TINTINHULL WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © Transcribed Geoff Eisenhauer 2014
researched Martin Edwards

The memorial stands in the grounds of St Margarets Church, Church Street, Tintinhull, Somerset. It takes the form of a stone market cross with cross lantern surmounting a tapering, octagonal, stone column; the column stands on a square-set plinth, which surmounts a two-stepped octagonal stone base. There are 14 names listed for World War 1 only. Note that LUCAS is on the memorial but not listed in the newspaper.

Extract from Western Chronicle - Friday 4 February 1921, page 5:

GRATITUDE FOR SACRIFICE
MEMORIAL CROSS TO TINTINHULL’S 13 SONS.
UNVEILING AND DEDICATION.
Dean of Wells and Disappointments of Peace

A beautifully designed cross has been erected in the St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Tintinhull, in grateful memory of the 13 men from the parish who surrendered their lives in the Great War. The cross, which was set up by the parishioners at a cost of £500, consists of an octagonal base and mounted column, at the top of which are carved representations of the Crucifixion, with the figures of St. Mary and St. John, St. Mary and the Holy Child, St. George (patron saint of England), and St. Margaret (patron saint of Tintinhull Church). The cross is built of Doulting stone, of which the fine Wells Cathedral is built, and the design is by the well-known architect, Mr. Comper, of London.

The inscription on the base of the cross is as follows; "Remember the men of Tintinhull who gave their lives for us in the Great War, 1914-1918.”

WILLIAM ERRY.
WALTER BROWN.
ISAIAH CASTER.
WILLIAM COX.
WILLIAM FOX.
WILLIAM GOLDSWORTHY.
THOMAS LYE.
WILLIAM MASTERS.
ALBERT MATTHEWS.
FREDERICK MILVERTON.
CHARLES READ.
GEORGE TAVENER.
ROBERT WHITLOCK.

The cross is considered to be one of the finest in Somerset, and the village has set a worthy example to the towns and villages whose memorials to those who paid the price of victory and freedom are still in the realm of the unaccomplished.

The unveiling and dedication of the memorial cross took place on Saturday afternoon. Comparatively few of the large gathering of parishioners who desired to take part in the service in the church, previous to the unveiling, could obtain seating accommodation and every available standing space was used. Shortly before the appointed hour, two o’clock, about 50 returned soldiers and sailors of the parish filed into the church in charge of Lieut.-Col. F. N. Quantock Shuldham, Norton Manor, who was in uniform, and occupied seats on the left hand side of the aisle on the opposite side seats having been allotted to the relatives of those who died in the war.

The service was conducted by Dr. Armitage Robinson (Dean of Wells), assisted by the Rev. J. T. Horsford, M.A. (vicar), who read the prayers. The singing was led by the full choir, wearing their surplices, and Psalms cx. and xxiii. were chanted. The lesson, Philipplans ii., 5—11, was read by the Vicar, and prior to proceeding to the cross Dr, Robinson gave a very impressive address.

The Dean said they were met together to dedicate the token of their redemption through sacrifice in honour of the men of Tintlnhull who gave their lives in the war. Their memorials had taken them a long time to raise, and perhaps it was better for them that they had, because they were able to look back the more on what had happened since the Armistice. He supposed that nearly all of them felt a certain disillusionment, if not disappointment. During the war they spoke to each other often about the New England that was to be after the war; how they would be all drawn together, because they had been so drawn together during the war; how full of force and earnestness they would be, and what a much better people they would be. Their hopes were high, but had they been realised? In some directions, perhaps, they had, but on the whole the tendency, at any rate, of everyone to-day was to say that they had been greatly disappointed in the results. He wondered what the men who had been out and come back thought. He wondered what the men who, having looked upon them from the invisible world, and seen so much more than they saw of each other, would have to say to them to-day. If one should speak in their name, what could he say for them? On one thing he was certain —they would not chide them, even if they deserved to be spoken severely to for their lack of earnestness and perhaps their slackness altogether. In the war things had to be done with every exactness, but now things were only half done. In many directions they had not quite got back to their old ordinary standard of doing things. Some of their ideals had even dropped—they did not do things quite so well and take quite so much pride in doing the bit of work, whatever it might be, as well as before the war. There was no doubt that this was a grave reason for anxiety—not merely that not so much work was done, but the work done was not so well done, and that was very important. He thought some of them would wish to chide themselves, and possibly some of their neighbours, for that as they looked into it, but he was sure those who looked upon it from the other world, even though they saw these things, would say, “Well, if we had come back we should probably have been like them, we should have been weary—a little exhausted, perhaps, finding it hard to come back to the old things after the life, the new life, that we have been living.” They would not chide them, he was sure, but with larger, other eyes than theirs, would make allowances for them all, but would say, “Don't let our England drop from its high ideals. We died for it—we hardly knew what we were doing, but we did die for it, as our forefathers died in the days long ago: for the country of freedom, high moral standards, and true religion.” They would speak to them with words of encouragement. The v would not want in any way to chide or hustle them for their carelessness or offences, hut would cheer them on. Why should they, in particular, chose the cross as the symbol which they should raise in their memory? First of all the cross was the great sign of obedience. They had obeyed the call of King and country, even unto death. Probably it came in rather the vague sense, ”I’ve got to go,” but In reality they were obeying the voice of duty and the voice of God. That was one reason why the cross was so proper a symbol for them to erect in their memory. Still more, the cross was the sign of sacrifice for others. 'They gave their lives on their behalf. Probably they did not exactly think that about it at the time. You yourselves (the preacher said, turning to the returned soldiers and sailors)— “you know those thoughts were not very much in your minds at the time, but as you look back upon it you were, you were literally risking your lives for us here at home. You did it as l say, because something within you, all your manhood, was saying, ‘You must do it’; but it was that same spirit which is manifested in the sacrifice of the cross, and we honour it as such. We may thank God as we think of those who have laid down their lives.”

The clergy, choir, and congregation then left the church and proceeded to the cross, which was unveiled by Lieut-Col. Quantock Shuldham, The Dean then dedicated the cross and the hymn, “When I survey the wondrous cioss," was sung. The “Last Post” was then sounded by Bugler A. Chant (Martock), and the Blessing was pronounced by the Dean. Beautiful floral tributes were placed at the foot of the cross, and these included one front the Working Men’s Institute: and one from the employees of Messrs. B. & E. Southcombe's factory.

Amongst those present were the Rev. Dr. S. J. M. Price, Messrs. G. Manley and T. S. Howsell (churchwardens), and the following members of the Parish Council: Mr. Estcourt Southcombe (chairman), and Messrs. W. Pearce, L. Hallett, H. James and the Clerk (Mr. E. Boycott).

Extract from Western Chronicle - Friday 11 February 1921, page 11:

TINTINHULL

TRIBUTES TO FALLEN COMRADES.—Itshould have been stated in our last week’s report of the memorial cross unveiling in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, that a wreath was also placed at the foot of the cross by the ex-Service men of the parish. They also placed a wreath on each of the graves of three ex-Service men interred in the churchyard. On the same occasion a wreath was placed by a comrade over a tablet in the church erected in memory of one of the parishioners who fell the South African War.

Extract from Western Chronicle - Friday 17 February 1922, page 3:

TINTINHULL
WAR MEMORIAL.

We have just to hand the war memorial balance sheet, which shows that the total subscriptions amounted to £968 8s. 6d., and that after £580 17s. had been expended on the memorial cross the balance of £887 10s. was expended in the purchase of a War Savings Certificate for £500 for the cot in the Yeovil Hospital, purchased in February, 1919. This War Savings Certificate has now been handed over to Mr. J. Whitmash Mayo (secretary and treasurer of the Yeovil Hospital). The list of subscribers to the war memorial fund can be seen on application to the Hon. Treasurer.

Tintinhull Cross © Mark Newton 18 October 2016 (WMR-1405)

REMEMBER
THE MEN OF
TINTINHULL
WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914-1919

Last updated 9 July, 2021