Newsletter – February 2022

Summary

Time passes. The plan behind the Walks’ project became public in January 2017 making it all of five years old! Ideas developed sufficient to encourage start-up funding, which materialised in April and by October 2017 the walks were in place with our first memorial gate, commemorating Lt Warren Clowes, opened in October.

Our first newsletter appeared in February 2018, and by August all 13 walks had been prepared and respective brochure guides made available. The Victory Supper in the village hall on the centennial eve of the Armistice served to celebrate the almost completed implementation phase, if you missed it – you missed a treat!

Circumstances slowed the tempo down in 2019, and then Covid 19 left us unable to properly commemorate remaining memorial gates. However, in between full lockdowns and when travel was allowed – judging by the sale of brochure guides up until late 2021 – hundreds of people became acquainted with the majority of our walks.

Eardisland Memorial Walks’ initial objectives focused on Remembrance; the sacrifice made by the 13 young men whose names are on our War Memorial. The Kohima Epitaph concept suggests that ‘we that are left’ have a better place today because of their sacrifice, and the project has the resources to make better the quality of our memorial walks for all who chose to enjoy what the project has to offer. Walking for health, conviviality and much more tie in to several national ‘life improvement’ initiatives, essentially to create and distribute wealth and support the green agenda. Eardisland Memorial Walks can aspire to playing its part.

Events

Our remaining memorial gates have now been commemorated. In September 2021, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Edward Harley, OBE did us the honour in respect of Pte Rudolph Morris, who we believe lived in the Manor House (then called Porch House) and who left home to work in Warrington as a gardener before the war. We took advantage of the splendid iron gate already in place for some years, and mounted Rudolph’s brass plaque to its supporting brick pillar.

Rudolph joined a Cheshire Regiment territorial battalion and the circumstances of his death in 1918; (he died in hospital as a result of wounds received from friendly artillery fire), were such that although he would certainly have been buried in France with dignity, it is unlikely that Rudolph would have been afforded any great ceremony.

In contrast, Rudolph’s memorial in Eardisland was commemorated by Her Majesty the Queen’s personal representative. Also present were several retired military officers, with ranks which equating in the First World War to a commander at Corps level – answerable only to General Haig – and others with command responsibilities for a Division, Brigade, Battalion and Company. For the Walks project’s objectives, this is immensely satisfying.

On the eve of Remembrance Day, Pte John Herbert Davies was commemorated: his memorial replacing an older gate in place at Lower Burton Farm, where John grew up. With his brother Carl, he emigrated to Canada in 1911. He was a Fireman in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan when he joined what eventually became the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914. We have substantial records relating to John’s (he preferred Herbert) service in WW1, and are in touch with relatives – one who came to the commemoration. We were otherwise pleased to welcome several members from Dilwyn’s Royal British Legion, with which the Eardisland and Monkland legion branch amalgamated some years ago. Our Parish Council Chairman, Brigadier Richard Kirby, unveiled John’s brass plaque, the project’s final commemoration (of WW1 Fallen), which was fitting in several respects.

The residents of Moose Jaw were properly informed.

Situation, 1st February 2022

Feedback over the past two years suggests mostly positive outcomes, but some major shortcomings became apparent in neighbouring parishes. A group of holiday makers found themselves lost on a very wet day in a thick mass of 6’ high grass and impossible for them to even guess which way to continue! Panic ensued, not surprisingly leading to anger. Elsewhere on the party’s supposed ‘right of way’, crops obstructed passage, while the landowner’s plan to make life easy for all parties – by cutting back growth around the outside edge of cultivated fields to create an unofficial and unsigned ‘permissive path – added to the walkers’ confusion!

In Eardisland, signs appeared during the summer months extolling dog owners to keep their pets under control. This points towards a problem recognised by the Parish Council which in cases it makes clear on some of the signs. The guide brochures each quote the relevant countryside code advice and we reject aspersions that the Walks project is responsible for nuisance or damage caused by dogs, or indeed other animals, or humans, without clear evidence.

Future Intentions

In Eardisland, five years of use leaves paths, gates and signage in need of repair or refurbishment, which is the project’s focus for this year. Our staged objective is to, where possible, improve walks to memorial standard, (which for the project means straightforward compliance to regulations for paths and stiles), more research relating to our 13 Fallen and improved publications. A cherry on top would be a walk, or part of a walk, suitable for wheelchair access. Coincidently, these ambitions align closely with the current version of the Countryside Code.

If anything can be done to mitigate risks relating to uncontrolled dogs, or indeed make consented improvements across the board to further the aims of the project, please get in touch via email. Please begin your message with ‘2022’.