Location: Parish Church of St John the Baptist
Town/village: White Ladies Aston
County: Worcestershire
Postcode: WR7 4QQ

Details on cross:
R. I. P.
In Memory Of
2nd Lieut H. S. Sherwood 4th K.S.L.I.
Killed In Action
28-8-18

Text type: Black painted
Cross dimensions
Shaft Height: 990mm
Cross beam width: 535mm
Width of wood: Shaft 68mm, Beam 74mm
Thickness or depth: 45mm

Square plate
Width of Square arms: 58mm
Angle of arms: 45 deg.
Thickness: 18mm

Other information
Mounting: Hanging on wall.
Detailing: Carved finials.
Evidence of use in field; Slight weathered paint, stained base.
Surface insertion depth: about 200mm
Finish; White or pale grey paint.
Condition: Good condition, lettering clear. Slight weathering to paint.

Other information, notes and observations:
There is a brass memorial plaque to Lt. Sherwood next to the cross mounted behind the pulpit. Above this plaque is a plaque commemorating Lt. Sherwood’s grandfather. Lt Sherwood is the grandson of the Revd. Henry Martyn Sherwood, vicar of the parish 1839 – 1910.

From CWGC:
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 29/08/1918
Age: 19
Regiment: King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 3rd Bn. attd 1st/4th Bn.
Grave Reference: II. B. 6.
Cemetery: CHOCQUES MILITARY CEMETERY
Killed in action near Vieille-Chapelle.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sherwood, of Harrow, Middx.

Service Record WO 339/109889
Applied for a Temporary Commission to the Officer Cadet Unit, July 12 1917, to join 4th KSLI. Previously served with Harrow School OTC for 4 years and Inns of Court OTC since May 1917. Left Harrow School 2nd May 1917.
Born 5th March 1899 at Harrow. On enlistment was 5ft. 11 1/2 In. and weighed 148 lb.

The date of death on the cross (28th) differs from that recorded by CWGC (29th). Lt Sherwoods record shows written reports giving both dates. His parents were concerned that the correct date, which they believed was 29th,, should be recorded on his permanent headstone. The main evidence for getting this correction was a letter received after Lt. Sherwood’s death from his Captain who stated that he had sent Lt. Sherwood out on a patrol early on the morning of the 29th.

In 1911
Living with parents Henry (Bill Broker by profession) and Annie Sherwood, at Highlands, London Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill. With brothers Henry (14), Martyn (9) and Edwyn (3).

War Diary WO 95/2078/2 gives few details.
29th 7.00 pm Patrol still advancing. Right patrol of D Coy entered VIEILLE-CHAPELLE.
29th 8.15 pm Reserve Coy (B) moved forward 500 yds occupying D coys former positions.
Bn. being relieved by ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE Rgt.
30th 1-0 am Relief complete.
Bn. moved back to CHOCQUES by light railway.

Also in this church is a white marble Great War memorial, with four names presumed to be:

Cpl. David Gould 3rd Bn. Worcestershire Regiment. 07.07.1916 (14 Star 12.09.1914)
Pte. William Edwin Judd 1st Bn. Essex Regiment. Died of wounds 09.01.1917 (15 Star, Balkans 19.09.1915)
Pte. Daniel Pearce 4th Bn. Royal Fusiliers. 08.10.1918
Cpl. William Henry Shuck 1/1st Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars. 30.10.1918

Survey and photographs Geoff Sullivan
Date of survey: 8th April 2017