How Our Remembrance Sunday Started
“On Sunday 15 May 1921, a small group of ex-Servicemen and representatives from the four organisations, The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers, The Comrades of The Great War and The Officers’ Association walked to the Cenotaph, in London’s Whitehall. As Big Ben struck nine, the four men representing the organisations laid a wreath with the badges of the four organisations that would officially unite to form the British Legion.
The following day the constitution was presented to and agreed by 700 delegates at the Unity Conference in London. The then Prince of Wales was also invited to become the British Legion’s first Patron, whist Earl Haig was appointed as the British Legion’s first President and Sir Frederick Lister the National Chairman.
The British Legion was founded by and for Armed Forces personnel and as a demonstration of its attitude towards its members the constitution was proposed by a soldier and seconded by a General – there would be no distinction between rank, religion or political affiliation.”
Great Brickhill War Memorial
The Great Brickhill Ex-Servicemen book by David Marlow states:
“In honour of the men from Great Brickhill who fought and fell in the Great War of 1914-1919. This cross is raised by a grateful village. Their bodies are buried in peace but their names liveth evermore.”
February 2021: Photos of our War memorial
The Great Brickhill War Memorial was placed outside St Mary’s Church in 1920. We have included images of the war memorial inscriptions and the three wreaths laid in November 2020 by the Parish Council, by High Ash School and by the Ex- Servicemen’s Association1 representative (Edward Maley).
On 24th March 1920, a public meeting was held in the Concert Room to consider the above question. After full discussion it was decided to take steps to erect a
memorial of the War and of those from the parish who have fallen whilst serving their country, to be a perpetual record for future generations of Great Brickhill people.
A committee representative of all sections of parishioners was appointed to go into the matter to raise subscriptions and to select a design and site for the same which they would recommend to a future meeting. The committee have met and are now considering designs for a memorial cross, and they propose that a suitable oak tablet should be placed in the Parish Church and in the Wesleyan Chapel on which shall be displayed the names of all the officers and men belonging to the Parish who have served in the War.
‘The committee confidently appeal to parishioners for their liberal support and will gratefully receive any sums, whether large or small that may be given for the purpose’.
The memorial was commissioned from Rattee & Kett , Ecclesiastical & General Builders of Cambridge for a sum of £200.0s 0d (which would be approximately £9,000 in 2020) and the two Oak tablets, a further £40.5s.0d (which would be approximately £1,800 in 2020). The money was raised by subscriptions from some 37 generous named individuals and further collections.
From a Villager
“When we first came to the village in 1983 we had no idea that there was a War Memorial. A yew hedge along the outside of the Churchyard Wall had grown into a copse-like wood around the War Memorial and you could just see the stone cross. Then, members of the village gradually cleared the hedge and the Memorial surroundings were landscaped to ensure that the Memorial was a well-maintained and prominent reminder for the village. The front of the memorial faced the main road through the village and faced the house that used to house “The Old Post Office” which acted as the Recruitment Office for the young men to sign up to join the war effort. Their signatures continue to exist on the plaster wall in the room which acted as the Post Office.”
Source: CA
1961 Restoration
Our parish archives note: ‘In the Parish Council meeting of October 1961 restoration of the memorial was discussed and the following year, the same company, Rattee & Kett, was commissioned to undertake the work, it was agreed by both parties that payment would be in instalments’.
Source: CL researching Gt Brickhill Parish Records
GB Ex-Servicemen Draft V2f5.docm Page 20 / 111
Great Brickhill Ex-Servicemen
Roll of Honour Website
Martin Edwards has provided an entry on the Roll Of Honour website, which he manages, stating most of the above detail about our memorial. He adds that it was unveiled by Lord Cottesloe in March 1920. Details appeared in the North Bucks County Observer, according to Martin, on 27th May 1919 and 13th Apr 1920. The memorial still contains the original thirteen names which are included in this document with additional photographs of the memorial.
The Roll Of Honour website may have been the source of other information by earlier researchers of information now presented in this document. If that is the case, then We wish to both acknowledge the source and thank the originators.
Source: ME from Roll of Honour Website
Remembrance Sunday Parades
Great Brickhill has celebrated Remembrance Sunday annually for some years. Around the year 2000, the Parade Commander was Sir Philip Duncombe. The Parade became an established routine over the years and was taken over by Ted Maley an ex- serviceman from the Territorial Army. When Ted moved away from the village in 2019, David Marlow took over. He was a pilot and commissioned officer who had served in the Royal Air Force from 1966 to 1983.
The Parade continues with a small group for volunteers associated with the Services through their families. They mark the occasion annually, following the Royal British Legion’s Guidelines including the reading of our village Roll of Honour which is on view in the St Mary’s Church Lady Chapel.
Remembrance Sunday photography by David Marlow and Malcolm Wright
Note, there are many more images available by ‘Search’ and in the Images Listings.