The tragic brothers killed on same day Memorial reveals devastating blow to two families
THE Great War’s own Saving Private Ryan stories are etched on a church memorial, recently renovated to reveal the tragic tales of The Fallen.
The cenotaph, in the grounds of St Augustine’s Church, in Edgbaston, has been cleaned up courtesy of a grant from the War Memorials Trust in time for the centenary of the armistice.
Originally unveiled in 1921 by BrigadierGeneral Sir John Barnsley, the memorial, which chronicles those who lost their lives in both world conflicts, highlights the price paid by Edgbason folk.
But none paid a heavier price than Bessie Crichton who lost three sons (two on the same day) and Edward and Ada Holroyd. Both their boys were also killed on the same day, October 11, 1915.
John Drummond Crichton, a friend of Lord Of The Rings author JRR Tolkein, was reported missing in action on April 22, 1918. He was a captain in the Loyal North Lancashire 9th battalion.
Brother Ronald also died on April 22 and was buried in Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Langemarck, Flanders. Aged only 29, he was a 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
If that was not enough for mother Bessie, a widower, to bear, middle son Gerald Edgecumbe Crichton had died in August 1915. He was 28.
We know that Gerald was raised at 18, Rotton Park Road and educated at Edgbaston Preparatory, then King Edward’s School.
He travelled to Australia in December, 1907, and settled at Galong, New South Wales. Gerald joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in February 1915, and lost his life in a Turkish trench during the Gallipoli conflict.
The Holroyd brothers, John and Hugh, both died on the Western Front.
John, aged 28, died from wounds sustained while serving as a sergeant with the Norfolk Regiment 7th battalion. He, too, was educated at King Edward’s School and Birmingham University. He gained employment as a surveyor before enlisting on August 28, 1914, and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.
“De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour” records: “He died at No.1 Casualty Clearing Station, October 11, from wounds received in action on Hill 70 on the 4th of that month; buried in the Cemetery at Chocques; Unmarried.”
Wilfred, aged 23, was also a sergeant with the Norfolk Regiment. He was reported missing in action during fighting at Hulluch.
Before the war, Wilfred worked for the Metropolitan Wagon and Finance Co. His name is on the Loos Memorial at Pas de Calais.
St Augustine’s memorial cost £550 and was paid for by parishioners. The then vicar, Dr Rosslyn Bruce, went round to every house in the parish to raise the money. There were no refusals.
Following a competition to design the landmark, the commission was awarded to Joseph Herbert Morcom, of Leicester, who was an architect and sculptor.
Dr Bruce, was keen that the memorial represented all parishioners, of different faiths and denominations, and that “the purpose has been kept that the view of meeting the wishes of many bereaved parents of many differing denominations to whom symbolism means little”.
Hundreds of people attended the unveiling and dedication, which was carried out by Dr Bruce. The hymns were O God Our Help and Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand.
At the close of the proceedings the National Anthem was sung and bugles sounded.
The war memorial was restored thanks to a 50 per cent grant from the War Memorials Trust. The remainder was met from church funds.