Harry Gaston and Walter Henry Holden

There are 2 grave markers at St Margaret’s church commemorating Private Harry Gaston (13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 38th Welsh Division) and Private Walter Henry Holden (Worcester Regiment, 25th Division, 3rd Battalion). They are both at the back of the church in the right hand corner facing the altar. There is a cream marble tablet between the two crosses that commemorates the men of Rottingdean who fell in the Great War, and also a flag on either side of the crosses.

Location:
St Margaret’s Church,
The Green,
Rottingdean,
Brighton
East Sussex
BN2 7HA

rottingdean_dsc05129

Details on cross: (Left hand cross)

3 GRU tags

GRU
56209 PTE GASTON
2- R.W.F

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): 3 GRU tags

Cross dimensions
Shaft Height: 1143
Cross beam width: 393.7
Width of wood: 76.2
Thickness or depth: 25.4

Other information
Mounting to wall: The cross is attached to the wall by two pieces of plastic underneath the cross member.
Detailing: There are no details on the cross.
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): There is a lot of cracking/staining in the wood towards the bottom of the cross which shows it has been inserted into the ground.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): Approx 254mm.
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Rough unfinished wood.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): The wood is quite cracked in places and the cross is quite rough towards the bottom where it has been in the ground. The second GRU tag also has a piece missing and is not attached securely.

Notes and observations:
Private Harry Gaston was killed in action during the final advance on 20th October 1918. He was aged 29. He was the husband of Annie Gaston of “The Cot’, High Street, Rottingdean and the son of Mr & Mrs P. Gaston of 5 Frederick Cottages, Lewes Road, Lindfield. He was born in Lindfield but enlisted in Rottingdean, therefore he is also commemorated on the Lindfield parish war memorial. He is buried in Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-au-Bois.

rottingdean_dsc05127

Details on cross: (Right hand cross)

4 GRU tags

GRU
23282 PTE W.HOLDEN
3rd WORCESTER REGT
19TH APRIL 1918

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): 4 GRU tags

Cross dimensions
Shaft Height: 1143
Cross beam width: 393.7
Width of wood: 76.2
Thickness or depth: 25.4

Other information
Mounting to wall: The cross is attached to the wall by two pieces of plastic underneath the cross member.
Detailing: There are no details on the cross.
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): There is some staining in the wood towards the bottom of the cross which shows it has been inserted into the ground.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): Approx 279mm
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Rough unfinished wood.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): There are some cracks in the wood and also some white marks towards the bottom of the cross. However overall the condition is quite good.

Notes and observations:
Private Walter Henry Holden was the son of Walter & Mary Ann Holden of 1 Brighton Road, Rottingdean. He was born in Rottingdean but enlisted in Waltham Green, London. He died of wounds received on 20th April 1918 aged 25. He is buried in Haringhe (Bandagham) Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Belgium.

rottingdean_dsc05139

Survey and Photographs courtesy of Beverley Goodwin
Date of survey: 3rd October 2016