The Great War
A major event for the Troop (as it was then), was of course, World War 1. During that War, twelve of our Scouts were killed while serving in the Army. After the war, a memorial was put in Church and a stained glass window depicting St. George was dedicated to the Scout Troop. You can see more about them by looking at our on-line memorial page. One of the people mentioned on the memorial is Rev. Frederick Walter Cleveland MC. He was awarded the Military Cross for ‘great gallantry and devotion to duty’. This citation was published in the London Gazette dated 3 October 1919. You can read his full citation here. It is a shame that his courage led to his death.
This picture was taken in 1913 at St. Wulstan’s Church Longbridge Hayes. Rev. Cleveland is seen on the front row. It is thought that all of the Altar Servers on this photograph were Porthill Scouts.
They are – Front row – Jack Emery, Fr. Cleveland, Arthur Alcock Back row – Harry Shyrbottom, Colin Jackson, Bert Hind, Aly Jackson, Fred Holdford
Photographs courtesy of the Hickton Family
This photograph shows Aly and Colin Jackson in their army uniforms. Both were killed in the Great War, but only Colin is listed on the Scout’s war memorial. Aly is listed on the main memorial. However, it is thought that Aly was a Porthill Scout.
Another of the Scouts who was killed was Private Tom Lewis. Whenever a man was killed in the Great War, a photograph and a bit of information about him was put in the local newspaper. Below is the information on Tom Lewis from Saturday 12th June 1915. Pte. Lewis was killed on 6th June 1915.
The report says –
Private Tom Lewis of Wolstanton
Pte. Tom Lewis, who has died from a wound received in action, was the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis of the Jolly Potters Hotel Wolstanton. A message was received that he had been shot in the head and had been removed to Boulogne, and Mrs. Lewis was proceeding to France. Maj. Frank Wedgewood, upon being consulted by Mr. Lewis, having kindly interested himself to secure a passport; but a later message announced Pte. Lewis’s death and the journey was unnecessarily abandoned as useless.
Pte. Tom Lewis was employed in Messrs. Doulton’s office, Burslem, in earlier life, but he had more recently been engaged with Messrs. Shore and Son, Etruria, where he was very popular, and his parents received a most kind and touching letter of sympathy from Mrs. Shore.Mr. and Mrs. Lewis’s elder son is serving with the 2nd – 5th North Staffords: Pte. Tom Lewis was also a member of that Battalion, but he volunteered to join the 1st – 5th at the front, to fill a vacancy. Deep sympathy is felt with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis by many friends. Mr. Lewis is a well-known Conservative, but the committee of the Wolstanton Liberal Club on Monday passed a vote of sympathy with the family in their great and sad loss.
The War Memorial was dedicated on Sunday 27th April 1924. Here are two mentions of the Memorial from the St. Andrew’s Parochial Church Council’s minute book -
Extract from PCC minutes. Meeting held at the Hall 10th April 1924
With regard to the memorial windows, the Vicar stated they were well in hand and proposed the unveiling of the Leveitt window be on Low Sunday in the afternoon and the Scout window on St. George’s Day at night.
This was seconded by Mr. J Stevenson and carried unanimously.
The Vicar proposed Mr. Ronald Copeland be asked to unveil the Scout Window and also asked Mr. E Graves who was the first Scout Master.
The Leveitt window the Vicar proposed Miss Hall who was also providing the musical service. Both met with full approval of the meeting.
The Vicar stated the plates were in hand. The mahogany tablet for the Scout window, Mr. T Taylor had kindly given the wood, Mr. George Smith was preparing it and Mr. Lawton had promised to do the lettering.
Extract from PCC minutes. Meeting held in the Vestry Tuesday 9th June 1926
Mention was made of the Book of Remembrance that was made by Rev. A A Cox (curate) in his own time.
It was suggested that it be put in a wooden display case which would cost £6/-.