The sons of Newlands lost in the World Wars.
1. Newlands Church (and former school room)
[Near Little Town, Keswick Cumbria]
2. Stained glass window, Newlands Church
[Depicting the Archangel St Michael]
3. Clark family headstone, Newlands Churchyard
[Commemorating two brothers lost in WW2]
4. Headstone of Sgt. John Fisher Thwaite
[Newlands Churchyard, Cumbria]
For additional information click on 'Comments' below.
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posted by ritsonvaljos at 12:10 am
5 Comments:
Additional information
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121: 1 - 2
(King James Version)
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Introduction
Newlands Church [Photograph No. 1], close to the Cumbrian hamlet of Little Town is situated in the Newlands valley of northern Lakeland. The Newlands valley is surrounded by high fells (mountains). For many several centuries were extensively mined for minerals such as lead, copper, silver and gold. The other main economic activity of the district is farming and especially hill farming with sheep grazing the fells.
The valley, the surrounding fells and Newlands Church are also associated with a number of noted literary figures, including William and Dorothy Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. For example, Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle" is set in and around the area. Some of her original illustrations include the church. William Wordsworth's poem "To May" was partly inspired by a visit to Newlands Church in 1826 - a poem which is displayed inside the church.
Also inside the church is a stained glass window depicting St Michael, the Archangel [Photograph No. 2]. It is dedicated to the memory of those who fell in the service of their country and especially Thomas Roscoe Johnson, aged 27, who died in the First World War. There is a memorial to the two Clark brothers of Newlands who lost their lives in WW2 - they are commemorated on the family headstone. There is one grave in the churchyard that is cared for y the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - that of Sergeant John Fisher Thwaite [Photograph No. 4].
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Transcription of the stained glass window
The stained glass window of Newlands Church [Photograph No. 2] displaying the Archangel St Michael, also has the following commemoration:
"The the Glory of God, and in grateful memory of all who gave their lives for their country and rest in unknown graves, and especially of Thomas Roscoe Johnson who fell in action in France, October 12th 1916, aged 27 years. 'Not dead, but living unto thee'."
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Transcription of the Clark family headstone
The headstone of the Clark family from Rowling End farm in the Newlands valley is in the churchyard and is to the right-hand side of the path leading to the church entrance [Photograph No. 3]. It commemorates John and Elizabeth Clark and four of their children, two of whom were lost while serving with the R.A.F. during WW2.
It reads as follows:
"To the Glory of God
In Loving Memory of
John William Clark
Rowling End Farm, Newlands
Died 4th Nov. 1959, aged 80 years
And his wife, Lizzie Clark
Died 25th July 1967, aged 88.
Jean Elizabeth, his daughter
Died 24th Nov. 1958
Aged 40 years.
Also
John William Cockbain Clark,
24 years
Henry Alan Clark,
23 years
Died in action 1939 - 1945
Elizabeth Clark
Died in infancy 1914
'O God, our help in ages past'."
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Sergeant John William Cockbain CLARK (101 Squadron)
Sergeant John William Cockbain Clark was lost with the rest of the crew of Lancaster Bomber No W-4796 on a bombing mission to Essen, Germany on the night of 4 / 5 January 1943. According to the family headstone Sergeant J.W.C. Clark was 24 years old at the time of his death (although the CWGC gives his age as 23).
The aircraft took off from Holme-on-Spalding Moor, Lincolnshire at 17:30 h on 4 January 1943. The aircraft and its crew never returned and were deemed to have been lost on 5 January 1943.
The other crew lost with this aircraft were as follows:
Flight Sergeant S. L.J.Waterhouse, RNZAF
Sergeant E.J.Dollard
Pilot Officer J.D. Brodie
Sergeant L. Davies
Sergeant J. Perry
Sergeant G.F. Roberts
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Sergeant Henry Alan Clark (214 Squadron)
Sergeant Henry Alan Clark was lost on 4 July 1943 while serving with 214 Squadron. He was 23 years old at the time of his death. His Stirling bomber, EE-882, was on a mission from Chedburgh to lay mines in the region of the Frisian Islands. All the crew were lost without trace.
The other crew lost with this aircraft were as follows.
Sergeant R.G. Armsworth
Sergeant A.L.Warren
Sergeant F.E. Pilkington
Sergeant R. Mailey
Sergeant F.W. Morrell
Sergeant A.R. Dixon, R.C.A.F.
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Sergeant John Fisher Thwaite, R.A.F.V.R.
Sergeant John Fisher Thwaite a bomb-aimer, was killed while on a training flight on the night of 22 - 23 October 1943. At the time of his death he was 22 years of age. He was laid to rest in Newlands Churchyard and his grave is marked by a Commonwealth War Graves headstone [Photograph No. 4].
Sergeant Thwaite was the son of Mr Fisher Thwaite and the late Mrs Agnes Thwaite, who had been previously been laid to rest in Newlands Churchyard. The funeral service for Sergeant Thwaite was led by Rev. J. Steele-Smith, Vicar of Newlands Church. He was assisted by Rev. H. Crossland, Vicar of the nearby parish of Thornthwaite-cum-Braithwaite (where Mr Fisher Thwaite was living at the time).
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CWGC citations:
Below are the Commonwealth War Graves Commission citations for the casualties commemorated at Newlands Church
(1) First World War
Private Thomas Roscoe Johnson
Name: JOHNSON, THOMAS ROSCOE
Rank: Private
Service No: 15700
Date of Death: 12/10/1916
Age: 27
Regiment/Service: The King's (Liverpool Regiment), 17th Battalion.
Grave Reference: VI. K. 2.
Cemetery: WARLENCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, France.
Additional Information:
Son of John and Honora Johnson, of Brooklands, Church Stretton, Salop.
Native of Liverpool.
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(2) Second World War
(a) Sergeant John William Cockbain CLARK
Name: CLARK, JOHN WILLIAM COCKBAIN
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 658415
Date of Death: 05/01/1943
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force, 101 Squadron.
Panel Reference: Panel 145.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey
Additional Information:
Son of John William and Elizabeth Clark, of Newlands, Keswick, Cumberland.
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(b) Sergeant Henry Alan CLARK
Name: CLARK, HENRY ALAN
Rank: Sergeant
Service No: 1093765
Date of Death: 04/07/1943
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 214 Squadron.
Panel Reference: Panel 145.
Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL, Surrey
Additional Information:
Son of John William and Elizabeth Clark, of Newlands, Keswick, Cumberland.
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(c) Sergeant John Fisher THWAITE
Name: THWAITE, JOHN FISHER
Rank: Sergeant
Trade: Air Bomber
Service No: 1510800
Date of Death: 22/10/1943
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Grave Reference: 2nd row. East of church.
Cemetery; NEWLANDS CHURCHYARD, ABOVE DERWENT, Cumberland
Additional Information:
Son of Fisher and Agnes Thwaite, of Braithwaite, Keswick, Cumberland.
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Dedication
This article is dedicated to the memory of all those who held the Newlands valley and Newlands Church dear to their hearts and lost their lives in the World Wars. Could this have been the 'better place' many of them believed they would go to when they came to the end of their earthly lives? Could this be the closest place to heaven they had known while on earth? If it is anything at all, the Newlands valley is a place of peace, has beautiful mountain scenery and it is a place that people recall in their mind's eye when they are far away.
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"And yet how pleased we wander forth
When May is whispering, "Come!
"Choose from the bowers of virgin earth
"The happiest for your home;
"Heaven's bounteous love through me is spread
"From sunshine, clouds, winds, waves,
"Drops on the mouldering turret's head,
"And on your turf-clad graves!"
From: "To May" by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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For further information about the Newlands valley, some of its literary connections, Rowling End Farm and the Clark family who lived there, click on the following external link:
Newlands Valley and Rowling End Farm
This article also explains that Rowling End had been farmed by the Clark family from the early 1800s. After the death of his two sons in WW2 Mr John Clark, who was farming at Rowling End in the mid-20th Century, was subsequently obliged to sell the farm (1954) because there was no-one in the family left to run it.
Incidentally, the Latin motto above the front door of Rowling End Farm is:
'Hic Habitat Felicitas'
(In English, 'Here dwells happiness').
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