Printed copies of the Shropshire Roll of Honour from the First World War have been donated to Shropshire libraries and Shropshire Archives. The revised and updated roll of honour has been co-ordinated by St Chad’s church Shrewsbury and compiled by Phillip Morris and Neil Evans. It lists all those who gave their lives during the […]
Next year sees the 100th anniversary of the death of Shropshire World War I poet Wilfred Owen, who was killed in action next to the canal at Ors in Northern France on the 4th November 1918 and is buried in the local cemetery. This week the Mayor of Ors, Jacky Duminy was handed an official […]
It has often been remarked that many young men joined up seeking adventure as an escape from dull lives in crowded homes and the endless drudgery of many jobs, including those in agriculture. This certainly applied to Len Cooke of Grange Farm, Bicton. Len packed his bags and left the family farm at the age of […]
Members of the WWI consortium group were treated to a rare view of the lump of metal used to make Victoria Cross medals. The metal is taken from the cascabels of two Russian cannons which were captured at Sevastopol during the Crimean War. Every Victoria Cross awarded since 1856 has been cut from this metal. The […]
‘Black is typical of the terrible days through which our country is passing, and the depth of sorrow into which we have been plunged; red, is the blood that has been shed; but golden is the kindness of the British people, and never can the Belgians forget the generosity and warmth of their reception’. Belgian […]
While some families lost sons and husbands, as listed on many war memorials, many more were nevertheless affected in numerous other ways. The Davies Family, who came to the Isle estate in Bicton shortly before the war, illustrated this very well: In a way typical of many agricultural workers, their life involved many moves from […]
Just nine months into the First World War, Church Stretton found something to celebrate. “In the presence of a large gathering of townspeople and visitors, the splendid new gates were opened at the entrance of Church Stretton’s Recreation Ground.” The day was Monday 24th May 1915. The other day, in the company of Genevieve Tudor […]
During the First World War, the west side of England was relatively safe from aerial attack and more airfields were desperately required for the rapidly expanding Royal Flying Corps (RFC). New squadrons were being formed as fast as possible and pilots had to be trained to equip them. In 1915, to the north-west of the […]
GO DOWN FIGHTING He fought for his country He fought for the truth He fought back his fears He fought with his youth He fought back his tears With thoughts of his wife On the battlefield bleeding He fought for his life A CHILD’S VIEW On the big dresser in the parlour at […]
The unpredictable January weather was kind and there was a great turnout for a guided walk about Wilfred Owen in Shrewsbury. The walk was part of a day of events organised by the Wilfred Owen Association and Friends of St Chad’s on an Owen theme. Focusing on events in his life during 1917, the walk, talks and […]
