From the Sussex Express, Friday 28 August, 1921

THE SUPREME SACRIFICE

MEMORIAL UNVEILED AT GLYNDE

Overlooking the road which runs by the church at Glynde stands the simple but impressive memorial to the 17 men of Glynde and Beddingham who paid the supreme sacrifice during the Great War. A cross of Portland stone, it bears on the lantern the crucifix with two figures beneath, the inscription at the base being as follows:-

Roll of Honour, 1914-1919. F J Brown, F Brown, W O Dewdney, W Freeman, A S Funnell, G E Gaston, A H Hylands, E H C Le Marchant, H Newham, E C L Pickard, E Smith, W A Strivens, W H Tasker, E Turner, V A Turner, A J Wren, A A J Wood. These were His servants, in His steps they trod, following through death the martyred Son of God: in glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land commits her children to His gracious hand. Amen. Amen

THE SERVICE

On Monday afternoon the unveiling ceremony took place. The church was full to its utmost capacity and as the congregation assembled the organist (Mr F Ince) feelingly rendered the Dead March in Saul. The service was conducted by the Vicar (the Rev W E Dalton) assisted by the Vicar of Firle and Beddingham (the Rev C A Empson). The opening hymn was: ‘Let saints on earth in concert sing’. Following this the Rev C A Empson read the roll of honour, after which the lesson, taken from 1 Thessalonians, iv chapter, 13th verse, was read by Admiral Bernard Currey. ‘For all the saints who from their labours rest’, was then sung, during which a collection in aid of the memorial fund was taken and amounted to £12 7s 5d.

SOLDIER’S HIGHEST HONOUR

Proceeding to the churchyard the memorial was unveiled by Gen G Holdsworth, CB, CMG. Capt John Christie, MC, was also present. The General, in a feeling and sympathetic address, regretted that Lord Hampden, as representing a family which had lived here so long and whom they knew so well, was unable to be there. He was very pleased to act as his deputy and as a soldier he felt it the highest honour to pay a tribute of respect to the men of Glynde and Beddingham who fell during the war. It was seven years since their country was confronted with an enemy, but the men of this village and others responded to the call of duty, and out of those who went 1 had made the supreme sacrifice and given their lives for King and country. It was the memorial of these brave men which they now honoured in gratitude, love and pride; gratitude because owing to the courage, endurance, self-sacrifice and devotion to their soldiers and sailors they now stood in a free country and were saved from the perils of invasion to-day; in love and pride, because these men stood together, fought together, and died for England’s sake. Not only there but in other parts of the country similar memorials were erected and there was hardly one or the other of them who had not to mourn one dear to them. Their bodies lay far afield but they should not mourn the loss of these gallant lives without a great pride in their death, because by their lives and deaths they established a standard of loyalty and patriotic devotion to duty that should be for all time an incentive to the youth of the nation.

AFTER THE VICTORY

They had indeed won the war but they found that a victorious war brought other things in its wake. The country had been distracted by a series of industrial disputes, prices were higher and taxes heavier than they had ever been before, but if they wanted to see their country firmly established they must have the same spirit as that which won the war and they could pay no higher honour to the memory of their dead than to cultivate and keep alive that spirit of comradeship and patriotic devotion to duty which animated them during their lives. This memorial would stand for a record for many years and as long as they lived they would carry in proud and affectionate remembrance the names of the men inscribed upon it. The memorial was then dedicated by the Rev W E Dalton, and the hymn ‘Soldiers who are Christ’s below’, sung. Ex-bugler E S Pilbeam then sounded the ‘Last Post’, which was followed by the singing of the National Anthem.

FLORAL TRIBUTES

Many beautiful floral tributes were then laid at the foot of the memorial, among the inscriptions on them being the following:-

A tribute from General and Mrs Holdsworth.

From the Hon Mrs Brand and Mr Brand.
Remembered with thankfulness of heart those dear ones who laid down their lives for me and mine, their Vicar and their friend.
In fondest remembrance of our dearest Billy, from Dad, Mum, sisters and brothers; also in memory of the brave boys of Glynde and Beddingham.
In ever loving memory of Victor Turner, from Lizzie and his nephew, Dennis.
In loving memory of Arthur, from father, mother, sisters and brothers.
In loving memory of Gunner George Gaston, who died on September 1st, 1919, from his loving father and brother, Ernie.
In ever lasting and most loving memory of my husband, Captain Cuthbert Pickard, RE.
In ever loving memory of my dear son, William Henry Tasker, who gave his life for his country, October 9th, 1917, from his sorrowing mum, sister Mary, brothers Charles, Tom, Harry and Bert.
In ever loving memory of a dear son and brother, from dad, mum, and Kathleen.
To our beloved son and brother, Ethelbert, from father, mother, sisters and brothers.
In loving memory of my dear son, Alfred John Wren.
In loving memory of my dearly-loved husband, Ethelbert Turner, who died of wounds received in France, May 26th 1918.
In ever-loving memory of my dear husband, from his sorrowing wife and little son Dennis.
In loving memory of frank, who fought for his King and country, from his loving wife and son, dad and Amy, Bert and Emily.
With ever-loving sympathy to my dear son Fred, from his ever-loving mother.
To our most beloved sons and brothers, Ethelbert and Victor, from father, mother, sisters and brothers.
In ever-loving memory of Gunner A A J Wood, from mother, sister, brothers.
In loving memory of my dear Dad, who was killed in action February 27th, 1917, from his loving son Harry Newham.
To our beloved son and brother, Victor, from father, mother, sisters and brothers.
In loving memory of our dear brother, from Joe and Polly.
In loving memory of my dear husband, W H Tasker, killed in action, October 8th, 1917.
From all at Isfield, with ever-loving memory to dear brother Ernie, from his loving sisters and nieces.
In ever-lasting memory of William Owen Dewdney, who died in France, June 4th 1917.
In proud and loving memory of Arthur, from Bing and Tom.
To our dear boy, from all at Horsted, from Dad and Mum.

The memorial was the work of Messrs F Bridgeman and Sons, Lewes, who were also responsible for the arrangements at the unveiling.