The St Enoder War Memorial - 100 years on

This month marks the centenary of the unveiling of the war memorial in my home parish of St Enoder, which took place on 20th September 1919.

Erected to remember the men of Fraddon, Summercourt and surrounding areas who lost their lives in the First World War, the monument was built by E. J. Roberts, a well-known stonemason from St Columb Road. Comprising a cross on a large base, it is ten feet and one inch in height and weighs over three tons, while newspaper articles from the time state that it cost £125.

As with many communities, all the money for the war memorial was raised by local residents. Quite a number of people were engaged with the fundraising and envelopes were delivered to every house for voluntary contributions.

The unveiling itself began with a memorial service in St Enoder Church, which was officiated by Canon William Horsburgh. Muffled peals were rung on the bells before and after the service by the St Enoder ringers. I believe that my great-grandfather Dick Cole, who had served with the Royal Engineers, was almost certainly one of the bellringers.

While Handel’s “Dead March” from “Saul” was being played by the organist Miss Flamank, a procession left the church. It was headed by the churchwardens (Mr R. H. Flamank and Mr J. Chapman) and included the members of the Parish Council and the War Memorial Committee, along with the choir, children and members of the general public.

In the churchyard, the unveiling ceremony was performed by Dorothy Carus-Wilson, whose husband Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Carus-Wilson DSO TD has been killed in 1918. A prominent local landowner, he had been the commanding officer of the 1st/5th Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry.

Rev Horsburgh dedicated the memorial and it is known that relatives, children and friends then placed flowers on the memorial. The Last Post was sounded by Albert Victor Menear, a prominent bandsman who had joined the Royal Engineers with my great-grandfather. Albert’s brother Clare also lost his life in the war and is remembered on the war memorial in St Columb.

Owing to what was described as “inclement weather,” the procession returned to the church. Further addresses were then made as part of a united religious service by Canon Horsburgh, the chairman of the Parish Council Mr A. Goodman, Rev F. Tresize from the United Methodists and Dyer Trevarton from the local Wesleyans.

Interestingly, 100 years on, it is Dyer’s grandson Graham who plays the Last Post on Remembrance Sundays at St Enoder Churchtown.

[This is my article in this coming week's Cornish Guardian].