[From Manx Quarterly, #26, 1921]

War Memorials in the Isle of Man

RUSHEN

The memory of the lads from this parish who fell in the war was fittingly immortalized at Kirk Christ, Rushen, on Thursday, April 21st, when a handsome war memorial tablets was unveiled and dedicated in the church by the Lord Bishop, and a Lych-gate (with suitably inscribed tablet) was formally opened at the entrance to the churchyard by his Excellency the Lieut.-Governor (Sir Wm. Fry), who was accompanied by Lady Fry and Mr Leigh Goldie-Taubman, H.K. A new: form of service was issued for the occasion. Notwithstanding a steady downpour of rain, there was a vast assemblage of parishioners, including ex-service men (who formed a guard of honour to the Governor ), the school children and their teacher's, and representatives of the churches; and chapels in the district. The clergy and ministers present were the Lord Bishop, Rev Canon Leece , R.D. (Vicar), Rev Wm. R. Cannell (curate) who carried the Pastoral Staff, Rev E. C. Botwood (curate), Rev Robt. Ferguson (a former curate of Rushen), Rev W. J. Hannam (Superintendent Wesleyan minister), Rev J. W. Haswell (Wesleyan) and the Rev John Graham (Superintendent Primitive minister). Miss Stevenson presided at the organ, and during the service playad the following appropriate selections-"Come unto Him', (Gounod), "Cast thy burden on the Lord" (Mendelssohn ), " Offertoire,) from Messe Solemnelle" (Gounod) and "All ye who weep'- (Gounod). The singing was led by the combined choirs of the Parish Church, and St Mary's and St Catherine's Churches , under the direction of Mr R. A. Collister. The service within the church commenced with the hymn, "Ten thousand times ten thousand" Come "Alford"), after which the Vicar offered prayers. The Rev W. J. Hannan read the lesson, 1 Corinthians, xv, 50; and then the clergy and ministers proceeded to the tablet. The tablet was unveiled and, after a pause for silent prayer, reverently dedicated by the Bishop as follows:-" In the name of Jesus Christ, we dedicate this tablet to the Glory of God and in memory of the men from this parish who fell in the War, in the Name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.--Amen.- The procession then filed out of the church. The Bishop, in a brief address, paid eloquent tribute to the memory of the lads who have fallen and referred to the response and noble resolve and fortitude of the young manhood of the nation, and anxious days and sleepless nights of the relatives of the boys -not knowing where they were, He touched upon the growing desire after Christian Union, and said the invitation of the Vicar to his brother ministers to take part in that service had his (the Bishop's) cordial sanction.

The hymn, "O valiant hearts, who to your glory came" ' ('tune, "Elders",), was sung, prayers were offered by the Rev John Graham The lychgate was then formally opened by the Lieut.-Governor, who briefly spoke of great and glorious work of the soldiers and sailors during the war. Then followed the hymn, "For all the saints who from their labours rest'; the Bishop pronounced the Benediction, and the national anthem was sung. At the close the ex-service men filed through the church and on their behalf Messrs H. Scott and T. E. Cain ('representing the Army and Navy respectively,) placed a laurel wreath at the foot of the memorial tablet. The inscription attached to the wreath was:-'To the glorious memory a our comrades, from the ,ex-servicemen of the Parish of Rushen.', Other wreaths were reverently laid by relatives and friends of men whose names are enshrined on this imperishable scroll. The service throughout was most solemn impressive. ;

The war memorial was initiated and materialised at the instance of the members of the Parochial Church Council (with the Vicar chairman), who formed themselves into a Memorials Committed, after previous unsuccesful attempts had been made in other directions.

The designs selected by the committee were those of Mr T. H, Royston, sculptor of Douglas, which comprised a Lychgate the entrance to the Parish Churchyard, and a handsome tablet for the interior of the church-the latter the skilful craftsmanship of Mr Royston personally. The tablet is fixed on the north side of the church, and is of a dimension of 5ft. 9in. by 3ft. 2in. It is composed of a polished black and white marble wall slab, on which is fixed a red alabaster moulded and polished surround, inlaid with gold and red mosaic of a neat design. The centre panel is of white statuary marble, on which is inscribed in plain block lettering the dedication inscription and 78 names of those parishioners who paid the supreme sacrifice-Navy, Army, and Mercantile Marine.

The Lychgate is of simple design, in keeping with the church, with an interior dimension of 9ft. 6in. by 8ft. 6in. The walls are of local rubble stone, cemented and rough cast, with an alcove on either side containing oak seat; and on the wall is a marble tablet inscribed, i.e. :- ` This Lychgate and Tablet in the Church were erected by the Parishioners of Rushen in memory of the men from this Parish who lost their lives in the Great War, 1914-18.-C. H. Leece R.D., Vicar." The floor is paved with local stone slabs, and the roof covered with Manx Barrule slates. All the woodwork:, uprights, beams purlins, rafters and gates are made out of Manx-grown oak. The woodwork has been executed by Mr Herbert Moore, joiner and builder, Athol-street, Port St. Mary, in a very able and efficient manner; and the masonry by Mr Joseph Hudgeon, of Gansey-under the supervision of Mr Royston. The approximate cost of the Tablet and Lychgate, together with the alterations to the entrance of the Churchyard, will be close upon £400.

The names inscribed on the panel are:-

LONAN.

The second of the two war memorial tablets to the men of Lonan and Laxey, placed in Lonan Parish Church, was unveiled by the Lord Bishop on Sunday, 17th April, in the presence of an overflowing congregation, many persons being unable to find even standing room. Laxey Band, conducted by Mr W. Kinrade, marched to Lonan Church, playing "souvenirs de la guerre` selection of music; and, when the Bishop entered the church, the tune selected for the dedication hymn. The service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. John Quine, M.A. ; Mr G. Preston read the special lesson; and the choir received invaluable help from Laxey friends. After the service of prayer and thanksgiving, the Vicar, wardens and sidesmen, accompanied by representatives of the War Memorial Committee, advanced to the chancel and formally asked the Bishop to unveil the tablet, which has been placed on the west wall, and was veiled with a drapery of flags, kindly sent by Lieut. Connor, R.N., for that occasion. A procession was then formed of sidesmen, wardens, and the Vicar; the Rev. Robt. Cain, Vicar of Laxey, bearing the episcopal crozier. as Bishop's Chaplain; the Lord Bishop, followed by Canon R. D. Kermode. Lieut. Connor, R.N., Major A. B. Harris, with naval and military representatives of lesser rank, in uniform. The procession proceeded down the south aisle, the flags were lowered by the uniformed representatives of the Navy- and -army, and the Bishop, in brief declaratory words dedicated the tablet in grateful i ition of the men of Lonan and Laxey who had served in the Cxrear War. The procession then moved up the north aisle, the Bishop resuming his place in the chancel.

A feature of the service was the singing of the Dedication Hymn, written by the Vicar of Lonan, and sung by the great congregation with sympathetic fervency. The Bishop then addressed the congregation from the pulpit taking as his text, "Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses" (Heb. xii., 1.)

Although the cost of the tablet has been completely defrayed, the work of the Committee is not yet completed, and a collection, to be devoted to their funds, realised a sum of £7 7s.

The tablets are the work of Mr R. W. Creer, Harris Terrace, Douglas, who has given complete satisfaction to the Committee, as has also Mr Faragher, foreman in charge. Earnest acknowledgment is accorded, both by Mr Creer and the Committee, to Mr. Archibald Knox, to whose advice Mr Creer resorted to in every important decision with regard to the work. The two motifs as sources for the design axe the "Sword of Man" and the "Viking Galley"-the latter appearing in a hotchment surmounting one of the tablets.

Relatives of the fallen men had placed beautiful wreaths underneath the tablet, and among them a wreath of palms from Mr Goldie-Tauhman, H.K.

We take opportunity to reproduce Canon Quine's hymn. The author reserves all
rights of republication.-

Their names to live by valour's right
In adamant we place,
For other eyes in memory's night,
As starry orbs to trace.

A sword, their war companion,
Upon this stone is laid
The symbol bright of victory won
In liberty's crusade.

By faith they fought a world to free
This stone shall be a shrine
For men to read their agony
Here writ in every line.

Thou faint of heart, yet draw thou near;
And learn their sacrifice,
That knew in danger's hour no fear,
And pledged their life as price !

Oh, noble hearts ! whate'er betide
Of wars from age to age,
You stood in battle side by side
And ours the heritage.

Shall we in apathy forget?
Be lulled by dreams of peace?
When sun and moon must witness yet
Earth's woe till time shall cease.

" Not peace I bring, but sword and strife, "
Is still our Captain's call:
Then come, one hour of glorious life,
And in His ranks to fall l

JURBY

An impressive and solemn ceremony took place at Jurby on Thursday, June 2nd-the unveiling and dedication of a memorial in honour of the Jurby lads who fell in the Great War. The monument consists of a marble cross erected at the entrance of the Churchyard, and Mr E. Christian, monumental mason, of Ramsey, was the contractor. There was a very large and representative gathering at the ceremony.

The Governor, accompanied by Lady Fry and Mr Leigh Goddie-Taubman, were received at the Church gates by the Captain of the Parish, Mr E. J. Curphey, H.li. The Vicar, the Rev. G. W. Gregson, subsequently. met them at the Church door, after which a procession of the Church officials, members of the War Memorial Committee, the Clergy, the Captain of the Parish, and Sir William Fry, marched to the site of the Memorial.

A special printed form of service was used for the occasion. Feelingly, the people together with the school children, who were present under the care of the headmaster and mistress, Mr and Mrs Senior, sang the opening hymn, "O God our help in ages past." After prayer by the Vicar, the Captain of the Parish in a few appropriate words asked his Excellency to unveil the memorial, which this Excellency did in an impressive speech.

The Lord Bishop was unable to be present, and the dedication was performed S_ the Ven. Archdeacon, who also appealed to the people to remember the sacrifices made for them.

The Rev. J. A. Cooil, chaplain of St. Jude's, read the lesson, and the Rural Dean. the Rev. J. H. Cain, read the concluding prayers and after a moment's pause, the Archdeacon pronounced the benediction.

The Rev. E. C. Palmer (Wesleyan) was unable to be present.

After the ceremony, the Governor and Lady Fry, together with a few friends, motored to Ballamoar, where refreshments were kindly given by Mrs J. Duncan Backwell.

The names and inscriptions written on the memorial are : -

JOHN WILLIAM GOLDIE.
JOHN ROBERT CALLISTER.
ROBERT ALFRED QUAYE
ANDREW JOUGHIN.

They sacrificed their lives and were victorious;
By the cross of one Salvation we are united.

BALLAUGH

A victory monument which has beau erxl,od near the cross roads at Ballaugh village was formally unveiled and dedicated on April 6th, in the presence of an exceedingly large gathering representative of the whole north of the Island. Two memorials of the war are to be erected in Ballaugh, one in the churchyard, solely in memory of the fallen, and the other this victory monument as already described. It is built of grey Yorkshire stone and is surmounted by a cross, and at the base there is placed the following inscription:

"In honoured memory of those from this Parish who gave their lives; for their country, and in gratitude to those who revved or in any way helped in the Great War 1914-1918."

Immediately below the cross are the words„ "Lest we forget"

Some little differences have arisen in Ballaugh, as unfortunately they have arisen in many localities in the Island, about the character and location of the war memorial, and the Bishop, in an address which followed the dedication ceremony, took occasion in kindly fashion, to counsel the parishioners to forget their difficulties and to refrain from imputing motives to their opponents. The Governor also addressed the gathering, and, the proceedings were participated in by the Rev Canon Kermode, the Rev E. C. Palmer (Wesleyan), Mr T. S. Keig, C.P., and Mr W, Corlett., a local Methodist lay preacher. The Discharged Soldiers' Association, represented by Mr J. L. Goldie-Taubman, H.K., Mr A., D McEvoy, and Mr A. D Keana, placed a wreath on the monument, and the example was followed by many other people.

FINCH HILL DOUGLAS

A service to commemorate the men belonging to Finch Hill Congregational Church, Douglas, who died in the War, was held on Sunday, Mar. 27th. A bronze tablet weighing about 1 cwt., size 23 inches by 21 inches, was unveiled. The inscription on the tablet was as follows :

FINCH HILL MEMORIAL,
To the Glorious Memory of

Who gave their lives for the Country in the Great War 1914-1919.
" Greater love hath no man."

The Rev. Martin C. Taylor gave a suitable address, and the choir sang appropriate hymns. The Douglas Boy Scouts, under the direction of Scoutmaster Fisher, took part in the proceedings.