Richard Groves
Location: St Andrew’s Church, Melcombe Horsey (also known as Melcombe Bingham), Dorset DT2 7PZ
Details on cross:
LIEUT R. GROVES
11TH NOTTS AND DERBYS
24TH OCTOBER 1917
No 2247
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tags
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 830mm
Cross beam width: 475mm
Width of wood: 90mm
Thickness or depth: 45mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Square headed nails
Detailing: Chamfered edges
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): None
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): None
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Possibly waxed – I gave it a quick rub and it would polish up well.
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good / very good
Biographical notes and observations:
Lieutenant Richard Groves was born in Salisbury, Rhodesia on 23 October 1897 where his father worked as an engineer. He was educated at Brighton College, and as soon as he was eligible he joined up, serving in the Notts and Derbyshire regiment (Sherwood Foresters). He was wounded in Flanders on 17 October 1917 during 3rd Ypres and died of his wounds a week later, one day after his 20th birthday, and is buried at Wimereux Cemetery near Boulogne, in the row next to John McCrae.
Survey and photographs courtesy of Charlie Bladon
Date of survey: 7/2/2017
