WW1 & Hooe – The Memorial (1921–1923)

(Click HERE to see the correspondence.)

THE END OF HOSTILITIES

Hostilities ceased, on 11th November, 1918, when an armistice was agreed but the war didn′t officially end until the Treaty of Versailles was signed, on 28th June 1919, which is why the year 1919 appears after a few of the names on the memorial. In fact, for, perhaps, many reasons, including consideration for those who eventually died of their wounds, the official cut off date for war related deaths was, 31 August 1921. This would also help to explain why the War memorial wasn't, finally, erected until 1923, as time would have to have been allowed for names to be put forward for inclusion on the memorial and the need for deciding on the design and costs.

Those Who Died

I don′t know how many men, from the village of Hooe, joined the army or the navy but there is a memorial tablet inside St. Oswald′s Church, bearing the following inscriptions: –

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–1918

When I first saw this memorial, inside the church, I noticed the words across the top that said, "In Loving Memory Of". I thought about this for some time until I came across a letter, written in 1968, asking if the name of a man, killed in WW2, could be added to the memorial. There were, however, difficulties but the name was, eventually, added. The main difficulty was the cost and where the money was to come from, to add the engraving, because very few people in the village remmebered the man and a door–to –door colection was unlikley to raise much. No disrespect to anybody, this happens, life moves on but I thought I would have to find out more about these men and, in some small way, let their names live on. It was very hard work but I′m pleased that I managed to put something together.

THE FACULTY

Before any work can be done in a Church of England church or churchyard, a faculty has to be requested. This faculty is, basically, a license, from the diocesan consistory court, authorising the work to be carried out. No alterations, additions, removals or repairs may be carried out to the fabric, ornaments or furniture within the church or the churchyard, without a faculty. The reason is obvious, it is essential that the vicar and/or the churchwardens maintain the church but don′t, in any way, make major changes to it. For instance, finding that the front doors had been replaced by a revolving door might be novel and interesting, turned into a disco in the evening might be good for the parishioners, and the church painted in Chrome Oxide Green (actually a rather nice green though I would prefer something such as Viridian Green myself) might not meet with the Archbishop′s approval, if done without a faculty. I think we′ve got the hang of Faculties, so we move on.

It is the duty of the minister and the churchwardens to ensure that a faculty is obtained before any work is begun.

There is a de minimis (basically, something too insignificant to be worthy of concern) list provided by each diocese, which allows the church to carry out minor work without a faculty being sought.

These minor works include the following:

a) maintenance and cleaning of churchyards
b) introduction or removal of moveable items
c) the repair and maintenance of certain areas of church fabric and boundary walls so long as the appearance and structure is not affected and the costs are minimal.

Any work undertaken without a faculty is illegal, even though a retrospective confirmatory faculty may be issued later and, therefore, seem to legitimise the work carried out but a Parochial Church Council (PCC) would be in breach of the Church laws and the minister facing almost certain disciplinary proceedings. He′d better have a good reason – or change his religion!

THE MEMORIAL

In the East Sussex Record Office, in Lewes, there is a small bundle of letters and documents, stored under their present reference of PAR 382-04-01-01, all pertaining to the design, production, and installation of a WW1 memorial, within Hooe Church.

The correspondence is interesting and the description fits the memorial fitted in the church, today White Carrara Marble Tablet with Dove Marble surround with ditto Vase Shelf and Corbels surmounted with solid Bronze Medallion of St George and Dragon with Inscription and Names of Heroes engraved and gilded all fixed in the Church as the estimate.

One letter mentions a drawing and another a tracing of the inscription but neither appear to have survived.

If I find any more information I shall, of course, add it as soon as I can.

Click here to see the correspondence