Newark & Balderton Memorial to the Fallen Photo Project

[PetejStevens]

I would like to tell you a story, some of you will find it interesting some of you will not, but i would like every one of you to read it and leave me a comment, and I would like your permission to use those comments for what could be the final chapter in this saga. On the 11/09/1918 WR /350517 Sapper William Pride disapeared from the work he was doing at Stoner Camp in Sandwich Kent. He was found sometime later in the Camp with his throat cut by his own hand. He had joined the army in September 1916 aged about 40, he was sent to fight in Mesopotamia on the 08/10/1916 and was there for over a year, at some piont he was injured and sent to India to recover. From there back to the UK on the 07/06/1918. One can only Imagine the horrors he went through fighting the Turks. What ever the horros the concesquences where that it had effected his mind. He left behind a wife and four children. He was born in Newark in 1876 and lived at 2 Chester Place Boundrey Road Newark. His name is not on the Newark Memorial to the Fallen. When I asked the question why I was told he did not fit the Criteria laid down by the Memorial commitee. I was told that to have your name on the Memorial you must have Fallen in Battle. I could not believe what what I was told. I then pointed out that at least 30 names should be removed from the Memorial as 25 of them are buried in Newark Cemetery They did not fall battle they died of the effects of the battles they fought in, 1 Died of the flu and another did not succumb to his injuries until 1925 when he died in Ratcliffie on Trent Lunatic Asylum. Willaim Pride was given War Grave Status and is commemorated by the Commonwelth War Graves Commission as a Casualty of War. So Tell me whey can William Pride not have his name on the Newark Memorial to the Fallen.

[larkspur]

My great Uncle Ernest was the one who died in Radcliffe Mental hospital, although he did not die in battle he was wounded several times.He enlisted on 5th August 1914 he was 17 years and 10 months old. He was gassed in 1915. He was shipped home with shell shock in 1916, but returned to France six months later. In 1918 he was wounded and again returned home suffering from shell shock, and a GSW to his shoulder he was put in Newark workhouse. His mother managed ,after many letters, to get him transferred to Radcliffe.He never recovered and as you say died in 1925.
I did send in his name along with other members of my direct family,when names were being asked for to be included and they all appear on the memorial. Including Ernest's brother.
I do not know why your William is not included-- maybe the suicide?? I personally think if the CWGC recognises him he should be on the memorial.
I see William is one of the 25 buried in Newark, are all of the others on the memorial?
Iam posting this as I object to your suggestion that Ernest's name be removed. The fact that he "succumed" to his injuries came after 8 years of living hell. I can state this as my grandmother visited him often, and talked to my mother about his suffering.
Joseph who died of the flu, was discharged in 1917, after he was wounded in the face and lost an eye. His fellow workers at Ransome's erected his stone..he was 28.His wife died 2 days later. This is on your photograph page.
 Yes ,while William's fate is tragic, please don't trivialise other's.

[PetejStevens]

Dear Larkspur
I am sorry that you misunderstand me My remark about removing the names of those that did not fall in battle is ment for the so called commitee that dicided whose names went on the memorial. I was trying to get them to agree to William Prides name being added to the memorial but when I was told that the criteria was for the soliders to have fallen in battle then I was shocked. My aim is to put names  to the faces on the memorial and I can tell you that there are a lot of mistakes on the memorial. I alsaoi whwat to get names added to it and not removed, If you take a close look at the memmorial you will find names on twice spelling mistakes and names that myself and other researchers cannot find. So I was not Trivisalising the others just making a statment to a so called committee who think that it is their right to say if a newark man who died in both wars and subsequent small wars can have his name on Newark Memorial to the Fallen.
Did you know that Ernests war records are on line including some of the letters wrriten by his mother.
I hope that clears up the missunderstanding
Regards
Pete

[larkspur]

"I then pointed out that at least 30 names should be removed from the Memorial as 25 of them are buried in Newark Cemetery They did not fall battle they died of the effects of the battles they fought in, 1 Died of the flu and another did not succumb to his injuries until 1925 when he died in Ratcliffie on Trent Lunatic Asylum." This is what I replied to.

Yes I have copies of Ernests war records and am trying to get his medical records, there is however a 100 year lock on those. I have the records of all of our families dead. Some of them not so shining....but enough said on that, we cannot possibly know what they went through and cannot deny them any pleasure's they could find or purchase. Just as we cannot comment on deserters or those who could not go on and commited suicide.
From the CWGC site there are 129 men buried in Newark cemetery from all wars. I have not studied the memorial, so cannot comment on any errors. If, as you say,the criteria was men who had fallen in battle, then  some names should probably not have been included, my Great Uncle Ernest's being one. If however the criteria was men who served in battle, that is a different thing again.
The CWGC has civilians on there who were killed in bombings, never having served, some of them children, so they do not always follow a specific criteria
either. In which case should the victims from Ransome's have been on the memorial too? But that is opening a whole new can of worm's.....

[PetejStevens]

I know what you mean about my comments about removing the names but it was not meant in that context, I was trying to say to the guy on the phone that what he had just told me about the names going on the Memorial was an excuse not to add names that the so called committee thought in their opinion should not go on.
I am sorry if I have caused you to feel aggrieved but as I have said it was not meant in the context you thought it was
Pete