o'er that eye of blue;
And then methought it did appear
A violet dropping dew:
I saw thee smile---the sapphire's blaze
Beside thee ceased to shine;
It could not match the living rays
That filled that glance of thine.
As clouds from yonder sun receive
A deep and mellow dye,
Which scarce the shade of coming eve
Can banish from the sky,
Those smiles unto the moodiest mind
Their own pure joy impart;
Their sunshine leaves a glow behind
That lightens o'er the heart.
Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
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