Shrawley Wayside Cross
Dedicated on 4th March 1920
After the Great War of 1914/18, 18 discharged soldiers and Sailors met in the Parish room in Shrawley on Friday September 19th 1919 to establish a ‘Post of the Comrades of the Great War, to be known as the ‘The Shrawley Post of the Worcester County Division’ of the Comrades.
It was proposed by Rev H T Boultbee and seconded by Mr H Pilkington and they all undertook to observe strictly the provisions of the Constitution, and that, further we shall affiliate this post to the Worcester County Division when such has been formed. The first Captain of this post was Mr Harold Pilkington, the first Treasurer was Mr Walter Bunce and the first Secretary was Rev HT Boultbee. The committee members were Mr Thomas Walker, Mr Albert Poultney, Mr Henry Brooks, Mr William Rowley and Mr Harold Weavers.
They met regularly every month and at the December meeting they decided to invite men from neighbouring parishes where there was no Post to join Shrawley, associates badges had been ordered. Januarys 1920 meeting was held at the Rectory where 20 Comrades attended. There was a proposal from Henry Brooks that the outline procedure for the Dedication of the coming War Memorial should be:
• Every Comrade should attend.
• The Bugler should sound the Last Post.
• The Ringers be invited to ring a muffled peal.
• That laurel wreaths, made by the Comrades, be placed upon the Cross and Tablet and that a wreath be placed upon the grave of Seaman Powick in the Churchyard. This was carried unanimously.
It was also reported that Mrs Allan had offered to present a parchment roll to the parish Room on which all service records should be inscribed. It was proposed that this offer be gratefully accepted. It was also agreed to make The Rectory the Headquarters of the Shrawley Post.
Dedication of the Wayside Cross
and the Church Memorial
This event, which took place on March 4th 1920, was recorded by the local newspaper. The following cutting, entitled the “Comrades of the Great War” minute book of the Shrawley Post, Worcestershire.
War Memorials. On Thursday there was a most interesting and impressive ceremony at the unveiling and dedicating of the War Memorials to those who fell in the great war. At 4.30 Brigadier General J. A. Gibbon, R.E., of the Southern Command, arrived at the church gate where he was met by a guard honour consisting of the members of the Shrawley Post of the Comrades of the Great War under the command of their Captain, Lieut. H. O. S. Pilkington, R.A.F.
The first part of the service, which was conducted by the Rector (Rev. H. T. Boultbee), was taken from the base of the old Churchyard Cross, round which were grouped the school children, with the headmaster, Mr. Thomas, the choir being just outside the Church porch. After the opening sentences, Psalm 121 was sung, and General Gibbon read the lesson from Rev. 21, 1-7. Then came a hymn The Supreme Sacrifice set to music by Mrs Belaribi, of Shrawley, during which a collection was taken for the memorial funds, followed by prayer. Then an impressive little ceremony followed, the Comrades placing a wreath on the grave of Seaman James Powick who died in service.
A procession was then formed headed by the choir with processional cross, the Comrades, school children, relatives of the fallen and the congregation who marched, singing the hymn “Saviour, Blessed Saviour,” round the road to the wayside cross which stands below the Church, on the main Worcester and Stourport road. Here another hymn was sung, and after a prayer, the cross was unveiled by General Gibbon, and dedicated “To the honour and glory of God, and in proud memory of those whose lives were given in the service of their King and country.” Many beautiful wreaths were then handed in, the first being from the Comrades of the Fallen. An inspiring address followed. General Gibbon, speaking on the words, “Lest we forget,” impressed upon the large congregation grouped round him, the purpose of such a memorial. A bugler from the Norton Barracks then played the “Last Post.”
The procession reformed and marched back to the Church, where a tablet inscribed with the names of the 17 men who fell in the war was similarly dedicated and the service concluded outside on a triumphant note with the singing of “Jesus Lives,” prayers, and the sounding of Reveille.
It was a beautiful afternoon still and sunny, and the large gathering from the parish and neighbourhood were deeply impressed by the solemnity of the service, which will live long in the memory of all.
Centennial Service
On Tuesday 3rd March 2020 at 11:00 am a small group of villagers gathered to commemorate the centenary of the dedication of the Shrawley Wayside Cross.
A short ceremony was conducted, followed by tea and coffee at the nearby village hall.
