G C Hodgkinson, George Holmes and L. M. Bucknill
Location:
St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Church Bank, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 1AJ
Thanks to Simon Allen and John Needham for the photos, and John Needham for the report.
Cross 1
Details on cross:
GRU tag to top (no further details)
Lt G C Hodgkinson
of the 8th Yorks and Lancs RGT
died of wounds
5th July
1916.
Dimensions:
Height 1140 mm (45″)
Width 546mm (21.5″)
Text type: Hand-painted lettering
It is degraded approx 280mm (11″) up where it has been in the ground.
This looks to have been sealed to prevent further degradation.
Cross 2
Details on Cross:
4 GRU tags
G.R.U.
2/LT. G. HOLMES
1-EAST YORKS
9.4.17.
Dimensions:
Height 1016mm (40″)
Width 406mm (16″)
Discolouration approx 220mm (8.5″) up where it has been inserted in the ground.
Text type: GRU Tags
A brass plaque is attached approx 330mm (13″) up which reads
In
loving memory
Of
2nd Lt George Holmes
1st East Yorks
Killed in Action
April 9th 1917
Age 21
Buried
At
Wancourt
Near Arras
France
CROSS 3
Details on Cross:
IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
MAJOR. L. M. BUCKNILL
REA (RFA?)
DIED ON TUESDAY 18 MAY 1913 (1915?)
FROM WOUNDS RECEIVED
IN ACTION
ON SUNDAY 16 MAY
1915
Text type: Inscription scratched or burnt into the surface in upright capital letters.
This cross is in a separate location to the other two in the church and can be easily missed. It is not typical of Great war crosses
Dimensions
Height 1180mm
Thickness 25mm
Depth 500mm
