Tributes on Display for ‘The Duration’
Individual tributes telling the personal stories of 100 WW1 soldiers from the Dearne area who were killed in action and whose remains are buried overseas are to be given a home at All Saints Parish Church, Denaby Main.
This follows a series of events organised by the Conisbrough and Denaby Main Local History Group to mark the centenary of the commencement of the Great War and to recognise the contribution made by many from the local area.
As part of its ongoing commemoration, earlier this year the Group carried out The Great War Week exhibition at Conisbrough Library where they told the stories of more than 400 local men who fought for their country, including Sgt Laurence Calvert who was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Since then, Conisbrough couple and WW1 enthusiasts Sarah Smith and Craig Jackson have agreed to honour 100 local heroes who gave their lives and whose bodies failed to return home by visiting every grave to lay a simple tribute prepared by the Group, acknowledging each soldiers contribution and sacrifice for their country. The graves are scattered in 9 countries in Europe and the Middle East and in 73 different cemeteries and Sarah and Craig will undertake their task by bicycle.
Following discussions the Vicar of All Saints Parish Church, Denaby Main,the Revd Reginald Davies has readily agreed to display the 100 individual tributes in the church.
Jim Beachill, Chairman of the Local History group said: `In many ways All Saints Parish Church is the perfect location. The Church already contains a Miner´s Memorial chapel which servesto honour all those who had worked in the collieries in the area, including those lost in the Cadeby Disaster of 1912 when 91 local men and boys lost their lives.
`The All Saints Chapel contains a pit wheel salvaged from Cadeby Colliery and its walls all built predominantly from firebricks from the Cadeby pit. We have previously researched the backgrounds of a number of victims of the Cadeby Disaster and our website contains many related photos and stories. The Great War started when the area was still recovering from the trauma of the disaster.
“As the recruitment for the Great War gathered pace, and despite their own recent personal local tragedy, thousands of people from our area, left home to take part in a conflict on foreign shores. Many of the local victims during WW1 were miners and other colliery workers who had been employed at the nearby Denaby and Cadeby mines,” continued Jim Beachill.
The display is now housed at All Saints Parish Church, Church Walk, Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, DN12 4AD.
Revd Reg Davies will meet with Sarah before they set out on their `Conisbrough 100 challenge, together with other members of the History Group.
The tributes will be on display for `the duration´ and as the corresponding tribute is laid at the grave the All Saints tribute will be marked with a poppy.
The Tributes can be viewed at any time the Church is open and a popular time will be during the Wednesday coffee morning from 9.30 to 12 . Services are also held on Sunday morning and evening.
Special viewing can be arranged through the vicarage on (01709) 862297