Extract from Bucks Herald - Saturday 12 March 1921, page 8:

ASTON CLINTON.

WAR MEMORIAL. —The erection of the war memorial is proceeding apace, and on Monday the committee decided that the unveiling ceremony should take place on Easter Sunday. The Lord Lieutenant (the Marquis of Lincolnshire) is to be invited to perform the ceremony. During its meeting, the War Memorial Committee passed a resolution of sympathy with relatives of the late Mr. F. R. G. Hervey- Bathurst in their bereavement.

Extract from Bucks Herald - Saturday 26 March 1921, page 8:

ASTON CLINTON.

WAR MEMORIAL. —Contrary to expectations the village war memorial will not be unveiled on Easter Sunday, the event having new been fixed for April 3rd. Major.-Gen. J. C. Swann, of Aylesbury, having accepted an invitation to perform the ceremony on that date.

Extract from Bucks Herald - Saturday 09 April 1921, page 8:

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED

The endurance, heroism, and supreme sacrifice of the men Aston Clinton in the Great War is commemorated for all time in an imposing Celtic Cross of silver-grey Cornish granite, erected on the side of the main road opposite Brook-street, on a portion of land kindly given by the Hon. N. C. Rothschild. The memorial, 17 feet high, is set on a concrete elevation; and a three-step platform gives access to a massive base, containing the inscription:-

To the Glory of God, and in memory
of the Men of Aston Clinton who fell
in the Great War, 1914—1919
E. barker, G. F. Bates. S. A. Birch, J. Brackley, J. C. Brandon, A. Burnham, A. W. Buarnham, R. Burnham, S. W. Carter, W. Dodds, J. T. Flitt, A. J. Guy, R. Horwood, T. Horwood, J. Hewgal, J. H. Keen, A. T. Morris, L. Pauling, C. Pratt, J. H. F. Pratt, G. C. Price, G. reeves, A. Rolfe, G. H. Rolfe, G. H. Sharp, G. J. Symonds, T. H. G. Thorne, F. Turney, D. Waring, J. H. White.
"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS"

From this base rises the Cross, an attractive monument, from whichever point it is viewed. The whole memorial hewn from the bed of granite that provided the material for Nurse Cavel’s monument, is set in an alcove, wherein a turf bank is fringed by a box tree hedge. The memorial was designed and executed by Messrs. Newman and Harper, of Aylesbury.

The inhabitants of Aston Clinton have responded generously to the financial demands associated with the erection of the memorial and adequately supported the efforts of the War Memorial Committee, whose personnel included members of the Parish Council—Messrs. J P. Ballad (chairman), S. Sharp, W. Sharp, W. Gates, W. Plater, F. Birch, J. Beck, G. S. King and W. Hearn—also Rev. and Mrs. J. R. Cohu. Rev. C. B. Morton, Messrs. A. Adams, W. Todd, R. Bishop, A. W. Lowe, and M. Smithson, with Mr. G. Sharp, who, as hon. Secretary, worked assiduously to ensure the success of the undertaking.

The ceremony of unveiling was performed on Sunday afternoon by Major-General J. C. Swann, of Aylesbury, who was accompanied by Mrs. Swann, Lord Rothschild and the Hon. Mrs. Eliot Yorke also took part, and the vast concourse of people present included the Parish Councillors, the Rector (Rev. J. R. Cohu), Rev. C. B. Morton (Baptist minister), Mr. T. Roberts (representing Wesleyan Methodists of Aston Clinton), Mrs. Cohu, Rev. E. J. Fenn, Mr. C. E. A. Redhead (Aylesbury), Major S. W. Jenney, and many ex-Servicemen, amongst whom were representatives of the National federation D. D. S. and S. Aston Clinton Brass band, conducted by Mr. G. Drake, played selections as the congregation assembled, and the Dead March in “Saul,” as a tribute to the memory of the fallen.

Mr. J. P. Ballad introduced Major-General Swann, and invited him to unveil the memorial.

Before removing the large Union jack which covered the Cross, General Swann referred to the prominent part which Buckinghamshire took in recruiti9ng men from the Forces during the war, saying that no other county of similar population could excel in comparison. We were not a military, but a martial nation, and was proved that the manhood of England was what it had ever been. What an almost hopeless business if all …. When the first hundred thousand went out in 1914. But they crystalised all the traditions that backed them up, and turned a term of reproach into a noble epithet. Nobody in the future would ever hear the words “little contemptible” without going back in thought to the glorious deeds of those first hundred thousand. Today we look back in sadness on the many blanks let, some of which were brought to mind by that memorial; but we knew that that epithet was the only one which a soldier desired— “He did his duty.” The whole of the soldier’s tradition was epitomised in the one word duty. For duty they made the great sacrifice; for duty they fought; for duty they fell. If we would reap the fruits of victory we must have, as they had one motto—“Duty first, duty last, duty at all time.” Referring to the fruits of victory, the gallant general said the new world could not be realised by Leagues, Acts of Parliament, or Conferences; it must get a right conception of their duty to the State, to their fellow citizens, and to themselves. By this would be raised a lasting memorial to the men who had laid down their lives that we might be free.

At this junction the memorial was unveiled by General Swann.

Lord Rothschild, in paying tribute to the fallen, also urged that the only way to follow in the footsteps of the men in whose memory the memorial was erected was to strive in every way possible to live up to their example, and to see that not only was their memory kept green, but that they did not make the sacrifice in vain. We were all inclined after the Great War effort to relax our muscles and minds and bodies, and to say that we would take a rest; but all must realise that the men who had died did not rest, and it was for us to emulate them by striving in every possible way to do our duty, and advance the welfare of our great Empire.

The Hon. Mrs. Eliot Yorke said she felt very diffident in saying anything after that had been said so beautifully that afternoon; but she had been connected with dear Aston Clinton for so many years that she felt she could not dissociate herself from it on the very important, solemn, and pathetic occasion. Her sister, lady Battersea, was with them in thought also, and regretted exceedingly her inability to be present personally; but she sent a great many messages, with her kindest sympathy, to all who were interested in that occasion. She felt, as all did, that the beautiful memorial led them to sympathise with those who had lost their dear ones, and it would strengthen them all to walk more faithfully and more firmly in the path of duty.

Mr. J. P. Ballad thanked the speakers for their addresses, and Rev. C. R. Morton announced the closing hymn, “For ever with the Lord.” He also pronounced the Benediction and the unveiling ceremony concluded with the sounding of the “Last Post” by Mr. G. Drake, and the singing of the National Anthem by those present.

Many floral tributes were subsequently laid on the memorial, including wreaths from Lady Battersea, the War Memorial Committee, and the federation of ex-Service men.

BARKER

BATES

BIRCH

BRACKLEY

BRANDON

BURNHAM

BURNHAM

BURNHAM

CARTER

DODDS

FLITT

GUY

HORWOOD

HORWOOD

HEWGILL

KEEN

MORRIS

PAULING

PRATT

PRATT

PRICE

REEVES

ROLFE

ROLFE

Private 13644. 6th Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps. Died of influenza, pneumonia, and heart failure aboard the ship Marathon, at sea, aged 31. Private Rolfe was born in Aston Clinton, the son of George Rolfe, of Brook St., Aston Clinton. He attended Aston Clinton School. He served in the 20^th Hussars for 7 years before going to Australia, and was 24 when he emigrated. He lived in Woombye, Queensland, and was an agricultural farmer and was also trained as a gardener. Buried: Aston Clinton (St. Michael) Churchyard, Near East end of church.

13644 PRIVATE G. ROLFE
AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
3^rd NOVEMBER 1918
AGE 31.

SHARP

SYMONDS

THORNE

TURNEY

WARING

WHITE

1939 – 1945

BIRCH

COONIE

DENNIS

GREENHALGH

HAMMOND

Special note: HMS Esk was involved in mine-laying operations of the Dutch coast at Texel, she was struck by a mine and sank immediately.

HILL

HYDE

LAKER

O’CALLAGHAN

Special note: HMS Dunedin was sunk on 24^th November 1941 off the coast of Brazil in the Central Atlantic. Only 67 men survived from her crew of 486 officers and men.

ROLFE

SAWDY

SMITH

WINTER

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,
THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS"

Buried in the Churchyard, not on the Memorial

SHARP

Corporal 1212227. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on 5^th May 1944. Aged 34. Son of William and Annie L. Sharp, of Aston Clinton; husband of Doris Sharp, of Totternhoe, Bedfordshire. Buried: Aston Clinton (St. Michael) Churchyard.

1212227 CORPORAL S.C. SHARPE
ROYAL AIR FORCE
5^TH MAY 1944
AGE 34

BEECH

Officer's Steward 2nd Class L/12113(Ch). H.M.S. "Commonwealth", Royal Navy. Died on 3^rd March 1919. Aged 18. Son of George and Annie Victoria Beech, of Brook St., Aston Clinton. Buried: Aston Clinton (St. Michael) Churchyard. Near East end of church.

L/12113 OFFRS. STEWARD 2^ND
Royal Navy
3^RD MARCH 1914 AGE 18
H.M.S. COMMONWEALTH
"THY WILL BE DONE"

Brass Plaque inside the church of St. Michael and All Angels, Aston Clinton, on the left hand side between two windows.

IN MEMORY OF THE CREW OF 42 – 5265 D
406^th SQUADRON U.S.ARMY AIR FORCE LIBERATOR B 24
WHICH CRASHED IN THIS VILLAGE ON 3^RD JANUARY 1945
KILLING 9 OF THE CREW

HENDRIX

PROLLMANN

MURPHY

MILLER

WHEATLEY

SMYTHE

WEIR

LAWSON

HAWKES

SCHAFFER