Captain Henry Clifford Stroud RFC

[Cliff S]

Can anyone help me to trace the whereabouts of any living relative of Captain Henry Clifford Stroud RFC whose death is featured elsewhere on this forum.

 

The night time collision which resulted in his death is described in the book "Saggitarius Rising" by Cecil Lewis who was serving at RFC Rochford (now Southend Airport) at the time.

 

His grave, in a local churchyard is in a fairly sorry state. I have enquired if I might be allowed to tidy it up but have been told that it is the responsibility of his family but permission might be granted  if I could get permission from them. As far as I know his family at the time of his death was living in the North East of England and I thought that asking on here is a good place to start.

 

If anyone has any helpful information please contact me. Thank you.

[alf mcm]

Cliff,

  There are 3 family trees on Ancestry which mention Henry Clifford Stroud. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/categories/42/?name=HENRY+CLIFFORD_STROUD&count=50&location=3257.3250&name_x=1_1&priority=united-kingdom  It may be worthwhile contacting the family tree owners. None of the trees show him as being married.

 

Regards,

 

Alf McM

[Cliff S]

Hi Alf. thanks for your reply.

 

Unfortunately I am not a member of Ancestry so unable to access the information required.

 

Regards, Cliff

[Acknown]

Cliff,

I've a bit of experience here. The marking 'PM' on Stroud's CWGC Grave Registration card means 'Private Memorial'. Despite his family electing for a private memorial, rather than the standard headstone, it is listed on the CWGC website as an official War Grave and thus, should be maintained as 'approachable and legible'. You can contact the CWCG who can confirm that this is the case.

The CWGC gives £10 per year to parishes to maintain each War Grave. In our parish, we find willing volunteers to carry out occasional maintenance (grass cutting and weeding) and they get the money.

In my case, I found a WW2 War Grave that was completely overgrown, contacted the church warden and together, we sensitively cleared it. The parish is now maintaining the site. If CWCG confirms that Stroud's is in fact a War Grave, one course of action might be to contact the church warden again, inform him/her of your findings, suggest that the parish claims the CWCG annual £10 and takes responsibility for maintaining it. Though it has no official role in this, your local RBL branch may support you. I suspect that if you offer to help in the clearance, this would 'oil the wheels'. If it is not a War Grave, it seems that you are back to square one.

You can probably use Ancestry for free at your local library.

Acknown

Edited 24 December , 2018 by Acknown
Syntax

[Acknown]

I should have said that the grave we cleared was a low, rectangular stone structure, only a few inches high and around a family plot, with a number of family members' names thereon, including the serviceman. It was still a War Grave though. The CWGC may have a note of who took responsibility for Stroud's grave in the past and there may be an existing maintenance agreement. I note that there are 14 war graves in that cemetery. You may wish to ask how the others are kept  'approachable and legible'.

Acknown

I found these websites: 

• List of RBL branches in Essex: http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/essex/membership-in-essex
• https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/overgrown-war-graves-branded-unacceptable-2904900
• https://www.cwgc.org/about-us/faqs#Target1

Edited 24 December , 2018 by Acknown
More information

[Cliff S]

Good Morning Acknown,

 

Thank you for your helpful and comprehensive answer, apologies for my late reply.

 

I had visited the grave before a few years back but on my most recent visit it was definitely in need of some TLC. The person from the church that I contacted said it was a private grave so your info is very helpful in that respect, the surrounding graves are "approachable and legible" as are the other CWGC graves within the churchyard but I felt that Stroud's grave looked very neglected and I wanted to do something to show my appreciation for his sacrifice on such an important anniversary year.

 

The grave is similar in design to the one that you describe that you said you cleared so I will contact the CWGC and see if they have any useful info that I can take back to the church. I could probably have tidied it up it without permission and no-one would have been any the wiser but I felt it was right to go through the proper channels.

 

Below are recent pics of a couple of the graves surrounding Strouds and one of Stroud's from a few years ago.

 

Once again thanks for your help and hopefully I'll be able to post a positive outcome.

 

 

 

Edited 27 December , 2018 by Cliff S
Pics removed

[Cliff S]

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Edited 27 December , 2018 by Cliff S
Pics added

[Acknown]

Cliff,

Thanks for the photos. If that's Stroud's in the middle, it's in a better state than my one, which was covered in grass, turf and an anthill!

Acknown

[Cliff S]

12 minutes ago, Acknown said:

Cliff,

Thanks for the photos. If that's Stroud's in the middle, it's in a better state than my one, which was covered in grass, turf and an anthill!

Acknown

All credit to you then, no anthills on there but yes, that is Stroud's grave a few years back, the moss had gone but the grave generally is not in a good state, the plaque is barely legible and the covering of gravel on the top of the grave was well below the level on my picture.

 

Edited 27 December , 2018 by Cliff S