Aldermaston honours its First World War dead
Memorial plaque specially commissioned for the village unveiled at ceremony
PARISHONERS of Aldermaston and Wasing ensured that local men who died in the First World War were not forgotten in a ceremony last week.
Six men from the parish died on the first day of the Battle of Loos on September 25, 1915 and four more fell during the course of the battle. In total 44 men from the area died during the First World War.
A company commander of the 8th Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment wrote to the Newbury Weekly News on October 28, 1915: “Aldermaston should be proud of her sons, who have so nobly and ungrudgingly done their duty in this great crisis.
“Aldermaston has indeed responded to the great call, has been weighed in the balance and not found wanting. If it is God’s will that I am spared, I shall certainly come to Aldermaston to see the homes of her brave sons.”
People gathered at St Mary’s Church in Aldermaston on the centenary of the battle last Friday where a plaque commissioned by the Atomic Weapons Establishment was dedicated in a poignant ceremony.
Children from Aldermaston Church of England Primary School hand-wrote the 44 names which were digitised and engraved onto the metal plaque. The children also learned about the war from AWE historian David Whithorn, whose research helped identify 16 new names and the stories behind them.
The pupils joined those from the Cedars School, villagers and dignitaries for the service lead by the Rev Beck Bevan.
“Nothing about today is to glorify war or to live in the past. We are here to remember the sacrifice of so many from this parish some who lost their lives 100 years ago,” she said.
Mr Whithorn said: “The greatest asset of any community is its children as they represent the future. Taking part in such a community project helps bond their links with the past and encourages future responsibility.... In years to come, these children can point to this plaque and say, ‘I wrote that name, he is my Great War soldier, he is not forgotten.”
Candles were lit for every name on the memorial by Alice from The Cedars and Callum from Aldermaston Primary.
The children’s voices then filled the church during a moving part of the ceremony as they sang Make Me a Channel of Your Peace. A wreath was then laid by Nicholas, from The Cedars, and Maddie, from Aldermaston Primary.
Among the names on the plaque is Captain Francis Mount who was killed on October 13, 1915.
His brother was the MP for South Berkshire, William Mount, whose son, William Malcolm Mount, was wounded at the Normandy landings during the Second World War. His second daughter Mary married Ian Cameron and in 2010 their son David became Prime Minister.
Francis’ name was written by former Aldermaston Primary pupil Thomas, aged 12. Thomas, now at the Willink School, said he was pleased to have written his soldiers name and been a part of the commemorations.
“I really appreciate them fighting for us. It could be a different country now.”
Speaking after the ceremony the headteacher of Aldermaston Primary School, Rhodri Bowen, said: “It’s really important for our school because we want our children to be people who learn from history and take what they have learned forward.”
He said that Mr Whithorn had spoken to the children about the bonds of friendship and camaraderie that had been forged in the trenches.
“If our children take that away, to look after friends and support each other, then the day will have done its job.”