Unknown British Soldier
Location:
Christ Church, Breeze Hill,
Bootle, Liverpool
Merseyside
L20 9EY
Details on cross:
WGC
Unknown British Soldier
It is positioned at the front on of the church, on the right hand side as you go in in the brickwork of an arch
Text type: 2 GRU tags – one on the cross beam with words ‘unknown british soldier’ and one at the top of the cross with letters ‘WGC’. There is also a brass plaque approx 304mm from the base which reads ‘1914-1918 This cross temporarily marked the grave of an unknown British soldier in Flanders. Was presented by the Bootle branch of the British Legion June 1935. HJ McFall Chairman.
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 1143
Cross beam width: 406
Width of wood: 63
Thickness or depth: 25
Other information
Mounting to wall: It is mounted upon a white marble cross and attached by screws.
Detailing: none
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): as below.
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): There is discolouring of the wood which shows it has been inserted approx 254mm into the ground.
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): unfinished rough wood.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Quite a few cracks in the wood and the grain of the wood is very visible, a bit worn in places.
Notes and observations:
Alongside the cross are two small crosses which have been decorated by local children. On the wall next to the cross there is an elaborate white marble wall monument upon which the 112 names of parishioners who lost their lives during the Great War from Christ Church are carved. There is a wreath and standard with a lion on each side of the inscription which reads – 1914-1918 To the glory of God and in memory of the men of this church who fell in the Great War. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. Christ Church was built in 1866 and remains an active part of the community in Bootle to this day. The church is accessible on a Sunday morning before and after the service of communion which takes place at 11am for an hour and a quarter.
Survey and Photographs courtesy of Beverley Goodwin
Date of survey: 21st August 2016
