Memorial Book - All Saints - Mollington, Oxfordshire - World War I Memorials and Monuments on Waymarking.com

A memorial book commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of WWI with information of the seven men named on the War Memorial in All Saints' church, Mollington. Information was gathered at an exhibition held 2 - 3 August 2014, and memories, photos, and objects were given by villagers of Mollington.

Excerpts from the book -
"Phillip Charles Valentine Kerby, 2140

I/Ist Warwickshire Yeomanry

Born: 1893

Died: Aged 22, 11 April 1915, drowned at sea

Remembered at Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton

Next of kin: Parents - Henry and Matilda Kerby

4 siblings - Joseph, Winifred, Stephen,
Leonard and Kathleen

Occupation: Groom

The 1911 census gives the family home as Greens Norton,
Towcester, Northamptonshire although the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission shows the home address as Mollington.

The family lived in a number of places where children were born,
Eydon and Greens Norton in Northamptonshire and Mollington,
Oxfordshire.

The photograph of Phillip with his brother Joseph was probably
taken in 1913 when both men had joined the Warwickshire
Yeomanry. Phillip had enlisted in Coventry and was a servant of
Captain Chamberlayne.

Phillip sailed from Avonmouth at 8.20pm on 10 April 1915 on the
transport ship Wayfarer bound for Alexandria in Egypt, prior to
their destination of Gallipoli.

The Warwickshire Yeomanry, commanded by Major Richardson,
included five officers with 189 NCO’s and men and 763 horses and
mules. At about 2.15pm on the following day, when 60 miles
N.W.of the Scillies, the ship was struck by a torpedo, fired from
submarine U32. Three holds forward of the engine room, port
side, flooded. The order was given to abandon ship.
An hour later a small trading steamer SS Framfield came to the
rescue, the Wayfarer was listing and not sinking. 20 soldiers
volunteered to return to the ship to care for the horses."

"Frederick George French, 2103

3rd/1st Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars

Born: 5893/94

Died: Aged 22, (3 September 1915, of siciess

Buried: All Saints Churchyard, Mollangton

Next of kin: Mother - Margaret Humphries (Humphrey)

of 21 Castle Seer West, Banbury

Occupation: — Farm labourer

Next of kin listed as Margaret Humphries, however in the 1911
census Frederick is showm as the grandson of Eizabeth French
(aged 68), widow, she was married for 48 years and lived in
Mollington. Elizabeth French is the mother of David French.
The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars was mobilised in August
1914. In doing so they became the first territorial unit to embark
for war and the first to see action. Mounted cavalry actions were
seen at the start of the war before the wenches were dug.

We do not know when Frederick was wounded, he may have been
wounded during the Bartle of Bellawaarde Ridge, 24-25 May, part
of the Second Battle of Ypres. We do know that he was
transferred from a hospital in France to one in East Sussex where
he died from his wounds or infection. He was brought back to his
village and was interred in All Saints churchyard in Mollington."

"29 May Gomiecourt South Cemetery

Sidney Henry Cox
Grave reference: 1A9.

There are 206 1914-18 burials on this site 10 of which
are unidentified together with 27 German burials.

Situated on land that was fought over, lost and regained
by the 3rd Division on 23 August 1918 and the first
burials were made at the end of August 1918. It isa
small cemetery that includes German soldiers who also
lost their lives there. The nearby village of Gomiecourt
was a similar size to Mollington in 1918.

One of the smaller cemeteries, it has the Cross of
Sacrifice, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, a stone
cross with a bronze broad sword set into it vertically.

Poppies were flowering just outside the wall.


29 May La Chapallette British and Indian Cemetery
Peronne

Arthur Frederic Gibbins
Grave reference: 111A2

There are now 577 1914-18 burials on this site of which
6 are unidentified.

There was a hospital in Peronne and a clearing station at
la Chapelette.

Within the cemetery is the Sword of Sacrifice and the
Altar Stone, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, words by
Rudyard Kipling are carved in two lines on the front
Their Name Liveth
For Evermore"

Date the Monument or Memorial was built or dedicated: 08/03/2014 Private or Public Monument?: Private Name of the Private Organization or Government Entity that built this Monument: Villagers of Mollington Geographic Region where the Monument is located: Europe Physical Address of Monument: All Saints Church Lane Mollington , Oxfordshire England OX17 1BB Rate this waymark: Photo or photos will be uploaded.: yes Website for this Monument: Not listed

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