Branch Members and the Rolls of Honour at St Paul’s Cathedral
In 1914, Branch membership was approximately 90 ringing members, with an additional 7 associate (non-ringing) members who were mainly clergy of parishes within the branch. Prior to the war, the membership was almost entirely male. Unfortunately, because of the war, the Association did not issue annual reports the periods 1914-1915 and 1917-1920. The 1916 report lists 31 branch members (one third of the branch membership!) serving King and Country including 7 (out of 8) members from the Stone band. The report comments:
"Some of our Bands of Ringers have been hard hit, by not enough left to ring the bells for services, until more recruits had been called in and taught to handle a rope. We believe Stone Parish Church was the worst to suffer, Mr George Sheppard being left without one member".
The 1921 report gives the names of 59 G & B members who lost their lives in the war with the greatest number from the Wotton Branch. It lists 18 Wotton Branch members who lost their lives. Another report of the period mentions the Association's plans to honour the dead by augmenting one of the towers in the middle of the association. One possible plan was the augmentation of Stonehouse to 8 but eventually, the augmentation of Berkeley to 10 was selected. It is appropriate it was a Wotton Branch tower chosen as it was this Branch which suffered the most causalities.
Half of the cost of the two trebles was donated by two anonymous benefactors from Berkeley.
(MORE TO FOLLOW)
The Great War Memorial Book of Church Bell-Ringers who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 is on display in a bookcase on the way up to the ringing chamber at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Alan Regin, as Steward of the Rolls of Honour, is responsible for its safe-keeping. It bears the following inscription:
"They whom this book commemorates were numbered among those, who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom.
"Following the Name of each man will be found that of the Parish or Township in which he gave most of his service as a Church Bell-Ringer previous to joining the Forces, and also that of the Society, Guild, or Association to which he more especially belonged."
Alan Regin is currently undertaking research to find out more about each of the men listed, which includes finding where each of them is buried and/or commemorated and any other details that can be found along the way. Already, many ringers across the UK and beyond have been helping with this research.
Of the list in the Memorial Book there are 53 individuals about whom it is proving difficult to find further information. Their names are shown in black in the alphabetical list. If anybody could add any detail, however large or small, about any of these individuals, this would be very gratefully received.
Alan would much appreciate it if ringers at all towers would check whether any former members are commemorated on peal boards or special memorials, in minute books or other documents that their tower may hold.
This is even more important when any are NOT included in the list of names on this website because we would like to commemorate all ringers who fell in the Great War, and we will add new names to the book in the future.
If anybody is able to supply any more information Alan would be very happy to receive photographs of any memorials, peals boards or even the men themselves.
He already has a significant collection, including more than 860 photographs of gravestones or memorials of the men, and would be very happy to pass any of these on.
Alan can be contacted as follows:
Email
(H)020
8471 7045
39 Maud Road, Plaistow, E13 0JT, UK
History
It seems from the material below that in 1920 the roll consisted of a list of about 950 names. By 1923 this had grown to almost 1,100. The Memorial Book was completed and presented to the Council during the 1924 meeting.
The statement at the 1929 meeting that "this book had been brought up to date" may refer to the addition of names at the ends of some existing pages, which consequently are not in alphabetical sequence. It is believed that these names brought the total number to 1077 as can be seen today in the Book itself and also shown on this website as the Main List.
At the 1995 Council meeting it was agreed that 38 names from the Truro Guild should be added. This resulted in the creation of the Addendum which actually contains 36 names.
The "supplement" mentioned in the minutes of the 2005 meeting presumably refers to the Second Addendum, which contains the names of 20 ringers from Kent.
The inclusion of the two Addenda in the Memorial Book brought the total number of names to 1133.
Work is now under way to correct and update an electronic copy of the Book entitled Great War Casualties. This is a single list in alphabetical order whose contents can also be viewed in sections by Tower within each Society represented, by Cemetery/Memorial, by Regiment or by Rank.
Peter Trotman (November 2007)
Extract from The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers 1891-1991, A Centenary History by W. T. Cook
"The Council naturally wished to honour the memory of ringers who had been killed during the war, so in 1919 a start was made on collecting their names from the Associations.
"When the Council met in Northampton in 1920, the members stood in their places at noon as the names of nearly a thousand ringers were read out to the sound of tolling of bells in the neighbourhood; this took nearly half an hour.
"During the 1921 London meeting, the members went from Church House across to Westminster Abbey, and held a brief service round the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The President laid on the tomb a wreath with the inscription, " A token of deep respect from the Church Bell Ringers of England." A course of Stedman Caters was then rung on handbells.
"In
1922 it was suggested that this Roll of Honour of ringers who had
fallen in the war be preserved in a more permanent form, and the
Librarian, Rev.
C.W.O. Jenkyn, who had served as
Chaplain to the forces on the Western Front, was empowered to make
enquiries as to the cost of this. Jenkyn immediately set about trying
to ensure that the list was as complete and accurate as possible, by applying
to Association Secretaries for details.
As usual, the response was very varied, but eventually he had collected
nearly 1,100 names, and made enquiries as to the best way of preparing
a permanent record. The sum of £20 was voted from the
Council's funds to get the work done. The result was a beautifully
written and illuminated volume, the work of Albert Cousins, a
professional writer from Cambridge; it was said by an art expert from
South Kensington to be "the most beautiful example of modern writing
and illumination which had ever come into the museum." The book was
placed in the library of St. Paul's Cathedral for safe keeping."
Extract from the Minutes of the 1919 Council meeting at Gloucester
"The
President then intimated that as the Treaty of Peace was not officially
signed, and the roll of honour of fallen ringers was as yet far from
complete, it was proposed to defer the reading of it until a later
occasion."
Extract from the Minutes of the 1920 Council meeting at Northampton
"The
President then announced that he had received the Roll of Honour of all
save three of the affiliated Guilds and Associations, and that he would
commence reading the combined roll at noon precisely."
Later:
"The discussion of the foregoing subject was interrupted at noon by the
reading of the Roll of Honour, all the members rising in their places.
The roll contained about 950 names, the reading of which occupied the
President for 25 minutes. Bells in some of the churches were tolled for
a short space at the commencement and the President recited brief
prayers at the end."
Extract from the Minutes of the 1921 Council meeting at Lincoln
"It
was proposed by the Rev. Canon H. J. Elsee, and seconded by Mr. J. H.
Griffin, that the librarian be asked to ascertain the cost of
engrossing on parchment, the names of ringers who fell in the war and
that he report the same to the Council.- This was carried."
Extract from the Minutes of the 1923 Council meeting at Salisbury
"The Honorary Librarian then gave a statement in respect to the "Roll of Honour," with which he had been instructed to proceed. He reported that he had written to the various secretaries, and the names for the roll now numbered about 1,100. It was for the Council to give him further instructions in the matter. After many suggestions and some discussion, it was resolved, on a motion, proposed by Mr. T. Hervey Beams, and seconded by Alderman J. S. Pritchett, that the wording of the "King's Scroll" should be adopted as the preface, and that the names should be written in alphabetical order, followed in each case by the name of the tower and association with which the ringer had been specially connected - abbreviated where possible - and that the roll should conclude with the text, "Their name liveth for evermore." It was not considered essential that more than the title page should be illuminated, but that the writing should be good and of a permanent character.
"It
was also agreed that the roll should be bound in the best leather, and
the Standing Committee, having already suggested the payment of
£20, this sum, together with the whole proposal, was, on the
motion of the President, carried, nem. con., and all details left in
the honorary librarian's hands."
Extract from the Minutes of the 1924 Council meeting at London
"The honorary librarian then presented the illuminated roll of honour, now completed. The work was by Mr. Cousins, of Cambridge. The cost was £3 15s. above the £20 voted. (This amount was contributed by those present at the meeting.)
"The
President voiced for the Council how deeply they were indebted to the
honorary librarian for all he had done in compiling the roll. It was
undoubtedly one of the most beautiful modern examples of its kind of
work. The Honorary Librarian then moved that the Memorial Book be
placed in the Library at St. Paul's Cathedral, London (the Dean having
kindly consented). This having been seconded by Canon Baker, it was
unanimously agreed that it be deposited for inspection and on permanent
loan, and to be produced to the Council upon demand of the officers;
with this, a proposition of Mr. W. A. Cave's, seconded by the Rev. C.
E. Matthews, was also agreed, that it be placed on the table at the
annual meetings."
Extract from the Minutes of the 1929 Council meeting at Chelmsford
"ROLL OF HONOUR -- The Hon. Secretary stated that this book had been brought up to date (as they would observe)".