WW1 soldiers' stories: Harrogate church's emotional appeal
Generally regarded as one of the largest and most beautiful churches in the country, St Wilfrid's on Duchy Road is keen to shine a light on the lives of the soldiers named on its own WW1 memorial.
Located in St Wilfrid's Holy Spirit Chapel, the aim during a year, which marks the 100th anniversary of war's end, is to use any information discovered as part of a new display telling the soldier's own stories.
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Hide AdBut its a race against time to get it ready Heritage Open Days in September when the public can visit what is Harrogate’s only Grade I listed building for free.
The church's facilities manager Rebecca Oliver said: "We are currently researching the history of those named on the First World War memorial in the church and would love to find out more about the men listed on it.
"If anyone has any knowledge of those named on the memorial or their families please contact myself or the church."
The church of St Wilfrid Harrogate was consecrated in 1914, at the start of World War 1. The earliest parish magazines that we have make regular mention of parishioners or members of the congregation who were killed in action.
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Hide AdThe new display will contain some of these precious artefacts which will be shown to the public for the first time.
Local people listed on the St Wilfrid's Church war memorial include:
Ernest Richard Gardner Wood – North Staffordshire Regiment
Joseph William Smith Hird – North Staffordshire Regiment
Edgar Perham – West Yorkshire Regiment
Godfrey Harold Averdieck – King’s Royal Rifles
George Gerald Averdieck – Rifle Brigade
Herbert Smith – West Yorkshire Regiment
John Wilson Ware – Royal Engineers
Richard de Paive Eddison – Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Charles Edmund Boote – North Staffordshire Regiment
Arthur Norbury Solly – Manchester Regiment and Royal Flying Corps
Francis Cecil Yates – West Yorkshire Regiment
Ernest Wynn – Royal Flying Corps
Harry Carr – Warwickshire Regiment
Ernest Bristow Farrar – Devonshire Regiment
Leslie Riley Watson – Royal Field Artillery
Marcus Head – Royal Flying Corps
Charles George Gordon Shelton – South Lancashire Regiment
Anyone who may have information of the soldiers, should contact Rebecca Oliver on [email protected] or Pam Grant on [email protected]