Extracts from the Deddington Deanery Magazine concerning the War Memorial
May 1919
At a public meeting on 31 March it was decided to have a monument in the Church or in the Church Porch.
June 1919
At a specially convened meeting on 20 May, it was decided that the memorial should be in the Churchyard
August 1919
The Memorial would be designed by Mr Smithin. It would be twelve feet 6 inches high and executed in Portland Stone. The cost would be about £230
January 1920
An apology for the delay
March 1921
A brass plaque commemorating those who died was erected through the instrumentality of Miss E B Hands.
This plaque lists the names of those who died and is inscribed:
In Grateful Remembrance of the
Men of the Parish of Deddington
Who gave their lives
In the
Great War 1914 : 1918
Rest Eternal grant to them O Lord
Sunday 6 August 1922
The War Memorial was unveiled by Major General Sir Robert Fanshawe KCB DSO
It was Dedicated by the Vicar of Deddington, Reverend Thomas Boniface and the Assistant Clergy and Rev. T Buckingham (Wesleyan) and Rev J Carter representing the Congregationalists
The Memorial was executed by Messrs. Smithin and Cambray
(Note: Major-General Sir Robert Fanshawe (1863-1946) was a soldier who was popular with his troops. He had commanded 48th (South Midland) Division on the Western Front and in Italy from 1915 until June 1918. His nickname with both officers and men was Fanny but he was also known as The Chocolate Soldier from his habit of handing out chocolate to troops coming out of the line.)
©Michael Allbrook
Deddington, July 2009