10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment
Location:
Christchurch
Lansdown
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2JH
Details on cross:
RIP OFFICERS NCO AND MEN
10TH BATTN GLOSTER REGT
KILLED IN ACTION HIGH WOOD AREA
AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 1916
Text type: Black hand painted lettering on cross beam and around square plate
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 1666mm
Cross beam width: 920mm
Width of wood: 150mm
Thickness or depth: 62mm
Square plate (if supported)
Width of Square arms:100mm
Angle of arms: 45*
Thickness: 62mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: NO. Free standing and mounted on a 3 tier wooden plinth
Detailing: A large wooden carving of the Glosters front badge in the centre of the cross
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): None
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): None
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Painted grey
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Excellent condition with no visible damage or signs of rot
Other information, notes and observations:
The wooden cross was taken from the High Wood area of the Somme battlefield by Lt Col H E Pritchard, Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, and presented to Christ Church, Cheltenham.
The battalion had significant links with the church as it was their place of worship during the time they were stationed in Cheltenham prior to their embarkation for France in August 1915.
Photographs and Survey courtesy of Ian Spelman
Date of survey:09/11/16
My Great-Great-Grandfather, Alphonse Meulbrouck, an NCO in the Gloster Regt., actually made the cross at the Somme, and when it was returned to England, he was asked to make repairs.