Roll of Honour - Bedfordshire

The memorial is situated in the centre of the town near the railway bridge at the junction of Kings Road and Station Road, Kings Road, Flitwick. The memorial takes the form of a Celtic cross on a plinth with sword in relief with the names listed giving name and rank. It was unveiled by the Duke of Bedford in October 1920 and dedicated the same day by local dignitaries and clergy. There are 29 names for World War 1 and 14 names for World War 2. There are also three memorials in the parish church below.

Extract from Bedfordshire Times and Independent - Friday 29 October 1920, page 2:

FLITWICK WAR MEMORIAL
IMPRESSIVE UNVEILING SERVICE

(Photograph by H. A. O'Dell.)

The unveiling of the Memorial Cross in Station Square, on Sunday afternoon was a most impressive occasion, and it was estimated that between 1,000 and 1,500 people were present. From the prominence of the Memorial and the distinct inscription of the names, it is evident the parish intended that the memory of their fallen men should remain green for generations to come. The clergy present were the Rev. J. L. Ward Petley, R.D., Vicar, and the Rev. Rogers, of the Ampthill Wesleyan Circuit. The Rev. Mr. Wheatley, Baptist Pastor, Maulden and Flitwick, was also invited but was unable to attend. Others present included His Grace the Duke Bedford. K.G., Miss Brooks (Flilwick Manor) who laid a laurel wreath at the foot of the Memorial; Major Hope. Mr. R. Goodman. Mr. F. Martin. Messrs. E. Groom. J. Barker. W. Brittain and other members of the Memorial Committee, and most of the bereaved relatives and friends who placed flowers round the base.

After the hymn, "Jesu, Lover of my Soul,” the Vicar led in prayer, and read aloud the 29 names. The Rev. R. Rogers, in an eloquent address, said that they were met together to express their love, devotion, and gratitude to those brave lads who died that we might live. As he thought of them and of those others who, with less courage faced the dangers and death of war for our sakes but, by the mercy of God, had been restored to us, many of them maimed for life, there came to his mind the thrilling incident in the life of David. David was a fugitive from the unsleeping hate of Saul and also in danger from the Philistines, who had over-run the lands of his boyhood. He dreamed of the well by the gate of Bethlehem, whence he had so often drawn water when a lad, and longed with a deep desire and intensity for draught the water of that well. Unconsciously he gave expression to his wishes. Three of his mighty men overheard him and resolved at all cost to gratify his desire. By valour and craft they broke through the enemy’s ranks and won their way back to David's strong hold and offered to their beloved captain the water skins they had filled at the risk of their lives. But David, in awe and humility deemed the water too sacred for him to drink and poured it on the ground as a libation unto the Lord. In these days we needed to cultivate David's spirit of reverence towards things obtained at a sacrificial cost; to have our vision so clear as to see the halo of sacrifice. We thought of those lads who for more than four years kept sleepless watch on the seas, in France and Flanders, Italy, the Balkans, Palestine, Mesopotamia and Africa, dared so much, faced all terrors of war, and looked into the very mouth of hell, in order to safeguard our blessed heritage of freedom and give the water of the well of liberty. Should we take this liberty to our own selfish purposes? Should we, employers and employees, use if for our own material and selfish profit without any consideration for the feelings and well-being of others? Rather let it be by consecrating our lives to the service of God, hallowing His Sabbath, walking before Him with perfect heart.

The passage of scripture read by the Vicar was that of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and was followed by prayer for the mourners, the suffering and the desolate.

His Grace the Duke of Bedford spoke of his privilege and duty that afternoon to those who, at the call of duty, joined the battle line and lost their lives in defence of their country and their homes. They could not fail to remember for the rest of their time the deadly peril in which we were during the long years of war, nor forget the men who gave their lives to save us from destruction. That cross would remind future generations of the price which their forefathers paid in order to hand on to them a free and independent country. He could not think that there would be an Englishman or English woman with hearts so dead as to read the names on this and similar memorials without paying a silent tribute to the men who died. Their names live for ever, said His Grace, drawing back the Union Jack covering the cross.

The Rev. J. L. Ward Petley said that stone so beautiful in itself, was still more beautiful as a witness of God’s great goodness and our gratitude to Him, as a witness to the gallant men who fought and especially to those who fell for righteousness, for God, for ourselves and our homes, a witness to those who, if they could speak, would say: “All ye who live on English pastures green, remember us, and think what might have been.” Let the crusader’s sword speak of the double duty of God and man working together. We must go on as instruments to work our God’s purpose, building up a new world on the ashes of the old, by all that is purest, noblest and best in life. There was only one stone on which we could build real brotherhood, and that was on the fatherhood of God. Let that monument remind us of the Cross of Him Who gave Himself to fight the world’s greatest battle, and, on the Cross won life’s greatest victory, the victory over death, for eternity.

A collection to cover the deficit on the realisation of War Bonds was made during the singing of “Through the night of doubt and sorrow,” and the National Anthem. Mr. J. Bolt led the hymns and sounded the “Last Post.” The collection realised £32.

The 29 names inscribed on the die underneath the wheeled cross are: A. C. Abbot, E. W. Briggs, C.E. Briggs, G. W. Cranfield, C. W. Cunningham, W. Dix, J. Dillingham. R. Dillingham, A. Gillett, W. Gulliver, S. Holder. J. E. Line, C. Line, W. Martin, A. J. Mitchell. A. F. O. Norris, F. H. Palmer. C. F. Peddar, W. Peddar, F. J. Sharp, R. Shotbolt. E. J. B. Shouler, H. V. Smith, S. J. Stringer, F. Virgin. H. Weston, W. Whittington, A. T. Wood craft, J. T. Wood.

IN GRATEFUL AND GLORIOUS MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO FOUGHT, AND THE FOLLOWING WHO FELL
IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MAJOR JOHN HATFIELD BROOKS
1ST BENGAL CAVALRY AND 19TH HUSSARS
OF FLITWICK MANOR THE WEST WINDOW AND
MOSAIC FIGURES HAVE BEEN ERECTED BY FRIENDS
AND PARISHIONERS. HE ENTERED INTO REST 17TH FEB 1907.
R.I.P.
“The righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance”

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF
THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR
THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

The Second World War Memorial takes the form of a Hatchment (diamond shaped) and is probably made of wood.

PROUD
AND THANKFUL
REMEMBRANCE OF
(Then follows the list of names)
WHOSE
SOULS WE COMMEND
TO GOD’S INFINITE
MERCY