The First and Second World War dead of St Michael-at-the-Northgate parish are remembered on two framed rolls of honour in St Michael's Church. Most of the material on this page has been kindly contributed by Barry Burnham.
Biographies of the First World War dead of St Michael's parish by Barry Burnham (PDF)
ROLL OF HONOUR |
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Joseph Bell. |
William Cross. |
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Valentine James Forty.* |
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Wilfrid Hearne Pearson.** |
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Reginald Anthony Thomas. |
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Walter Webb. |
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John Charles Beauchamp. |
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Albert Lewis Amos. |
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“THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE” |
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* Valentine James Forty is also on the war memorial of the Central Boys' School.
** Wilfrid Hearne Pearson also has an individual plaque in St Michael's Church: see below. He is also listed on the war memorials of Oxford Boys' High School, Magdalen College School, and the Wesley Memorial Church.
First World War Memorial window in St Michael's Church
St George. St. Andrew St. Patrick St. David
Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory
To the glory of God and in memory of the members of this Church and Parish
who served, suffered and gave their lives in the Great War 1914–1918
This memorial window was unveiled by the Rt. Rev. Bishop E. D. Shaw, Archdeacon of Oxford, at the 3 p.m. evensong service on 29 September 1921. It cost in the region of £190, which was raised by a public subscription and private donations.
Shortly after the unveiling the parish magazine listed details of the six men commemorated by this memorial window:
- Joseph Bell, Private, 3/4th Queens' Royal West Surrey's, Missing, October 4th 1917 near Ypres
- William Cross, Private, R.A.M.C (T.F) Orderly on Hospital Ship. Died of Sickness in Liverpool Hospital, March 22nd, 1916
- Valentine James Forty, 2nd Gloucester Regt. Died of wounds on Nov. 4th 1916, at Lahana, Salonika.
- Wilfred Hearne Pearson, Second Lieutenant, M.G.C. Fell in battle of Cambrai, Sept 29, 1918.
- Reginald Anthony Thomas, 1/22 County of London Regt. Died of wounds in France after the battle of the Somme, November 23rd, 1916
- Walter Webb, Gunner, R.G.A. Died of Pneumonia in Prees Heath Camp nr. Oswestry, November 27th, 1918.
Mr. Webb and Mr. Cross were members of S. Michael's Choir. Mr. Forty was for three years bell-ringer at S. Michael's.
Pearson memorial
William Henry Pearson who is listed on the Roll of Honour above also has an individual plaque in St Michael's Church (right). It reads:
ANTE DIEM PERIIT, SED PRO PATRIA.
TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF
WILFRID HEARNE PEARSON.
2ND LIEUT. M.G.C.
MUCH LOVED SON OF ARTHUR
PEARSON M.A. AND EUNICE MARY
HIS WIFE. HE FELL IN THE GREAT
BATTLE OF CAMBRAI, SEPT 29TH 1918,
AGED 30 YEARS. HE WAS A GOOD SON,
A GOOD HUSBAND, A GOOD FATHER;
A VIRTUOUS, KINDLY, GENIAL, MANLY
CITIZEN WHO WENT FORTH AT THE
CALL OF DUTY.
“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.”
ROLL OF HONOUR |
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Luke Halford Harber. |
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Thomas Vincent Holbrow. |
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Wallace H. Cole. |
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Walter Bennet Brown. |
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Paul Lewis. |
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John Tubb. |
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Harry Frederick Bannister. |
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Rex Gilder. |
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Sidney John Heath Smith.* |
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Cyril Hudson. |
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Michael Bullock.* |
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Ivan Harry Hazard.
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“THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE” |
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* Those men marked with an asterisk are also on other Second World War memorials in the Oxford area, namely:
- Michael Harry Bullock is remembered by a stained-glass window in All Saints Church, Headington
- Sidney John Heath-Smith is on the war memorial in St Leonard's Church, Sunningwell (and see his biography here)
- Alfred Cyril Hudson is also remembered on the war memorial in St Andrew's Church, Headington
The two framed rolls of honour are not on the Database of the Imperial War Museums
nor on War Memorials online
