The Barlick War Memorial Group

[Thomo]

Great Ian. I have just been to the memorial and removed the stuborn screw that was preventing re-fixing, this I intend to do next Saturday after other work there is complete, it will also give me time to add more coats of the acrylic laquer.

[PanBiker]

Good news and a good plan Peter. I met up with Carol and Simon this morning down at the cadet headquarters to pick up the remembrance crosses. I have just got back from Ghyll after completing this years distribution. I have been nearly 90% successful in rediscovering the graves that I have down on record. I made a note as I went round on any that I could not find after 3 or 4 sweeps of each section. So what I have done is written the name and rank (if known) of each missing one onto a cross and set them in a group next to the path of the relevant sections of the cemetery and churchyard I thought that this would be better than nothing where I could not rediscover the resting or commemoration place.

There were 3 in the cemetery, 5 in the upper end of the churchyard (there are a lot of leaves down there) and 2 in the very lower section of the churchyard that we found among the brambles last year. Each year I seem to find or re-find more and lose some again. There is a lot of moss on some of the stones particularly the ones that are laid down, I'll find them again no doubt.

[Thomo]

Well done Ian. I have picked out a spot at the memorial for the missing names cross, this came through the post from the Legion, all I have to do is letter it.

[PanBiker]

I noticed on my way home from work that the bins have now been moved from their former place in the car park adjacent to the memorial up to the Rainhall Road car park. This makes a vast difference to the aspect to the memorial which is looking very good now the site has been cleared up. I believe that Simon Kitson from the cadets is taking over from Peter Elgie as the marshal from what he said when we met earlier in the week.

When I was down at Ghyll I had a look for where Eric Cockerill was interred after cremation, without luck I hasten to add. I would like to put a cross on Eric's resting place both as a personal friend and my predecessor in the annual distribution. I was unable to get to Eric's funeral else I would have already known where his final resting place is but I did see John Lancaster on town yesterday who told me that Eric's remains are interred at Bracewell along with the information on where to find the plot. I will pop down before weekend and sort it out.

[Stanley]

You're right Ian and I was wrong. The removal of the recycling bins has completely altered that end of the car park. Transformation!

[Thomo]

The Dukes plaque is now back where it belongs. Screw heads "spoiled" to prevent easy removal, and all the empty drinks containers put in the adjacent rubbish bins. I was just finishing off when a man whom I know came over and explained what the new entrance was all about!!? "Now Thats Anonymity" he went on his way armed with the facts.

[Stanley]

That's an improvement! I see the lonely litter bin has been removed. I wonder how long it will be till the person in charge of CI street furniture realises there is a fresh canvas.

[Thomo]

A few facts here from my chronological list of Bricks Fallen. The last two to be killed both died on the same day, November the 4th 1918, another 7 died before the end of that year, Another 6 in 1919, 3in 1920 and 3 in 1921. That so many from this town lost their lives is bad enough, and for some, whatever their cause of death, they still served this country. Two died from drowning in this country, open verdict. One was drowned accidentally in France, another killed by an ambulance whilst assisting a fallen comrade. One hit and killed by a bus in London when coming home on leave. Even more grievous was that two women ended thier lives in the canal at coates after learning of their loved ones death, one a Mother, the other a Wife.

[Tizer]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so forgive me if it's not the best place (a moderator could move it if necessary). It's a press release from Familyrelatives.com which can be read at this link:
http://familyrelativesnews.com/CMU-11LR ... C5/cr.aspx

`Familyrelatives.com remembers the fallen with New Military Records'
"Familyrelatives.com releases three new military datasets for the first time containing lists of more than 35,000 British and Dominion Officers who were killed or captured during the Great War. We are proud to have added the following to our website:
British Officers Prisoners of War 1914-1918
Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1919
The Bond of Sacrifice - A Biographical Record of British Officers Who Fell in the Great War
On the eve of Armistice Day the collection commemorates British military personnel who were taken prisoner, detailing their name, rank, regiment, camp location, date of capture and release date. Even those who escaped are included. The Bond of Sacrifice collection presents 4,000 biographies of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, arranged alphabetically to provide an invaluable record of the contribution and achievements of those who served."
[Continued on the web page]

[Thomo]

Thanks for the heads up on that Tizer, and it isn't overpriced either. After the parade yesterday afternoon, I was aware of a Woman placing a cross at the Memorial, it was for her late husband who had been a "Stoker" in the Navy. He died 16 years ago from asbestosis, a condition that has caused the death of many ex Stokers who worked on steam ships, including my last Commanding Officer, Commander "E" Gray Richards OBE. The Woman's husband died of a service related condition which could qualify him for inclusion on the memorial, I will try and track her down and find out what she thinks. The alterations to the Memorial got a big seal of approval from everyone I spoke with, as did the idea of a new book, much to my relief. There was also a cross for my late cousin Gordon Walsh, who died in the Atlantic aged 10 as a result of the U boat attack on the SS City of Benares in 1940, another Barlicker Remembered thanks to my Sister.

[Tizer]

I remember some talk about compensation for sailors who had slept alongside bulkheads containing asbestos and had ended up with respiratory diseases. One of my neighbours was in a minesweeper in WW2 and now, in his late 80s has breathing problems - but it could have been due to his later occupations which included running a small chemicals business and working as a quality inspector in a plastics factory. Coincidentally he was telling us the other day about crawling inside boilers in the 1940s/50s and then we watched the Guy Martin programme where he goes into the railway locomotive boiler.

[Thomo]

Yes the dreaded boiler clean, having done a fair number myself I know what its like, no good if you don't like confined spaces. In 1994 I went to see the Naval Quarters at Eastney where we lived for 10 years, the houses were all empty and fenced off, it transpired that the council had purchased them from the MOD, and found out that they had been built on the site of an old asbestos dump, both of my children now have breathing problems, they spent 2/3rds more time there than I did.

[PanBiker]

I think the remembrance service went well yesterday taking into consideration the new layout and that it was the first time as parade marshal for Simon Kitson. I noticed Carol was in uniform too and assisting with the organisation. She has to be congratulated also for taking on the role of poppy co-ordinator along with, I believe the other two rural districts that she organises. If anything, I think the memorial site could do with a better PA system or at least more speakers. Simon did not need any amplification, his commands for the cadets and parade in general were quite audible but the speakers who in the main were more softly spoken could have done with a bit of a boost for the actual act of remembrance. All in all though a great improvement.

[David Whipp]

It's the first year that there's been a mains powered PA at the War Memorial. (Providing a supply was part of the improvements carried out).

Harold's system used yesterday is about 200 watts, which is bigger than previous years. An issue was people's mouths being further away from the microphone than desirable.

It'd be possible to use more kit at the memorial, as well as on the square, but we'd probably need more folk to set up, look after and clear away the gear.

[Thomo]

The above mentioned Stoker was Petty Officer Dennis Williams, died 1996.

[Thomo]

By way of a bit of "light" relief from trawling through the many WW1 names for the book, I have been having a look at the WW2 names that are either on the memorial, or hopefully will be soon. There are 75 names from WW2 and beyond, up to now I have found basic info on 47 of them. At present the youngest was 18 and the oldest 41. There is a Sailor who was on HMS Hood, another on the Repulse( we laid wreathes on the Repulse and Prince of Wales when I was in the Sunda Strait in 1975) and there was a Barlicker on the Prince of Wales. Two more were lost in Submarines. There were 10 from the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 4 from the RAF and 1 from the Home Guard. There are many Artillery Men and Royal Engineers, Quite a mixed bunch in all, and very interesting.

[Thomo]

Following another look at WW2 and the names on the Memorial, I now have all 76 names and details on 56 of them, only 20 more to find.

[Stanley]

Have you noticed that since the original back wall of the memorial was opened to the Co-op car park it has become a thoroughfare? Good thing, it means that people are passing close to the memorial all day, it is more a part of the townscape now.

[Thomo]

We have a new member, Colin Brittain of Whitby, the Author of the book "Into the Maelstrom", the story of the Rohilla disaster. Two members of his team will be coming to Barlick in due course on a promotional visit.

[Thomo]

I had mail and phone call this afternoon from Daryl Ames of the Craven Herald, they are planning an article about our War Memorial, and he wanted an update. I have told him what I know, but I am now totally in the dark about what is happening in respect of the new name panels, when they will be added and the plans for rededication, any news on this would be most welcome.

[David Whipp]

Have emailed Peter about some detailed queries.

The town council's hoping that the additional names will be added and the memorial re-dedicated this year, but adding the extra names may be in two phases because of the different stages of research.

Volunteers from Barlick in Bloom made a start on Sunday clearing overgrown shrubs and moving others in readiness for replanting the shrub area. New plants are being bought by the town council and will mostly be planted out during this month.

[Thomo]

Thanks to David I believe that we have some clarity. An advanced target date of 28-07-2013, all current names to be added. I have mailed the Yorkshire Regiment and am awaiting a reply.

[David Whipp]

Had a brief chat with current chair and vice-chair of the town council about this last night. The date for a re-dedication is flexible, as long as we avoid clashing with other events. This should maximise the chance of getting a regimental presence.

[Thomo]

Plan "A" I have spoken to a member of the Yorkshire Regiment Staff this morning, and my mail from yesterday has been passed to the office of Major Heron, I have sent a second mail stressing the flexibility of the target date, it is now fingers and all else crossed. Back up plans are now under consideration, Plan "B". I now have the contact details of other Military establishments in our area in the event of the failure of plan"A" ie, Fulwood Barracks at Preston is currently home to the 5th Medical Brigade. Most of the original Regiments from our area are long gone having been absorbed into the greater picture, I will continue to look at what may be available. A regular Army presence would be wonderful for as far as I am aware, no such event has taken place since the end of WW1. This event needs to be something special, and if I fail to get the regular Military involved, then I have plan "C" in mind. Having taken part in such events myself I am aware of several items that are important, the first being the route taken for the march, any climbs should be taken early on. The Military being at the head will set the pace, those who follow must be reasonably able to keep up, those who cannot must be at the rear, the end ceremony should then be held until the rearguard are in place. As to the route, I have a few ideas to maximise the impact without it becoming boring, whilst at the same time touching upon places that have an historical link. These I will look at and detail here later for your comments. It has suddenly become very busy here, the Wifes recent redundancy and subsequent future planning, the adoption of stray animals, and now we find that the most recent, Rosie, whom we collected last week is almost certainly pregnant. The book has not been even looked at for 5 days now, but we "will" get there. "Is quisnam does non factum est amo yokel quisnam exspecto pro profusum abeo per".

[Thomo]

A pleasant surprise this morning, long phone call from Colin Brittain at Whitby "Rohila Man" asking for an update on our progress. no word from the Yorkshire Regiment yet though.