WILLIAM EASTON
Location address: St Nicholas, Low Street, Husthwaite, North Yorkshire YO61 4QB
Details on cross (Text content of cross):
In Memory of 181751 Spr EASTON
Railway Operating Division Royal Engineers
Died May 11 1918
28 years
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): Hand written
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 590mm (bottom of cross broken/rotted off
Cross beam width: 533mm
Width of wood: 123mm
Thickness or depth: 40mm
Circle plate (if celtic type)
Outer diameter: 303mm
Width of circle:
Thickness: 40mm
Square plate (if supported)
Width of Square arms:
Angle of arms:
Thickness:
Other information
Mounting to wall: Kept safe in the vestry, awaiting a frame to allow display in the church.
Detailing: Letters hand painted with thick black paint (bitumen based?) on possibly originally white, faded background (see photo)
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Bottom of shaft gone
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Paint – very faded
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Top left circle plate gone. Bottom right section loose. Paint coming off in places. Delicate.
Notes and observations: (optional)
A small stake (560mm long) on the reverse of the cross, possibly used to support the cross in the ground after damage to the base(?)
The age of death of Sapper Easton has been researched locally and confirmed as 28 but the cross appears to suggest 22.
Editor’s Note:
Epitaph:
“LIFE’S WORK WELL DONE BRAVE HEART REST ON”
From CWGC –
EASTON WILLIAM
28 11/05/18
Sapper Royal Engineers Railway Operating Div.
France ‘181751’
LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE III. B. 6.
Son of William and Elizabeth Easton, of “Coulmony,” Husthwaite, Easingwold, Yorks.
Booking clerk employed on the Midland Railway for 10 years. Served at Rouen and Ypres.
Survey courtesy of: John Ovenston & Tim Charlson
Photographs courtesy of: Tim Charlson
Date of survey: 4/9/17