St. Mary's Church - War Memorial

As visitors and worshippers make their way to the main door of St. Mary's Church, Holme-next-the-Sea the War Memorial cannot be missed on the left side of the path just inside the gate.

1914-1918

Rason, Percy Claude - Private, 9154, 6th The Queen's Own Royal West Surrey Regiment. Killed in action 5th April, 1917. Born Docking, enlisted King's Lynn, resident Holme-next-the-Sea. Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, Grave II.0.03.

Holm, Frank Diederick - Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Engineers attached to No. 27 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action 14th May, 1917, aged 18. Son of Frank and Maud Lilian Mary Holm, Maida Hill, London. Doullens Communal Cemetery. Somme, France, Extension No. 1, Grave IV.A.01.

Robertson, Alec Pasley - L/Corporal, 1113, 8th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment). Killed in action 28th April 1915. Aged 25. Born Sydenham 13-04-1890, passed fit 08-09-14, enlisted Valcartier, Canada, 22-09-14. Son of Edmund George and Ethel Robertson, of Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk then of Bridge Close, Holme, King's Lynn, Norfolk. Height 5 feet 11½ inches, girth 38 inches, complexion fresh, eyes grey, hair red; religion Church of England. Bank clerk by trade. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium grave panel 24-26-28-30.

Potter, George - Warrant Officer Class II (Battery Sergeant Major), 5448, 190th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Killed in action 29th April, 1918, aged 42. Born Holme-next-the-Sea, enlisted London. Son of Francis and Sarah Potter, Holme-next-the-Sea; husband of Louisa Potter, King Street, Odiham, Hants. Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3, Grave I.O.32. Headstone inscription "PEACE PERFECT PEACE"

Callaby, John Leonard - Lance Corporal, 300126, 15th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). Died of wounds 28th June, 1918, aged 21. Born Holme-next-the-Sea, enlisted King's Lynn. Son of Arthur and Annie Callaby, Southgate Cottage, Holme-next-the-Sea. Cinq Rues British Cemetery, Hazebrouck, Grave H.25.

Robertson, Kenneth Ackman - Private, 6898, 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action 5th May, 1917. Born Bromley, Kent, enlisted Haslemere. No clear connection with Holme-next-the-Sea. Arras memorial, Bay 03.

Smith MM, Albert - Lance Sergeant, 15149, 10th Battalion Essex Regiment. Killed in action 22nd October, 1917, aged 21. Awards - MM. Born Burnham Market, enlisted Norwich. Son of Adam Smith, Holme-next-the-Sea. Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Panels 098/099.

Robinson, Arthur Frederick - Private, 220614, 1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment. Killed in action 29th September, 1918, aged 19. Formerly 106268, Hertfordshire Yeomanry. Born and resident Holme-next-the-Sea, enlisted Hertford. Son of James and Alexandra Robinson, Holme-next-the-Sea. Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Haucourt, Panel 07.

Callaby, George Bertie - Sapper, 17508, 97th Field Co. Royal Engineers. Died 1st April, 1918, aged 35. Born King's Lynn, enlisted Hunstanton. Son of Arthur and Annie Callaby, Southgate Cottage, Holme-next-the-Sea; husband of Charlotte E. Callaby, Seven Sisters, Denver, Downham Market, Norfolk. Le Cateau Military Cemetery, Grave I.A.29. Headstone inscription "GOOD NIGHT DEAR UNTIL THE DAWN R.I.P."

Knight, Frederick Nelson - Sapper, 8279, 1st Tunnelling Co, Australian Imperial Force. Died of wounds 4th November, 1918, aged 40. Son of Frederick Thomas and Elizabeth Knight, Thurdow Cottage, King's Lynn. Premont British Cemetery, Grave II.D.07.

Potter, Alfred - Private, 5876, 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. Died whilst prisoner of war 24th October, 1918. Born and resident Holme-next-the-Sea, enlisted Norwich. Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, Germany, Grave I.A.01.

1939-1945

Arnold, Harold James - Private, Royal Norfolk Regiment 7th Battalion. Service number 5772547 - killed 12th June, 1940 aged 39. Remembered on the Dunkirk Memorial, Column 43, Dunkirk Town Cemetery, Dunkirk, Nord, France. Son of William Miles Arnold and Louisa Arnold, of Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk; husband of Florence May Arnold, also of Holme-next-the-Sea.

Finn, Michael Joseph Thomas - Flight Sergeant (W. Op. AG) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 620 Squadron. Service number 1218851 - killed 6th September, 1943 aged 21. Son of Patrick and Anne Finn, of Holme-next-the Sea, Norfolk.

Hayter, William Edward - Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps attd. 4th Queen's Own Hussars Royal Armoured Corps. Service number 7633034 - killed 26th April, 1941 aged 25. Remembered on the Athens Memorial Face 9 in the Phaleron War Cemetery, Pikrodafni near Athens, Greece. Son of Albert Hayter and of Clara Hayter, of Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.

Rix, John Albert - Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Service number 1634350 - Air Gunner, killed 2nd November, 1944 aged 21. Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, grave number plot 5.D.1. Son of Reginald Victor and Catherine Minnie Rix, of Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. images:

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With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres, There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted; They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morningWe will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain; As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943).

Inside St. Mary's Church there is a Roll of Honour listing those brave members of the armed forces who fought in the First World War. There is another black framed dedication listing more names which appear on the reverse of the Roll of Honour.