For many people November is associated with the iconic red poppy as we remember those Serviceman and women who have died in the service of their country during two World Wars and the numerous conflicts since. It was the humble poppy growing in abundance amidst the trenches of Flanders during the First World War that first came to symbolise the human loss and sacrifice of battle. Millions of families throughout the country suffered the loss of a close family relative. The families and their communities felt that there should be some visible memorial to commemorate these lost lives. Now nearly a century later, war memorials can be found in nearly every Parish throughout the country.

Here in Curry Rivel a committee was formed early in 1919 to consider what kind of memorial there should be. Eventually, it was agreed that a cross, a replica of the ancient cross at Muchelney, would be most appropriate and that it should be sited "on the roadside, on the King's highway, so that not only the inhabitants of this district could see it, but also all those who passed by on that road ..."

The memorial, which cost £250 7s 5d (the equivalent today of £5,310) was paid for by a total of 181 donations, of which the majority were for amounts equivalent to £1 or less, although the five principal families in the village each donated amounts equivalent to around £500. The total raised was £244 14s 9d and the remaining amount was paid for by the local contractor, F.J. Dyer & Sons, who stated in their final account that "there is no profit charged of any kind and no charges for supervision, plant or tools." On three brass panels at the base of the cross were inscribed the names of the nineteen men who had died during and shortly after the war. Subsequently, many years later, the name of Jim Stuckey was added in 1994 after a project by children at the village school found that he had died of gas poisoning in 1920. A further name, WF West, was added as recently as two years ago following research by his grand daughters. On the central tablet was inscribed, "Lest We Forget. To the honoured memory of the men of Curry Rivel who fell in the Great War 1914-1918. Live thou for England, They for England died". Interestingly this final exhortation was subsequently removed to make room for a new tablet stating "Also in memory of the Fallen 1939-1945" when additional names were added after the Second World War.

The memorial cross, erected at 'The Bell Corner' on land donated by Major MF Cely Trevilian, was dedicated at a moving service on the afternoon of Sunday 7 November 1920 attended by the whole village. The local newspaper, 'The Langport and Somerton Herald' reported that "The Curry Rivel Post of the Comrades of the Great War (Editor- the forerunner of today's Royal British Legion) under Major W.W. Goode, and several members of the Boy Scouts met at Townsend House, and, headed by the Curry Rivel band, marched through the village and lined up in front of the memorial cross. The service opened with prayers by the vicar of St Andrew's, the Reverend PH Unwin and the pastor of the Congregational Church (now the United Reform Church) the Reverend H Kirkpatrick. The well known hymn 'Praise my soul the King of Heaven' was then sung... A number of the relatives of the fallen came forward and placed floral tributes at the foot of the cross. A wreath of laurels sent by the local Comrades of the Great War was also placed there. During the ceremony the relatives stood around the cross in a space specially provided for them. The cross, which had been previously covered with the Union Jack, was then unveiled by Major M.F. Cely Trevilian, who at the same time dedicated it to those Curry Rivel men who gave their lives in the Great War." The service ended with 'The Last Post' and the singing of the National Anthem, before the villagers dispersed. An eyewitness wrote at the time "It had been a simple, sad and moving ceremony. Many people were in tears as they made their way back to their homes."

Since that day 89 years ago, the memorial cross stands where it was erected, unchanged but for the addition of eight names belonging to villagers killed in the Second World War. Amongst them is 21 year old Lieutenant Geoffrey Dawkins who was killed with his 23 year old sister, Mrs Christina Watson, when a German bomb hit the 'Café de Paris' in London on the night of Saturday 8 March 1941. They were both celebrating their birthdays. Buried together in St Andrew's Cemetery Extension, for some reason Christina Watson's name is not included on the war memorial. This tragic tale of brother and sister killed by the same bomb is surely one for a subsequent article in the Curry Rivel News.

| More...