About this research
How It Began
A Remembrance Service is held at St Mark's Church annually. Several years ago, at this service, John Chandler offered to read out the names of those from the parish who had lost their lives as a result of the two major conflagrations of the twentieth century. He continued to do this, but it was on the first occasion when he read the 26 names that two events occurred which prompted more interest.
Firstly, John met a couple who were tending a family grave and after conversation it was apparent that one of their ancestors, who had died in Russia, was not on the memorial and as such was not remembered. He was asked to read out his name, at the service, which he was content to do. This was Herbert Nixon.
Secondly, when he read the names, in most cases he was only able to read the surname plus an initial. Following this he was asked the reason why the full name was not given and his response was that he did not know the whole name. This was when he was challenged to find out. So he began.
The first few names were fairly easy but so much more research was needed on the remainder, some of whom are still presenting problems. The time factor meant he was not able to address the research until after he retired.
The Memorial
The names on the original War Memorial of St Mark's Church were of six local men: Alexander Cragghill, Thomas Elleray, John Gilbert Fallowfield, James Francis Inman, John Edward Inman, and George Ernest Howard Keesey.
However, there are eleven other names associated with St Mark's Church, Natland and Oxenholme. With the exception of Herbert Nixon and Michael McGrath, these men were during the pre-war period "inmates" (as they were called) at the Institution St Mark's Home for Waifs and Strays.
St Mark's Natland and Oxenholme Parochial Church Council made the decision to include all these eleven names on a new memorial, treating them all equally and collectively.
The Research Challenges
Gathering information on any of them has not been easy as tracing their backgrounds has been difficult. Keenan, McGrath and Paget are all known or believed to be on memorials elsewhere. Nixon and Spratt are not believed to be on any memorial. Some "inmates" were sent to Canada and consequently joined the Canadian Forces.
The question of whose name belongs on which memorial is not straightforward. Did the hero, who most probably lay in a corner of a foreign field, have his name engraved on the memorial where he was born, where he grew up, where he enlisted, where his family now lived, or where a local committee agreed it could appear? This could mean that a fallen soldier did not have their name recorded anywhere — or sometimes the opposite, with one record of seventeen appearances on different war memorials.
In the News
- Natland honours new war heroes — The Westmorland Gazette
Sources
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)
- The National Archives, Kew
- Imperial War Museum — Lives of the First World War
- Parish records of St Mark's Church, Natland
- Census returns (1841–1921)
- Local newspaper archives
- Family memories and contributions from the Natland community
- Historic England — List Entry 1457167
- RMS Lusitania — Victims
Acknowledgements
With thanks to the families of Natland, past and present, who have contributed photographs, documents, and memories to this project; and to the organisations listed above whose records have made this research possible.
The new plaque was made by Coopers Engraving of Staveley Mill Yard.