Unknown soldier
Location: St Barnabus Church
Town/village: Penny Lane, Liverpool
County: Merseyside
Postcode: L18 1 EL
Details on cross:
1 long metal GRU strip on cross member stating:
Unknown British soldier
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tag
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)all measurements are approximate
Shaft Height: 840
Cross beam width: 310
Width of wood: 40
Thickness or depth: 20
Other information
Mounting to wall: Screwed to wall
Detailing: cross member recessed into long shaft,
Evidence of use in field: evidence of use in the field line where soil finished slightly different colouring
Surface insertion depth: 100mm
Finish: Darkish wood dirty discoloured
Condition: In good condition no obvious damage to timber.
Other information, notes and observations:
The church was started in 1912 and completed in 1914 it is in the Penny Lane area of Liverpool, made famous by the Beatles song. The cross is located in the entrance to the church set high up on the wall. The vicar at the time of the first world war was a Rev James Pike who lost 4 sons in the war and whose daughter served with the Q.A.’s. The church has a beautiful stained glass window depicting nurses tending wounded soldiers ,with soldiers and sailors in uniform. There is a large plaque to the men of the parish who were connected to the war particularly those who died. There is also an interesting brass commemorative plaque to the scout masters and troop members of the Liverpool 33rd scout troop who lost their lives in the war. One was a boy sailor on SS Falaba- H. Boardman. Once again i encountered a very helpful member of the church named Martin who shared the knowledge that he had of the church and its history. The difficult part about some of these churches is that due to problems of theft etc they are not open and it is sometimes difficult to contact anyone. I have taken to loitering after morning service on sunday to gain access on this day there was a christening taking place which was lovely to see.
Survey and Photographs courtesy of Margaret Draycott
Date of survey: 31st July 2016
