ID: WMM

TitleWest Mersea War Memorial
AbstractThe West Mersea War Memorial was dedicated 22 September 1917. A newspaper report at the time describes the scene:

A memorial cross, in honour of Mersea Islanders who have given their lives for their country during the great war, was unveiled on Saturday by Mrs Horace Egerton Green, by whose generosity it was erected, and dedicated by the Bishop of Colchester. The ceremony was held on the greensward at West Mersea, in front of the village Church, the parishioners assembling round the large oak cross, which was draped with the Union Jack.

The Vicar, the Rev. C. Pierrepont Edwards, M.C., conducted the service. The choir advanced in procession from the church, singing "Through the night of doubt and sorrow". The lesson was read by the Rev. W.J. Juniper, Nonconformist minster, after which the hymn "Jesu, lover of my soul." was sung. - The Bishop, in an address,said that was to be a lasting memorial of the splendour of self-sacrifice made by those who had laid down their lives in the cause of justice and in defence of the freedom of the world.

The Cross, which rises from a stone pavement to a height of 12 feet, bears the names of the dead: Ralph Mussett, Thos. Funnell, Frederick Mussett, Bert Cundy, Clifford Farthing, Harold Mole, Hugh Smith, Fred B. Bennett, Harris W. Hoy, Victor Gardiner, Ernest Green, Alfred Pullen, Sidney Wright, Walter Hewes, James Cutts Avis, Rowland Cook and Frederick White. Chelmsford Chronicle 28 September 1917

The driving force behind the Memorial was Mrs Mary Egerton Green née Grimston. Her husband Horace Egerton Green had been Mayor of Colchester and they lived at Kings Ford, Colchester. When he died in 1905, Mrs Egerton Green gave a new East Window to West Mersea Parish Church. She was very active in West Mersea life during WW1, but there is no record of her coming to live on Mersea. Her address in the 1911 Census was St Georges, Hannover Square, London.

The Memorial was erected over a year before the end of World War I and before the British Legion was founded (1921). On the cross arm are the words "He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it". On one of the oak panels that formed the plinth were the words "To the Glory of God, and in proud and loving memory of the men of this parish who gave their lives for honour and liberty." The words were followed by the original 17 names, but with the terrible death toll in the War, this soon became inadequate. A larger base was built with four panels and this is what we see today. More names were added after World War 2, and finally, it is hoped, one last name for the Korean War was added.

An early photograph of the War Memorial, before the 'roof' was added to the cross

There are four panels at the base of the cross. They contain 44 names for World War I, 20 names for World War II, and one name for the Korean War. The photographs below were taken September 2018.

In Memory of the Men of West Mersea who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the two World Wars 1914-1918 and 1939-1945

World War I 1914-1918

Fredk. B. Bennett      Bertie Lee
Walter J. Beynon Stanley Mason
Christopher BrandAlfred J. Mole
Rowland Cook Fredk. W. Mole
H. James CottrellHarold Mole
Albert Cudmore Reginald J. Mole
Bert Cundy Ezra Mussett
James Cutts Avis Fredk. Mussett
Joseph Cutts AvisRalph Mussett
Clifford FarthingEdward Parkin
Percy French Alfred Pullen
Thomas Funnell Arther Pullen
Victor Gardner Henry W. Pullen
A. Percy Green E. Percy Roberts
Edward O. Green Hugh Smith
Ernest Green Joseph Stacey
Ernest Hart Harold F. Stoker
Albert Hewes Alfred B. Thursby
Walter Hewes Arthur Wade
John D. Howard Fredk. White
Harris W. Hoy Percy Whiting
Albert Jordan Sidney Wright

World War II 1939 - 1945

Alfred Butler Charles H. Passadoro
Ronald Chatters Denis J. Passadoro
Alfred Christmas       Frank Pullen
Herbert Cudmore Robert C. Purkis
Douglas Cutts George Sampson
Eric Heard George Stoker
Owen K. Hewes James Taylor
George Hillaby Arthur Farthing
Huberht T. Hudson
Frank Kinder
Peter Martin Korea 1951
Harry Nesmyth Derek Balls

Royal British Legion Women's Section marching past the War Memorial on their 50th Anniversary. September 1987.

Some repairs were done over the years, but by 1989 more substantial work was needed. It was organised by the local branch of the Royal British Legion with many volunteers, organised by Tom Hannan and Nigel Pickering. Captain Freddie Wish, President of the Legion led the drive to raise money for this. The stem was rotten at its base was replaced completely - the base of the old stem still contained the original names and was kept by the Legion. The cross-arm was replaced, but the original lettering was sawn off and dovetailed into the new timber. The asbestos tiles on the 'roof' were replaced with a lead covering. A new concrete base was built.

Tom Hannan (white shirt) and Nigel Pickering working on the Memorial in 1990

The refurbished War Memorial was re-dedicated in a ceremony on 16th September 1990, led by Revd. John Swallow.

Remembrance Sunday 10 November 2019

In 2023, West Mersea Town Council undertook the refurbishment of the War memorial prior to the November Remembrance Day service.

Read more
Refurbishing West Mersea War Memorial

East Mersea War Memorial

WW2 casualties with Mersea connections

PublishedApril 2020
SourceMersea Museum
IDWMM
Related Images:
 Remembrance Day parade at the War Memorial, date unknown.
 L-R Arthur Mills, Bill Clary, Hector Stoker, ?, ?, ?, Horace Whiting, Herb Marrow, Edwin Woods, Greg Chatters, John Chatters, Percy Dixon, Mr Warner, Tom Preston.
 From Album 7.  FL07_050_001
ImageID:   FL07_050_001
Title: Remembrance Day parade at the War Memorial, date unknown.
L-R Arthur Mills, Bill Clary, Hector Stoker, ?, ?, ?, Horace Whiting, Herb Marrow, Edwin Woods, Greg Chatters, John Chatters, Percy Dixon, Mr Warner, Tom Preston.
From Album 7.
Source:Mersea Museum / Owen Fletcher Collection
 Sea Cadets. Remembrance Day parade at West Mersea War Memorial. Stables at Hall Barn in the background.  FL13_035_003
ImageID:   FL13_035_003
Title: Sea Cadets. Remembrance Day parade at West Mersea War Memorial. Stables at Hall Barn in the background.
Source:Mersea Museum / Owen Fletcher Collection
 Work on West Mersea War Memorial. Tom Hannan and Nigel Pickering.
 August - September 1990
 There is a report on the restoration on Lions Talking Magazine 144.  PAT_WMM_001
ImageID:   PAT_WMM_001
Title: Work on West Mersea War Memorial. Tom Hannan and Nigel Pickering.
August - September 1990
There is a report on the restoration on Lions Talking Magazine 144.
Date:cSeptember 1990
Source:Mersea Museum / Pat Kirby
 Work on West Mersea War Memorial. Tom Hannan and Nigel Pickering  PAT_WMM_007
ImageID:   PAT_WMM_007
Title: Work on West Mersea War Memorial. Tom Hannan and Nigel Pickering
Date:cSeptember 1990
Source:Mersea Museum / Pat Kirby
 Marching past West Mersea War Memorial. Celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Mersea Island Royal British Legion Women's Section.
 Iris A. Cash photo album.  RBLW_006_009
ImageID:   RBLW_006_009
Title: Marching past West Mersea War Memorial. Celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of Mersea Island Royal British Legion Women's Section.
Iris A. Cash photo album.
Date:20 September 1987.
Source:Mersea Museum / Royal British Legion Mersea Island
 West Mersea War Memorial west side.
 
 In Memory of the Men of West Mersea who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the two World Wars 1914-1918 and 1939-1945  WMM_001
ImageID:   WMM_001
Title: West Mersea War Memorial west side.

In Memory of the Men of West Mersea who made the Supreme Sacrifice in the two World Wars 1914-1918 and 1939-1945
Date:28 September 2018
Source:Mersea Museum
 West Mersea War Memorial south side
 World War I 1914-1918
</p><p>
Fredk. B. Bennett
 Walter J. Beynon
 Christopher Brand
 Rowland Cook
 H. James Cottrell
 Albert Cudmore
 Bert Cundy
 James Cutts Avis
 Joseph Cutts Avis
 Clifford Farthing
 Percy French
 Thomas Funnell
 Victor Gardner
 A. Percy Green
 Edward O. Green
 Ernest Green
 Ernest Hart
 Albert Hewes
 Walter Hewes
 John D. Howard
 Harris W. Hoy
 Albert Jordan  WMM_002
ImageID:   WMM_002
Title: West Mersea War Memorial south side
World War I 1914-1918

Fredk. B. Bennett
Walter J. Beynon
Christopher Brand
Rowland Cook
H. James Cottrell
Albert Cudmore
Bert Cundy
James Cutts Avis
Joseph Cutts Avis
Clifford Farthing
Percy French
Thomas Funnell
Victor Gardner
A. Percy Green
Edward O. Green
Ernest Green
Ernest Hart
Albert Hewes
Walter Hewes
John D. Howard
Harris W. Hoy
Albert Jordan

Date:28 September 2018
Source:Mersea Museum
 West Mersea War Memorial north side.
 World War I 1914-1918 
 Bertie Lee
 Stanley Mason
 Alfred J. Mole
 Fredk. W. Mole
 Harold Mole
 Reginald J. Mole
 Ezra Mussett
 Fredk. Mussett
 Ralph Mussett
 Edward Parkin
 Alfred Pullen
 Arther Pullen
 Henry W. Pullen
 E. Percy Roberts
 Hugh Smith
 Joseph Stacey
 Harold F. Stoker
 Alfred B. Thursby
 Arthur Wade
 Fredk. White
 Percy Whiting
 Sidney Wright  WMM_003
ImageID:   WMM_003
Title: West Mersea War Memorial north side.
World War I 1914-1918
Bertie Lee
Stanley Mason
Alfred J. Mole
Fredk. W. Mole
Harold Mole
Reginald J. Mole
Ezra Mussett
Fredk. Mussett
Ralph Mussett
Edward Parkin
Alfred Pullen
Arther Pullen
Henry W. Pullen
E. Percy Roberts
Hugh Smith
Joseph Stacey
Harold F. Stoker
Alfred B. Thursby
Arthur Wade
Fredk. White
Percy Whiting
Sidney Wright
Date:28 September 2018
Source:Mersea Museum
 West Mersea War Memorial east side
 1939-1945
<table>
<tr><td>Alfred Butler</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=1&pid=WW2_ACB ID=1>WW2_ACB </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Ronald Chatters</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=2&pid=WW2_RAC ID=2>WW2_RAC </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Alfred Christmas</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=3&pid=WW2_AHC ID=3>WW2_AHC </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Herbert Cudmore</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=4&pid=WW2_CUD ID=4>WW2_CUD </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Douglas Cutts</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=5&pid=WW2_DBC ID=5>WW2_DBC </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Eric Heard</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=6&pid=WW2_ETH ID=6>WW2_ETH </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Owen K. Hewes</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=7&pid=WW2_OKH ID=7>WW2_OKH </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>George Hillaby</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=8&pid=WW2_GHS ID=8>WW2_GHS </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Hubert T. Hudson</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=9&pid=WW2_HTH ID=9>WW2_HTH </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Frank Kinder</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=10&pid=WW2_FKD ID=10>WW2_FKD </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Peter Martin</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=11&pid=WW2_PJM ID=11>WW2_PJM </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Harry Nesmyth</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=12&pid=WW2_NSM ID=12>WW2_NSM </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Charles H. Passadoro     </td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=13&pid=WW2_CHP ID=13>WW2_CHP </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Denis J. Passadoro     </td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=14&pid=WW2_DJP ID=14>WW2_DJP </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Frank Pullen</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=15&pid=WW2_FPL ID=15>WW2_FPL </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Robert C. Purkis</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=16&pid=WW2_PKS ID=16>WW2_PKS </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>George Sampson</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=17&pid=WW2_GHS ID=17>WW2_GHS </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>George Stoker</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=18&pid=WW2_GTS ID=18>WW2_GTS </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>James Taylor</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=19&pid=WW2_EJT ID=19>WW2_EJT </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Arthur Farthing</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=20&pid=WW2_ABF ID=20>WW2_ABF </a></td></tr>
<tr><td>  </td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Korea 1951</td><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Derek Balls</td><td><a href=mmresdetails.php?col=MM&ba=cke&typ=ID&rhit=21&pid=WWK_001 ID=21>WWK_001 </a></td></tr>
</table>
</p>  WMM_004
ImageID:   WMM_004
Title: West Mersea War Memorial east side
1939-1945
Alfred ButlerWW2_ACB
Ronald ChattersWW2_RAC
Alfred ChristmasWW2_AHC
Herbert CudmoreWW2_CUD
Douglas CuttsWW2_DBC
Eric HeardWW2_ETH
Owen K. HewesWW2_OKH
George HillabyWW2_GHS
Hubert T. HudsonWW2_HTH
Frank KinderWW2_FKD
Peter MartinWW2_PJM
Harry NesmythWW2_NSM
Charles H. Passadoro     WW2_CHP
Denis J. Passadoro     WW2_DJP
Frank PullenWW2_FPL
Robert C. PurkisWW2_PKS
George SampsonWW2_GHS
George StokerWW2_GTS
James TaylorWW2_EJT
Arthur FarthingWW2_ABF
 
Korea 1951
Derek BallsWWK_001

Date:28 September 2018
Source:Mersea Museum
 West Mersea War Memorial. An early photograph before the 'roof' was added.  WOO_ABM_109
ImageID:   WOO_ABM_109
Title: West Mersea War Memorial. An early photograph before the 'roof' was added.
Source:Mersea Museum / Janet Woodward Collection