Great War Stained Glass Memorials to fallen.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Here is a Memorial Window in St. James' Church Audlem, Cheshire, to 2nd Lieutenant Henry Noel Atkinson, D.S.O. 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd attached to 2nd The Cheshire Regiment, killed in action 22nd October 1914, 25 at Violaines, France. Son of Ursula Mary Atkinson of Audlem Lodge, Broadstone, Dorset and the late Rev'd Canon Arthur Atkinson. Mentioned in Despatches. Buried at Cabret-Rouge british Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France.

The Memorial Window dedication reads -

'In honour of the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and in thankful remembrance of Arthur Atkinson Priest for thirty years Vicar of Audlem (1865 -95) who fell asleep October 24th 1915 aged eighty one. Also of Henry Noel Atkinson DSO 2nd Lieut, Cheshire Regiment who was killed in action at Volaines France Oct 22nd 1914 aged twenty five. These four windows are dedicated by Ursula Mary Atkinson - wife and mother.

I believe in the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.'

[Lancashire Fusilier]

2nd Lieutenant Henry Noel Atkinson, D.S.O.

2nd Lieutenant Henry Noel Atkinson was born at Audlem Vicarage, Cheshire on 25 December 1888, son of Reverend Arthur Atkinson, Clerk in Holy Orders, Hon. Canon of Chester Cathedral, and Ursula Mary Atkinson (née Cotton-Jodrell).

He was educated at Moorland House, Heswall, Cheshire; Charterhouse School and St John's College, Cambridge.

He joined the Special Reserve of the Cheshire regiment on November 1st 1913, and went through his six months training with the 1st Battalion then stationed in Londonderry. On mobilisation he rejoined his regiment and was attached to the 1st Battalion, still then at Londonderry, and sailed with them from Belfast on August 14th 1914 under orders for the front. He served unscathed through the fighting at Mons, Le Cateau and The Aisne, until 22 October 1914, near La Bassée, at Voilaines, where he won his D.S.O. However, after the battle he was reported officially "missing", and it was believed at time that he was in all probability wounded and a prisoner of war. There were unofficial reports that he had been taken to a French hospital at Douai, which was eventually taken by the Germans, although it seems that in fact, he had actually been killed.

"The Battalion War Diary for 22 October 1914 states:

5.10 a.m. Enemy made heavy attack, and took the trenches at the point of the bayonet. Battalion retired to RUE DU MARAIS under very heavy fire. Manchesters came up in support.

8.0 p.m. Battalion withdrawn and went in bivouac at last E of RUE DE BETHUNE.

Casualties: Captains Shore, Rich, Hartford, 2/Lieuts Atkinson, Leicester, Greenhalgh missing, Captain Forster, 18 N.C.O.s & men wounded, 200 N.C.O.s & men missing including Sergeant Major.

Captain Mahony died in hospital. Lieut. T L Frost took over command of the Battalion.

2nd Lieut. Atkinson was awarded a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) - London Gazette, 1 December 1914. His citation read:

"Henry Noel Atkinson, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn, The Cheshire Regiment.

For conspicuous gallantry under heavy fire from both flanks by collecting a few men and checking the enemy, thereby facilitating the retirement of his comrades.

He was promoted to lieutenant on 2nd February 1915, which was about four months after the date he died.

Lt. Atkinson was later mentioned in Sir John French's Despatch of 14 January 1915 (London Gazette, 17 February 1915):

"For gallant and distinguished service in the Field."

One of the soldiers under his command, 7085 Private McCarthy, F. 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and whose citation refers to 2nd Lieutenant Atkinson, and

reads:

"On 15th September, 1914, at Missy Sur Aisne, volunteered to fetch ammunition under fire, and at night, at the imminent risk of being shot by both friend and foe, assisted 2nd Lieutenant Atkinson to rejoin his company". ( London Gazette Issue 29009 published on the 15 December 1914. Page 8 of 22 )

After the War, as no grave could be found, Lt. Atkinson's father had a tombstone laid where it was believed his son had fallen. In February 1923 his body (identified by his disc) was found, together with that of an unknown soldier of the Cheshire Regiment, about 400 yards from where his stone was originally erected in a neighbouring field. Both were removed under direction of the Imperial War Graves Commission, and were reinterred to the Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery (Grave XIII. E. 12), Souchez, Pas de Calais, France

Removal of the tombstone having therefore become necessary, it was passed into the possession of the Cheshire Regiment, and it has been re-erected in the Violaines Communal Cemetery, as a perpetual memorial to all others of the Regiment who are still among the missing.

In 1995 the Cheshire Regiment restored it and repainted the weathered inscription. The inscription reads:

Near this spot

Henry Noel Atkinson D.S.O.

Second Lieutenant 1st Chehsire Regiment

is believed to have been

Killed in Action on

October 22nd 1914

To his Memory and that

of the Officers & Men

who may have fallen with

Him

A stained glass Memorial Window was placed in St. James' Church, Audlem, Cheshire.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

After the War, as no grave could be found, Lt. Atkinson's father had a tombstone laid where it was believed his son had fallen.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Lt. Atkinson's father, the Reverend Arthur Atkinson, Clerk in Holy Orders, Hon. Canon of Chester Cathedral.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Lt. Atkinson, the pre-war Amateur Golf Champion of Wales.

Before the War Lieutenant Atkinson had been a keen golfer and was, in 1914, the reigning Amateur Champion of Wales.

'The American Golfer' Overseas Notes - London, December 7, 1914 - reported:

"Another notable loss is that of Lieut. H. N. Atkinson, of the Cheshire regiment, who was Welsh amateur champion and won the championship at his first appearance at a Welsh Union meeting, beating Mr. C. H. Hamilton in the final at the thirty-eighth hole. Lieutenant Atkinson has been reported as missing, and the worst is feared."

[Lancashire Fusilier]

2nd Lieutenant Henry Noel Atkinson, D.S.O. - WW1 local newspaper cuttings -

[Lancashire Fusilier]

WW1 local newspaper cutting -

[ph0ebus]

Did this one already get a mention?

Window Is One Of The Best

-Daniel

[ChrisC]

Perth Western Australia

Chris C

[Lancashire Fusilier]

ChrisC,

Great window with the Australian " Cap badge ".

I was trying to read the dedication, could it be for several men from the same family ?

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Daniel,

No, I have not seen that window on here yet, it is another great window from Australia, and seems to be unusual with several uniformed solders at the foot of the Cross.

It also linked to some other excellent stained glass Memorial Windows at the Australian National War Memorial, photos of which are attached.

Leo

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Australian National War Memorial.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

ChrisC,

Great window with the Australian " Cap badge ".

I was trying to read the dedication, could it be for several men from the same family ?

LF

[ChrisC]

It is indeed. 2 on Villers Brettoneux Memorial and 1 at Puchvillers British Cemetery,

Chris C

[basiloxford]

Stained Glass Window St Ebbes Church, Oxford.

The main window recorded as the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Window was unveiled along with a Brass Memorial Plaque on the 1st of August 1920.

The left-hand window depicts the 'White Comrade' inspiring the man to care for his wounded brother, with the right-hand window depicting Sir Galahad, although this is often mistakenly recorded as St. George. The second image is part of a window dedicated to the wife of the war-time rector of St. Ebbes Dr. John Stansfeld. Janet Stansfeld died of Spanish Flu in October 1918, and the bottom right hand corner commemorates three men, two of which were definitely associated with the parish. Alfred Stansfield I should imagine is connected some way with the Rector, but as yet i haven't been able to find his death. The other two were certainly connected with the church, although in the case of Percy Campbell, who lived in a much wealthier part of Oxford, his association was through the Sunday School where he helped by reading stories to the children. Tom Smith lived in the parish.

GWGC Details,

Campbell, William Percy.

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Wiltshire Regiment

Unit Text: 3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.

Date of Death: 24/10/1914

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 53.

Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

SMITH, THOMAS

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment

Unit Text: 5th Bn.

Age: 19

Date of Death: 22/07/1917

Service No: 37740

Additional information: Son of Mr. W. H. Smith, of 4, Wood St., Oxford.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 22.

Cemetery: MONCHY BRITISH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX

Barry

[basiloxford]

Sorry Photos didn't download, if you would like larger copies please send me a PM.

Barry.

[basiloxford]

No 2

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Barry,

Thanks for posting the St. Ebbes' Church, Oxford, Memorial Windows, the artwork on these windows is excellent, and whomever commissioned them, had a particular theme in mind, as both images show a soldier caring for a comrade, and this relates to the circumstances of 2nd Lt. Campbell's death, with him being killed going back to help a wounded fellow officer.

I was able to download some larger photographs of your windows.

I was also able to find some information on 2nd Lt. William Percy Campbell, and two photographs, one as a soldier and one as a young boy.

William Percy Campbell (known as Percy Campbell) was born in Oxford on 2 May 1894, the son of John Edward Campbell (born in Lisburn, County Antrim in 1862) and Sarah Hardman (born in Oldham in c.1862). His parents were married in the Ashton Registration District in the fourth quarter of 1889 and had four children:

John Maurice Hardman Campbell (born in Oxford in 1891, registered fourth quarter)

William Percy Campbell (born at 25 St Margaret’s Road, Oxford on 2 May 1894)

Patrick James Campbell (born at 25 St Margaret’s Road, Oxford on 22 December 1897 and baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 13 February 1898)

Dorothea Mary Hardman Campbell (born at 25 St Margaret’s Road, Oxford on 28 December 1902 and baptised at St Margaret’s Church on 6 February 1903).

Percy’s father was a mathematician who graduated from Queen’s University in Belfast in 1884 and then went on to Hertford College, Oxford, where he became Fellow & Tutor in Mathematics in 1887.

In the early 1890s the Campbell family lived in the Iffley Road, but by 1894 they had moved to 25 St Margaret’s Road (which until 1896 was in SS Philip & James parish). The 1901 census shows them living there with two servants.

Percy was a day-boy at the Dragon School from 1903 to 1908. He then he won the first Mathematical Entrance Scholarship at Clifton College, Bristol, and went there to board. He was Head of his House (Rintoul’s), a school prefect, and a member of the School XV.

In about 1910 Percy’s family moved to 14 Rawlinson Road in St Margaret’s parish, and the 1911 census shows them there: Percy’s grandparents (retired cotton spinner Joseph Hardman and his wife Tamar) had come to live with them; but Percy (16) spent census night at Clifton College.

Percy helped out at the Sunday School at St Ebbe’s Church in Oxford.

In October 1913 Percy went up to his father’s Oxford college, Hertford, to read Medicine, but left the following year as soon as war broke out to join the Special Reserve.

Percy Campbell was gazetted to the Duke of Edinburgh’s (Wiltshire) Regiment in August 1914 and went to the front at the beginning of October as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion (attached 2nd Battalion).

Within three weeks he was dead: he was killed in action in Belgium on 24 October 1914 at the age of 20, when he was hit after insisting on going back to help a wounded officer on the road.

Campbell has no known grave, but as well as being remembered on the memorial outside St Margaret’s Church, he is listed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 53).

As yet, I have not be able to find any information on Private Thomas Smith.

Regards,

Leo

St. Ebbes - detail.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

St. Ebbes -

In the background ( right ) of the picture on the left, there is an officer ? carrying a wounded comrade, as 2nd Lt. Campbell was doing at the time of his death.

[basiloxford]

Hello Leo,

Tom Smith refers to a man named Thomas Smith, who was born at Wood Street St. Ebbes on the 29th Jan 1898, the son of Walter and Elizabeth Smith. Tom was educated at the local school in St. Ebbes, before gaining employment at the local Co-op. He enlisted in November 1916 at the age of eighteen, joining the ranks of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Later transferred to the 5th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment, Tom was killed in action near to Arras on the 27th July 1917, and he's buried at the Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, France, Grave Ref I.B.22. The youngest of four brothers serving with the BEF, an elder brother Harold, who served with the 1/4th Oxford and Bucks Lt Infantry was killed in action just over two weeks later on 16th August 1917.

The name of Dr Alfred Stansfeld is a complete mystery to me at the moment. Strangely its the name of a man named Noel Stansfeld who appears on the St. Ebbes War Memorial, and he was the nephew of the incumbant, John Stansfeld.

Barry.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Hello Leo,

Tom Smith refers to a man named Thomas Smith, who was born at Wood Street St. Ebbes on the 29th Jan 1898, the son of Walter and Elizabeth Smith. Tom was educated at the local school in St. Ebbes, before gaining employment at the local Co-op. He enlisted in November 1916 at the age of eighteen, joining the ranks of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Later transferred to the 5th Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment, Tom was killed in action near to Arras on the 27th July 1917, and he's buried at the Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, France, Grave Ref I.B.22. The youngest of four brothers serving with the BEF, an elder brother Harold, who served with the 1/4th Oxford and Bucks Lt Infantry was killed in action just over two weeks later on 16th August 1917.

The name of Dr Alfred Stansfeld is a complete mystery to me at the moment. Strangely its the name of a man named Noel Stansfeld who appears on the St. Ebbes War Memorial, and he was the nephew of the incumbant, John Stansfeld.

Barry.

It is very interesting to put " faces " to these Memorial Windows, and this one must be particularly interesting to you, as you are in Oxford.

Regards,

Leo

[Lancashire Fusilier]

It is indeed. 2 on Villers Brettoneux Memorial and 1 at Puchvillers British Cemetery,

Chris C

Chris,

This is an amazing window, and probably quite rare, in that it commemorates 3 brothers, all killed in action during WW1.

I was able to identify all three brothers, and attach photographs of each of the three brothers :-

Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Henry Clinton Foss, 28th Battalion. A farmer from Subiaco, WA prior to enlistment, 2nd Lt Foss embarked with the rank of Acting Corporal with C Company, 10th Light Horse Regiment from Fremantle on HMAT Surada on 17 February 1915. After promotion to Sergeant he was Mentioned in Despatches "for gallantry (when he) volunteered to bomb Turks from barricade on Kaiajik Aghala. (He) held on for 31 hours and repulsed 3 Turkish attacks on the barricade". Later he transferred to the 51st Battalion and then the 28th Battalion where, after successfully completing the appropriate training, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. On 3 May 1917 he was killed in action, aged 29, and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His two brothers, Captain Cecil Maitland Foss, also of the 28th Battalion, and 5969 Corporal Ernest Cecil Foss, 11th Battalion, were also killed in action.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Captain Cecil Maitland Foss MC., 28th Battalion

Born 1891 in Upper Irwin, WA

Son of Cecil Vaughan FOSS & Isabella Mary nee BURGESS

Captain Foss, 28th Battalion, of Babakin WA, who was wounded at Pozieres on 5 August 1916 and died on 11 August 1916 aged 25 years. Captain Foss had served for 18 months in Egypt, Gallipoli and France.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Corporal (Cpl) Ernest Cecil Foss, 11th Battalion.

Corporal (Cpl) Ernest Cecil Foss, 11th Battalion. A farmer from Subiaco, WA prior to enlistment, Cpl Foss embarked with the rank of Private with the 19th Reinforcements from Fremantle on HMAT Miltiades on 7 August 1916. Subsequent to his promotion to Corporal, he was killed in action on 3 June 1918, aged 33, and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial. His two brothers, Captain Cecil Maitland Foss and Second Lieutenant Henry Clinton Foss, both of the 28th Battalion, were also killed in action.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

St. Mary and All Saints Church, Checkley, Staffordshire - stained glass Memorial Window, and also his original battlefield wood grave cross to :

2nd Lieutenant Mark Hibbert PHILIPS, 4th attached to 1st South Staffordshire Regiment, died 5th October 1917 aged 31. Son of William Morton Philips, of Heybridge, Tean, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs; husband of Eileen Mary Philips, of Downs, Haywards Heath, Sussex. Buried at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.