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This article has been compiled and edited by Rob Forsyth; however, within it there is a significant amount of material researched and edited by Michael Allbrook. Each of his articles are attributed where appropriate.

Introduction

Deddington people who have died in war are remembered in a variety of places; some are within the bounds of our Parish Church and its churchyards and others further afield. This article records what and where those memorials are together with brief information about the names on them. Further contributions are welcomed by email.              

The War Memorial

Deddington's War Memorial is not on the village green, as most are, but is located in the lower churchyard.  A public meeting in May 1919 decided that the memorial should be it where it stands today - amongst the graves of families and friends. The likely reason why the village green was not chosen as a site was that the state of the Market Place generally was so bad that it was not considered a suitable place for a formal memorial.

The Deddington Deanery Magasine of the time records all the details of the fund raising, ordering, delays -  a Miss EB Hands decided that this was not acceptable because through her own instrumentality (sic) she paid for the brass memorial referred to below!  - and, finally, the unveiling and dedication on 6th August 1922.  

"The unveiling and dedication of this Memorial to the men who fell in the Great War took place on the afternoon of Sunday 6 August 1922. The ceremony of unveiling was performed by Major General Sir Robert Fanshaw KCB, DSO. The dedication was by the vicar (Revd T. Boniface), assisted by representatives of Wesleyan and Congregationalists churches. Wreaths were placed by relatives and friends of the Fallen, also by The Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars and Ex-Servicemen of the Parish of Deddington. A muffled peal was rung at the conclusion of the service."

At the time of compiling this article (July 2009) there is an ongoing debate within the parish as to whether the War Memorial should be moved to the Market Place. Opinions are divided.

Other Oxfordshire War Memorials can be found by following this link

Names on the memorial from World War I

Names on the memorial from World War II and later

Richard Hall died while doing his compulsory National Service. He was on patrol in Malaya (now Malaysia) when his patrol was ambushed by terrorists.

The names of Deddington men who fought for their country - researched by Michael Allbrook

A significant amount of detailed information about those Deddington men who have fought for their country is now available thanks to the completion of a major research project carried out by Michael Allbrook, resident of this parish. Deddington OnLine is extremely grateful for his agreement to incorporate his research into this article and we record, on behalf of the parish, our great indebtedness to him. To quote his own words "When the War Memorial was erected in 1922, it was sufficient for the inscription to be simply a name and an initial. Everybody knew them. Eighty years later more information is necessary to tell us about these men of Deddington." Without Michael's research they would still largely be just names and intials. All of his information can be accessed by clicking on the headings listed below.

• Those who died and are named on the War Memorial
• Those who died but are not named on the War Memorial
• Those who served and returned
• The units of Dedddington men who died
• Where Deddington men who died rest or are commemorated
  
• Extracts from Deddington Deanery Magasine 1914 - 1919 relating to the Men who Served
• Extracts from Deddington Deanery Magasine 1919 - 1922 about the War Memorial
  
• A timeline for the First World War

• Those who died and are named on the War Memorial and elswhere
  

• Those who died and are named on the War Memorial 
  

Memorials within the church

First World War wooden crosses to the right of the North door of the church

To the right of the standard belonging to the Deddington Branch of The Royal British Legion is a stone memorial to Ronald Page Bull who died in the First World War and who was reinterred in the Highland British Cemetery, near Le Cateau, France, in 1920. He was the only son of Richard Page Bull who, as the vet to a largely agricultural village, was an important and relatively well off member of the community - reflected in his memorial. Richard's practice was in The Stile House next to Leaden Porch on New Street.

Beneath this there are 4 crosses preserved from their original Word War I graves - some of which were in France.

The names on the crosses are (L to R) F Tustain, OAJH Dore*, R Bull and AE Hancox

click on names for an enlarged image

*interred beneath War Grave headstones in the churchyard - see below.

The wooden memorial plaque immediately below the British Legion standard is in memory of two Clifton men who died in the Second World War. The plaque originally hung in the old chapel in Clifton but was moved to Deddington Church when the chapel closed as a place of worship.

Below that again is a brass engraved plaque that lists the names of all those who died in the First World War and whose names are now also on the War Memorial in the churchyard. It was erected through the efforts of Miss EB Hands in March 1921.

First World War wooden crosses to the left of the North door

The names on the crosses are (top to bottom)

B Wheeler*, A Ell*, A Castle*, WD Hancox, WL French*

*these men also have War Grave Commission headstones in the churchyard - see below.

Wood carved memorial on the north wall of the baptistry

a memorial to three brothers all killed in action in the First World war
Walter, William and Albert Hancox - carved by their father

South Aisle - stone plaque memorialising the Churchill family formerly of Deddington

Included on the plaque is Lt Robert (Buster) Churchill. RN. Fleet Air Arm, who died in action in 1942 off Malta.
Robert was the great great grandson of John and Eleanor Churchill who lived in Grove House, High Street.
Robert's name is not on the War Memorial - presumably because neither his family or Robert were resident in Deddington at the time. However the plaque indicates the family's very strong attachment to the parish.

Graves within Deddington churchyard

First World War Grave Commission headstones

The War Grave Commission erected head stones at the graves of those who died on British soil as a consequence of war. They are in the 'new' cemetery which is an extension of the lower churchyard (turn right approaching the war memorial as viewed in the picture above). It had been dedicated before the war on 23 September 1907. It should not be confused with the more recent 'new cemetery' on the Hempton Road beyond the Windmill Centre.

World War Two gravestone

Private William Coulton, 1st Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
His name is not on the War Memorial - possibly because he did not die in action.

Private John Gilkes, 1st Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry

He is also commemorated in Brouay War Cemetery, France

and on The War Memorial above

Croughton Parish Church, Northamptonshire

Their Epitaph

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
between the crosses, row on row,
that mark our place; and in the sky
the larks, still bravely singing, fly
scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.   Short days ago
we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
loved and were loved, and now we lie
in Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
the torch;   be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
we shall not sleep, though poppies grow
in Flanders fields

John McCrae 1915

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