Four crosses – Ernest Anthony, George Henry Perry, John Parry and Edward Gordon Macgregor King
Location: St. Michaels Church, Sevenford Gardens, Ford, Shropshire, SY5 9LE
Ford Church is in the village of Ford (Shropshire) Enter Ford Village from the A458 Shrewsbury to Welshpool Road and continue straight on past the school and village hall until you come down the hill towards a small bridge. Turn right after the bridge and you will see the Church – continue past and turn left for limited parking at the Church and more in the farm yard beyond. (CoE website). The village was served by the Ford and Crossgates station on the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway. The line was requistioned in 1941 to serve the new Central Ammunition Depot Nesscliffe and one of the four sub-sites for ammunition storage was constructed next to Ford and Crossgates station; in 2010 ten storage buildings remained in use for civilian purposes. (Wikipedia)
Cross 1 – Ernest Anthony
Details on cross:
Down shaft
In memory of
(reg badge)
on Cross member
155232 Gr ANTHONY. E
56th BATTERY. R.F.A.
on shaft KILLED IN ACTION 26.9.17. R.I.P.
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): Hand written in black
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 790mm
Cross beam width: 510mm
Width of wood: 75mm
Thickness or depth: 50mm
Other information:
Light coloured wood, quite chunky, cross member pointed at either end. Cut straight at end of main shaft
Mounting to wall: Mounted to wall on left hand side as you enter the church, between two poppy wreaths with a British Legion Flag draped over. A brass plaque below In thankful memory of Loved and Honoured sons of England who gave their lives that we might live 1914-1918. Remembering also those from 1939-1945
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): No obvious evidence of use in field
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): No varnish or staining
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Cross in good condition, cut off at end possible where cross was inserted in the ground.
Biographical notes and observations
Other information, notes and observations: Ernest Anthony, I had some difficulty obtaining his christian name but found a website called Shropshire’s Sacrifice in the Great War. In which are listed all the villages of Shropshire and those that were killed in WW1. Ernest Anthony is buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium. Grave Ref III.H.32
Cross 2. George Henry Perry
Details on cross:
At top of shaft.
G.R.U
2. A. 25
on cross member
11966 RFN. G. PERRY
1ST. RIFLE BDE.
2 – 12 -17
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tags
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 660mm
Cross beam width: 360 mm
Width of wood: 75mm
Thickness or depth: 25mm
Other information
Mounting to wall. Hanging on hook from Church Beam on opposite wall as you enter the Church
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): No obvious evidence of use in field
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Standard British Cross lightly stained
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Cross in good condition, cut off at end quite short in length possibly where cross was inserted in the ground, there by removing any damaged area.
Biographical notes and observations:
George Henry Perry Killed In Action 1.12.17 aged 28, Rifleman 1st Bttn Rifle Brigade, was the Son of Sarah and Alfred Perry of Ford, Shrewsbury. He is buried at Monchy British Cemetery Monchy -le- Preux, Pas de Calais, France. Grave ref, II. A. 25.
There is a discrepancy between the GRU tags and the C.W.G.C site shown here as S/11949. Date of Death as 1.12.17
Cross 3 – John Parry
Details on cross:
1 tag on cross member
604346 DVR J. PARRY
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tag
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 530mm
Cross beam width: 360mm
Width of wood: 25mm
Thickness or depth: 75mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Hanging on hook from Church Beam
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): No obvious evidence of use in field
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Lightly stained grain of wood showing through.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Cross in good condition, cut off at end possible where cross was inserted in the ground, like cross 2 cut quite short also at top of shaft and ends of cross member, possibly to remove any damaged areas. Signs of screw holes on cross member where other tags might have been.
Biographical information, notes and observations:
John Parry, Driver Died 3. 6. 17 Royal Horse Artillery 2nd/1st (Shropshire) Battery. Aged 18 was the Son of Robert and Harriet M Parry of Rose Cottage, Brook, Ford, Shrewsbury. He is buried in Westhof Farm Cemetery, Neuve Eglise, Nr. Ypres. Grave ref. II. A. 4
Cross 4 – Edward Gordon Macgregor King
Details on cross:
at top of shaft small piece broken off on left hand side.
GRU
I.W.G.C.
2/LT. F. G. M. KING.
K. S. L. I. ATTD. GLOS. REGT.
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tags
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 510mm
Cross beam width: 380mm
Width of wood: 75mm
Thickness or depth: 50mm
Other information
As with other crosses this cross is hanging from the church beams on a hook
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): No obvious evidence of use in field
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Lightly stained, with wood grain showing through .
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Cross in good condition, cross member worn off slightly on left hand side, cut off at end possibly where cross was inserted in the ground as with the other crosses cut quite short probably to remove any signs of damage.
Biographical notes and observations:
Second Lieutenant Edward Gordon Macgregor King died 17. 7. 16 aged 18 of Kings Shropshire Light Infantry attached 1/4 Gloucestershire Regiment. Buried in Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authille Wood, Somme, France. Grave ref III. J. 2. Was the son of of Major Percy Macgregor and Ethel Gordon King of Ford House, Ford, Salop (shropshire). Listed on GRU form as B. M. G. King, corrected 2. 3. 21. On GRU tag on cross as F. G. M. King. There is a brass plaquee to Edward Gordon Macgregor King. Killed in action leading his platoon near Ovillers July 17. 1916 aged 18.
Also a brass plaque to Guy Charles Dunlop Hill Lieut. 2nd Bn KSLI torpedoed on SS Transylvanian 4.5.17 aged 26.
2nd Plaque to George Hubert Clayton King Adj. of Shropshire RHA (territorial force) Died sep 12 1911 aged 30. Served in South African War of 1899 – 1902 wounded during the relief of Ladysmith, mentioned in despatches. Memorial dedicated by his brother, who is the father of Edward Gordon Macgregor King.
St. Michaels Church is a grade 2 listed building in the conservation village of Ford. It is 12th century, has some very interesting features a beautiful beamed ceiling (hammerhead). Some very tiny stained glass windows. It is found in an elevated position in the village. The church is open on Wednesdays, Saturday’s and Sunday’s and other times by appointment. And is well worth a visit.
This church is not one that is on our list but while making enquiries about another cross, Rev Val Tait informed of the crosses at this church, a real find. Sincere thanks to Rev Val for her help.
Survey and photographs courtesy of Margaret Draycott and Beverley Goodwin
Date of survey: 9th November 2016
