Abinger and its War Memorial

The war memorial in the churchyard [Wikipedia], designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens RA, was   erected in 1920 in memory of the men of the ecclesiastical parish of Abinger who fell in the 1914-1918 World War.

It was a gift of Mrs Margaret Lewin, widow of Col. Lewin of Parkhurst. It is inscribed as follows:

War Memorial

West Panel

The World War MCM XIV – MCM XIX (1914-1919) (sic)

South Panel

In memory of those who fell in 1914-1918.

Pte Ernest Andrew Bone

3rd Surrey Rifles

Cpl Herbert William Hunt

4th Yorkshire Regt.

Lt Cpl Herbert W Carpenter

7th The Queen’s (RW Surrey Regt.)

Grace King

Dames des Cantines Anglaises

2nd a/m Russel C Forehead

RAF

Lt William A Mitchison

Royal Engineers

Pte George Gadd

1st The Sherwood Foresters

Lt Walter Selwyn Orpen

10th Lancashire Fusiliers

Pte Ernest A E Smith

4th Royal Fusiliers

Pte Thomas Holloway

1st Hampshire Regiment

North Panel

In Honour of those who fought and conquered 1939-1945.

Percy Baverstock

RN

Geoffrey Boulding

RA

Sidney W Burton

RAF

Harry Buckman

RAF

H Colin Carpenter

Lt. Queens & FO RAF

Ronald Francis Drake

RN

Raymond C Forehead

RASC

George T Gardiner

FO RAF VR

Roy Doulas Harriss

R West Kent

Arthur Kent

RN

Albert Arthur Millo

RAF VR

Alfred Tickner

RAF VR

East Panel

This cross destroyed by enemy action in 1944 was re-erected in 1949 in proud memory of Margaret Lewin of Parkhurst, Abinger Common. And her dear courage and forgetfulness of self under all conditions.

“I cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers”; Ephesians 1:16

Presented by Margaret Lewin of Parkhurst, Abinger Common, in memory of her son Charles Mclean Lewin 4th Hussars (CML b.1880 d.1919). “They also serve who only stand and wait” (Milton).  Also T.H.W.L. eldest son of above b. 1912 d. 1947.  

See Abinger Church and its history (s6, p7 – the churchyard) by JC Gibbs (1938)  for more.

Outside the South Wall of the Churchyard

This Village Green is dedicated to the memory of those from the Parish of Abinger who fell in the Great War 1914-1918.

John Beckett
John Foord
Andrew Earnest Bone
Russell Forehand 
Eric Brady
George Gadd
Ben Bliss
Thomas Holloway
Herbert W Carpenter
William Herbert Hunt
Frank Charman
Grace King

 

Wall memorial

Henry Charman
William Mitchinson
George Cooper
Mark Moore
Edward Jack Curtis
John Muggeridge
Henry Elms
Walter Selwyn Orpen
Charles H Etherington
Albert Edward Smith

The land was purchased and endowed by their friends and neighbours and placed in the custody of the Abinger Parish Council in the year 1920.  “Pereunt et imputantur” [the hours pass away and are reckoned on our account].

A facsimile of this stone and inscription is on the Clock House facing the green at Abinger Hammer and another on the YMCA hut (1920) facing the green at Forest Green.

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