Kent
Fallen
Fallen| Kent's Roll of Shame! |
We
have identified the
following Kent civic tributes and war graves that require protection /
restoration urgently. Some are merely in need of a good clean (by
stonemasons NOT a local resident with a steam cleaner). Others require
a fresh coat or the men's names "blacked". A few have patently
been allowed to decay over
a
long period of time, one or two are even starting to fall apart! It is an utterly scandalous situation that some parish
councils and church PCC's neglect their sons like this. We have no
hestitation to name and shame the worst offenders here. Their normal
excuse is (wait for it) - lack of funds. This is utterly ridiculous
because the most wealthy parishes are often the worst offenders. It's
outrageous!! What
they often fail to realise is the fact that if these men's names
completly disappear, they may well be lost forever from a local point
of view. Those
villages who seek to have their details removed from this list of shame are
advised to get in touch with the War Memorials Trust who
will be able to provide advice regarding grant funding. Alternatively CLICK HERE
for War Memorials Trust Application Forms and Guidance. As you will
find out, there is no reason why your village tribute should be looking
so bad...There
is no need for us to make any disparaging comments - the
photographs speak for themselves. Have a look yourself and then make your own mind up...
Shepway CrossLympne
THIS IS A WAR MEMORIAL !
We
very much regret to report that the local residents of Lympne and
West Hythe and it would appear the local branch of the Royal British
Legion are all under the impression this monument merely commemorates
the location of the Ancient Court . This is incorrect, the monument was
erected on land donated by the owner of Lympne castle to commemorate
the "DEEDS OF THE MEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS DURING WARTIME". In fact the
war memorial was officially opened on 4 August 1923 (the same day that
the Great War broke out), this date was chosen on purpose. Many books
have been published that incorrectly give the wrong reason which over
the years has resulted in this unfortunate confusion. We placed a poppy
wreath on the memorial in 2006 shortly before Remembrance Sunday only
for the wreath to be removed a few days later. We found out that a
local resident had removed it on the basis that this was not a civic
war memorial. The memorial itself is not being looked after at all. You
can clearly see from the photographs here that the local parish council
has allowed the thing to become overgrown with Ivy. If that wasn't bad
enough, the stonework is now in urgent need of a good clean and
professional restoration. It is our intention in the near future to
make an application to English Heritage to have it Grade II Listed.
This will ensure that the memorial gets the care and protection it
deserves. Please spread the word - THIS THING IS A CIVIC WAR MEMORIAL
NOT JUST A MONUMENT TO COMMEMORATE THE SITE OF THE ANCIENT COURT OF THE
CINQUE PORTS!
CHATHAM Christchurch Luton
Christchurch, Luton August 2008
We
regret to report that the two Great War Plaques that are afixed to the
lynch-gate outside Christchurch in Luton are at extremely great risk!
When we recently attended the area both bronze plaques were in a
terrible state - local morons had defaced both plaques with permanent
markers. The general condition of the plaques is not good due mainly to
environmental factors. These plaques are clearly in need of urgent
protection from the local youths and from inclement weather. We have
been in touch with the nearby church elders who have agreed in
principal to remove both plaques from the Lynch-Gate and resite them
inside the church where they can be properly looked after and
protected. These plaques are very important from a local point of view,
Medway is not served well with war memorials and this tribute is one of
only a handful that actually contain the names of local casualties who
fell. When we attended some disgusting idiot had defecated right
underneath one of the plaques within the lynch-gate! We are confident
that if these plaques were removed and re-erected inside the church,
the locals wouldn't even notice the things have gone! This state of
affairs reflects very badly on the local residents of Luton who it
would seem have no interest in this monument.
We would like to thank the nearby Christchurch for kindly agreeing to re-site these two bronze plaques in their church. There can be no doubt that the church is the best place for these plaques to be re-homed. We understand that it may be possible to erect a small replacement notice in place of the two war memorial plaques advising everyone that the original plaques can be viewed inside the nearby church.
In our view no one can complain about the removal of these two plaques because if left in situ much longer they will be stolen or defaced beyond economical repair.
We would like to thank the nearby Christchurch for kindly agreeing to re-site these two bronze plaques in their church. There can be no doubt that the church is the best place for these plaques to be re-homed. We understand that it may be possible to erect a small replacement notice in place of the two war memorial plaques advising everyone that the original plaques can be viewed inside the nearby church.
In our view no one can complain about the removal of these two plaques because if left in situ much longer they will be stolen or defaced beyond economical repair.
A Tribute left by a local moron left right underneath Plaque 2 !
How disrespectful, these men gave their lives so that retards like this could live in peace & freedom!
Northfleet
St. Marks, Rosherville
This
civic war memorial (although quite clean) is without doubt the worst kept war
memorial we have come across in the whole of Kent! The names here
have patently been allowed to deteriorate over a very long period of
time. What is wrong with the local people to allow
this to happen? Don't they realise that if the names eventually completely
dissapear, it is quite possible (indeed probable) that some names shall
be lost forever (from a local perspective)!
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission often only records burial
details not where a man came from or had links to. Once the name goes
there is no way of finding the casualty again. It really is that
simple.
We have written a polite letter to the Vicar but to date haven't received the courtesy of a reply... Not entirely surprising given the state of the war memorial located so close by! We are prepared to assist with this memorials restoration not just cause mischief. We did receive an email from a local resident who objected to the way we had posted this memorials details online. According to him (Andrew) this page is an agressive tactic and we are interfering in local matters that don't concern us! What a cheek, You couldn't make it up!
We have written a polite letter to the Vicar but to date haven't received the courtesy of a reply... Not entirely surprising given the state of the war memorial located so close by! We are prepared to assist with this memorials restoration not just cause mischief. We did receive an email from a local resident who objected to the way we had posted this memorials details online. According to him (Andrew) this page is an agressive tactic and we are interfering in local matters that don't concern us! What a cheek, You couldn't make it up!
Kingsnorth
(War Graves in dense undergrowth all year round)
FIXED OCTOBER 2007
The Rector has now confirmed to us that the weeds have been cut back and that the war graves shall be given due respect in the future
| KENT
WAR MEMORIALS IN NEED OF URGENT PROTECTION |
| BRIDGE |
| CHARING |
| CHATHAM (St Augustines) |
| HASTINGLEIGH (Fence) RECTIFIED OCTOBER 2007 |
| FAVERSHAM (St Mary of Charity) RECTIFIED MARCH 2005 FOLLOWING OUR COMPLAINT |
| SELLING |
| WOODCHURCH |
| LYMPNE (Shepway Cross) |
| DEAL (St Leonard's) RESTORED SEPTEMBER 2007 WITH OUR HELP |
| NORTHFLEET RECTIFIED MARCH 2OO7 The Memorial has now been fully restored |
| MAIDSTONE (R. West Kent's) |
| CANTERBURY (Civic War Memorial) |
| IGHTHAM |
| MATFIELD |
| SISSINGHURST (WW2 Plaque only) |
| BRENCHLEY NOW RECTIFIED FOLLOWING OUR COMPLAINTS |
| BICKLEY (St George) |
| SANDHURST |
| STANSTED |
| OFFHAM |
| LUDDESDOWN |
| HILDENBOROUGH |
 ASHFORD WAR MEMORIAL OUR GRADE II LISTED BUILDING APPLICATION APPROVED February 20007 |
|
Updating Ashford's Civic Tribute October 2006 In 2006 we made representations to the Ashford Borough Council to have the town's civic tribute bought up-to date. We want to add all the names of local fallen men who were left off the memorial by error (WW1 & WW2) and to also add the names of locally fallen men from all post WW2 conflicts including local fallen men killed on active service in Iraq & Afganistan |
 Glady's Alice Sparkes Ashford's only civilian casualty of the Great War who was missed off the towns memorial! |
| KENT VICTORIA CROSS GRAVES FALLING APART! |
| DEAN D (Tunstall) |
BORTON A.D (Hunton) |
KERR W.A (Folkestone) |
| COMMERELL
JE (Folkestone) |
COFFIN C (Tunbridge Wells) |
WALKER M (Folkestone) |
| WHITE W.A (Hildenborough) |
 Anti Graffiti Services Ltd Lime Tree House 15 Lime Tree Walk Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1YH Telephone: 0844 800 8168 |
 Burlite Limited Monumental Stone Masons (War Memorial Specialists) The Stone Shop East Farleigh Kent ME15 0JD, UK Tel: 44 (0) 1622 721077 Fax: 44 (0) 1622 720066 |
| IF YOU KNOW OF A WAR MEMORIAL AT RISK, PLEASE SEND US YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS As you can see below, as this site becomes more popular, parish councils are rectifying the highlighted problems |
David W Hughes : Neil R Clark : Kyle D Tallett