Haslingfield and the Great War – Those Who Died
On this day, the hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War, it seems appropriate to remember those in our village who died in service. I’m grateful to John Beynon’s exhaustive account in ‘That Their Names Shall Live’ for the following details.
The loss of 17 men in a village the size of Haslingfield would impact upon most households, but it is a story repeated across the United Kingdom. I’ve just stayed at Edgefield, in North Norfolk, which was no more than a handful of cottages in 1914, and even there five men were lost in the war. In Haslingfield two Barnards (Elias and Josiah), Jennings (Alick and Harry) and Newlings (Ted and William) were all killed in action. Two others were lost at sea – George Coveney in an accidental explosion in Sheerness and Albert Flack at the battle of Jutland. A number died in major battles – Frederick Goode, Harry Jennings and Arthur Pagram at the Somme, Frederick Charles and Alick Jennings at Arras, and Ernest Mills at Passchendaele.
Only William Daintry is buried in Haslingfield. William Douglas was buried in Belgium, and William Hoy in northern France. Tragically, the remaining fourteen have no known graves.
Margaret Shardlow
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Hello again Fay . As you will see we will be remembering Harry Jennings in Hilton Parish church at an Everyman Remembered ceremony next Sunday, August 20 th and I will be sure to write an account of it for you At the same time a relative of a resident will be remembered who was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele on August 4th 1917 who was a medic who was awarded a Military Cross and the Victoria Cross twice . Harry was also probably killed at Passchendaele. You might find interest in our village website :- hiltonvillagecommunitywebsite
Where in Australia are you ? My god daughter is in Perth .
Best wishes Margaret
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margaret shardlow
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Thank you for your reply Fay , sorry you are so far away! It will be great if Harry is represented in some way but if not you are welcome to send us a message on your family’s behalf and we will have a small wreath laid for him with your words .It would stay in the Legion area in Hilton Parish Church . We will take photos to send to you . Regards Margaret
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Fay Cooke
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Hi Margaret my father was Cecil Jennings ……Arthur Cecil and Harry were my dads uncles. I live in Australia now but if I find someone who will go to the ceremony I will let you know Best wishes Fay
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Margaret Shardlow
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Dear Fay .I see that you are a descendant of Arthur Cecil Jennings and therefore his brother Harry. Harry’s name is on the Lychgate Memorial in Hilton near Huntingdon because he was married and living here before he enlisted. Members of the St Ives and district Royal British Legion will hold an Everyman Remembered ceremony for him on Sunday August 20th , a date close to 100 years since he was killed. Harry is the 10th man from Hilton to be remembered and whenever possible we try to find descendants in the hope that they can attend or send a message . Do you know of anyone who can be with us on that day? As a joint Poppy Appeal Organiser for Hilton I am helping the organiser with this research .
Best wishes Margaret Shardlow
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NEVILE JAMES COLE
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Shattering times.
Throughout France, as I’ve often seen, the years 1915-1916 inscribed on the village
memorials bear silent witness to families torn to shreds.
Back in the late 1990’s, whilst resident in the village, my work took me to a trade fair
in Belgium. The Flemish city of Ypres. The time mid November.
At that Remembrance time I asked Mrs Lambert, mother of Mrs Janet Reinemann
of the post office, to paint a still life of red poppies. Something she kindly did; an
excellent work. The Cambridge News even did a piece.
The painting travelled with me to Ypres, where I met the burgemeister-mayor- in the town hall to present the paintng. The town hall, totally rebuilt in Flemish style,
after the town’s destruction, is only a few steps from the Menin gate, where I found
names from Cambridgeshire villages. My poppy joined them.
A while ago now but an enduring memory. Each November 11th I attend the ceremony held at Gaillac’s memorial.
NJC
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Fay Cooke
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There was a third Jennings brother killed ……Arthur Cecil….my great grandparents lost 3 sons in a 4 month period. Arthur Cecil is buried in Belgium . They are all commemorated on Haslingfield War Memorial
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