Unknown British Soldier
Location:
Holy Trinity church
Amberley,
Gloucestershire,
GL5 5JG.
Details on cross:
GRU
Unknown British Soldier
Text type: GRU tags
Cross dimensions: Standard BRitish Army Cross
Cross to an unknown soldier. This one has two tags. The short GRU tag and “unknown British soldier” tag. It is in the Holy Trinity church at Amberley, Gloucestershire,
GL5 5JG. It is fixed to the wall, to the right next to the stained glass window. Note the trench art shell case filled with silk poppies.
The plaque underneath the cross commemorates Sir Fabian Ware, founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission, now CWGC. His grave is in the cemetery opposite the church.
Survey and Photographs by Suzanne Make
25th August 2016
The Amberley Church Council minutes of 22nd November 1928 note that:
‘ The Rector referred to the cross of the Unknown Soldier which had been presented on Armistice Day by Mr Fabian Ware and informed the meeting that it had been placed in its present position with the advice and assistance of Mr H Payne.’
In 2008, the Amberley Branch of the Royal British Legion commissioned a small brass plaque in his memory, which was dedicated at the Remembrance Day service that year, and unveiled by Sir Fabian’s great-niece, Isobel Ward. It is positioned underneath his wooden cross.
Thanks Jane, an excellent detail. Not the first we have seen presented by Fabian Ware, so there must be something to this and in particular the Unknown British Soldier Markers, it seems they may have come from IWGC/CWGC.