RAY WESTLAKE

Remembering The Great War

At the sharp turn that takes you from Horse Street into Broad Street you will find parts of the town's ancient cross (about 1553) now incorporated into the war memorial. Chipping Sodbury - north of Junction 18 on the M4 Motorway and close to Yate - erecting this "In grateful memory of the gallant soldiers of this town who gave their lives" in 1920. There are eighteen names.

Move now along Broad street, with its gabled houses and town hall - this chiefly fifteenth century, but its Tudor front Victorian according to Arthur Mee's The King's England - and turning right you come to the church of St. John the Baptist. Nothing earlier than thirteenth century (David Verey this time, Buildings of England), the outside being almost entirely the work of G.E. Street who carried out the restoration of 1869.

Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Cap Badge (left) and Collar Badge (right)

No war memorial could be found in the church itself, but do take time to visit in the churchyard extension just north of St. John's the war graves of Private Samuel Coope of the 5th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, died aged twenty-three on 19 August, 1914 (the 5th Loyals came down from Bolton to Chipping Sodbury on 10 August, 1914 and were stationed in the area while guarding various parts of the Wootton Basset to Avonmouth railway line), and Sergeant Wallace William Wynn - died at home on 28 October, 1916 from wounds received in action while serving with the Royal Field Artillery.

Copyright © Ray Westlake, October, 2002

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