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Tuesday 15 December 2015

War Memorials of Walkern in Hertfordshire

Walkern ('Walchra' in Domesday) is a village and civil parish in East Hertfordshire. It is located on the River Beane about two miles from Stevenage, and is noted as the home of Jane Wenham, who was in 1712 the last woman in England to be convicted of witchcraft and condemned to death.

The River Beane, a chalk stream, crosses the village street of Church End in a ford, which is overlooked by the medieval Bridgefoot Farm and thatched Wych Elm cottage. The parish church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest village church in Hertfordshire, with a Saxon wall and rare chalk rood (crucifix) dating back to the middle 10th century. St Mary's also has a fine Purbeck marble effigy which is possibly that of William de Lanvalei, baron of Walkern in the early 13th century and one of the 25 sureties named in the Magna Carta elected to ensure that King John adhered to the 'Law of the Land' set down in the charter in 1215. [1]


St Mary the Virgin, Walkern, Hertfordshire

The churchyard is the site of three graves for men of the British forces who died during the two world wars.

J Parker Notts and Derby Regiment

Parker, J
Rank: Private
Service No: 102281
Date of Death: 09/05/1918
Regiment/Service: Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) 2nd/6th Bn.
Grave Reference:
Cemetery: WALKERN (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD [2]

In Loving Memory of

Alfred Savage who passed away Feby. 25th 1919

Aged 33 years
At Rest

Savage, Alfred
Rank: Private
Service No: M/349525
Date of Death: 25/02/1919
Age: 33
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Service Corps M.T.
Grave Reference: C. 6.
Cemetery: WALKERN (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information: Born Cottered. Son of Charles and Maria Savage; husband of Rose Savage, of Stoke Doyle, Walkern,. [3]

T W Hatley Essex Regiment

Hatley, T W
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 546353
Date of Death: 30/11/1941
Age: 32
Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment 7th Bn.
Grave Reference: N.E. of Church on North Boundary.
Cemetery: WALKERN (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:Son of Thomas and May Hatley, of Stebbing, Essex; husband of Margaret Hatley, of Stebbing. [4]

South of the village of Walkern the main Walkern War Memorial is located at the junction of High Street, Bennington Road and the road that leads uphill to Walkern Hall.


The monument comprises a simple Latin cross in Forest of Dean stone, with a bronze wreath and sword at the top, on a square plinth and three stepped base. The Memorial was unveiled and dedicated on 3 July 1921. [5]



To the Glory of God
and
in loving memory of
the men of this Parish
who gave their lives for
God and Country
Honour and deepest Gratitude
to all who fought in the
Great War
1914 - 1918


Sgt
Gilbert Albone,
6th. Beds Rgt.
Pte
Cuthbert Albone,
1st. Herts Rgt.
Pte
John Belchamber,
4th. R Sussex Rgt.
Pte
George Clements,
9th. Essex Rgt.
Pte
Arthur Clements,
4th. West. Riding Rgt.
Pte
Ernest. Carter,
Beds Rgt.
Pte
Arthur Carter,
4th. Beds Rgt.
Pte
Reginald Carter,
1st. Herts Rgt.
Pte
Cecil Cordell,
1st. Herts Rgt.
Pte
Henry Edwards,
1st. Herts Rgt.


Gnr
Peter Fitzjohn,
T.M.B. R.F.A.
Lg Smn
Percy Goodchild,
H.M.S. Defence
Ord Smn
George Groom,
H.M.S. Fmdle
Pte
George Green,
1st. Essex Rgt.
Rflmn
Randolph Green,
8th. City of Ldn Rgt.
Rflmn
Reginald Green,
2nd. K.R.R. Corps.
Pte
John Hale,
Royal Fusiliers
Pte
Bert Hart,
20th. Hussars
Pte
Stanley Knight,
2nd. Royal Berks.
Signaller
Arthur Mackie,
1st. Beds Rgt.


Gnr
Fred Mace,
Tank Corps.
Pte
Henry Osborne,
10th. East. Kent Rgt.
Pte
James Osborne
1st. East. Kent Rgt.
Pte
Jesse Parker,
Notts & Derby.
Pte
Walter Savage,
3rd. Royal Sussex Rgt.
Pte
Charles Spicer,
1st. Herts Rgt.
Pte
Alfred Savage,
M.T.A.S. Corps.
L.Cpl
Wilfred Smith,
Queen’s R.W. Surreys
2nd Lieut
Donald S Wright,
8th. Beds Rgt.
Pte
Harold Warner,
M.T.A.S. Corps.


And in the Second World War
1939 - 1945
Pte.
Stanley Sheppard
RA
Chf PO
Eric Canning
HMS Porcupine
L.Cpl
Eric Barwick
Herts & Beds
Pte
Fred Clements
5th. Suffolks
Actg PO
Fred R Milton
RN


[1] Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkern)
[2] CWGC Record (http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/364763/PARKER,%20J)
[3] CWGC Record (http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/364764/SAVAGE,%20ALFRED)
[4] CWGC Record (http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2933136/HATLEY,%20T%20W)
[5] Walkern History Society (http://www.walkernhistorysociety.co.uk/index.php/community-2/walkern-at-war/fallen-heroes/walkern-war-memorial/)

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