Local Graves For Local HEROES

Well the time is ticking by and we are drawing nearer to the Centenary of the Great War.  I am still busy researching the soldiers who gave their precious lives and in return found themselves gaining the honour of being inscribed on the St Barnabas Church Memorial.

Some of the men died on home ground and thus the families of these men were fortunate enough to be able to bury their loved one close to their homes.  They had a place where they could visit, mourn and remember.  I would like to hope that they were the “lucky” ones, if there was such a thing.  They were brought home to be near friends and family and back to where they belonged.

Some of the men on the St Barnabas Church Memorial are buried in the graveyard of the Parish Church at Old Whittington; St Bartholomew’s Church.  We took a visit to the Church on Saturday to see if we could find any of the graves. 

Over on the North side of the Church, overlooking the yellow and green fields were the graves of Harry Green and William Husband; such a beautifully peaceful setting to honour our local hero’s.  The view has probably changed little, if at all since the day when the local residents all drew together to honour and remember by the graveside at the funerals of the men.

 

*Harry Green -

Harry was the son of John and Edith Green, 123 Wellington Street, New Whittington.  He was only 18 years of age and had joined up on his 18th birthday. 

 

Harry had begun his training at Rugeley in Staffordshire where he became ill.  He was taken to the hospital on 23rd May and died just two days later on 25th May 1918 of fever. 

Harry was serving with the Sherwood Foresters 53rd Battalion.  Private T.R /6/51599.

 

 

 

 

 

*William Husband -

 

William was serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers.

 

He was a 2nd Lieutenant.

 

Aged only 28 years he died on 25th June 1918.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A short walk over towards the south of the graveyard, nestled under the shade of a tree is the grave of Leonard Davidson.

 

*Leonard Davidson -

Leonard survived the war, after receiving a wound to the thigh he had been hospitalised in the Scottish General Hospital, Aberdeen.  In fact Leonard was wounded three times. 

 

But, it was not the war that proved to be the final fight for Leonard it was the influenza or Spanish Flu as was prevalent at that time. 

Leonard contacted the influenza which turned to pneumonia and sadly he passed away on 9th February 1919 aged 22 years old.

 

Leonard was the son of John William and Clara Davidson, 101 Wellington Street, New Whittington.

 

He served with the Sherwood Foresters 3rd Battalion.  Private 26883.

 

 

 

 

The full story of these men will be published on this blog on the anniversary of their deaths. 

 

If anyone is related to these men or can give more information then please do contact me, I would love to hear from you.