John Neil Black & James Edward Power Clutterbuck
Location: St Nicolas of Myra’s Church, Ozleworth, Gloucestershire, GL12 7QA
St Nicholas of Myra’s Church is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Ozleworth, Gloucestershire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church is unusual because it is one of only two churches in Gloucestershire with a hexagonal tower, the other being St Lawrence’s Church in Swindon. (Wikipedia)
John Neil Black
His grave in Wancourt is marked ‘NON CRUX SED LUX’ which translates as “Not the cross, but its light” It is the Black family Motto.
Details on cross:
CAPT. J.N. BLACK
6/8 SET. L.I.
15.4.17.
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): stamped metal strips
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height:1160mm
Cross beam width: 400mm
Width of wood:
Thickness or depth: 25mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Screwed to two metal backets
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): dirty, rough end which is rounded
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): unfinished
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): crack through top section of cross
From GWGC:
Rank: Major
Date of Death: 09/04/1917
Age:22
Regiment/Service: Somerset Light Infantry 6th Bn.
Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
Grave Reference: I. E. 12.
Cemetery: TIGRIS LANE CEMETERY, WANCOURT
Additional Information:Son of William Neill Black and May Gordon Black, of Olleworth Park, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos.
Biographical notes and observations
John Neil Black was born in India, he is also remembered on the memorial at Kochi in Kerala, India. At the old Anglican church (now Church of South India) and on the War Memorial at Otterford, Taunton, Somerset.
James Edward Power Clutterbuck
His headstone in Ploegsteert is marked ‘AU REVOIR’
Details on cross:
GRU 2-J-7
LIEUT CLUTTERBUCK
RFC
KILLED IN ACTION
25/6/17
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tags, stamped metal strips
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 730mm
Cross beam width: 410mm
Width of wood:
Thickness or depth: 25mm
Other information
Mounting to wall: Screwed to two metal brackets
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): dirty, rough end which has been roughly cut at 45 degree angle
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): unfinished
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): wood looks old but ok
Biographical notes and observations
Newark Park Estate and parkland was given to the National Trust in 1949 by Mrs C A Power Clutterbuck in memory of her son James, who was killed in action in the First World War on 25 June 1917. The estate includes a Grade I listed mansion, mid-sixteenth-century in origin, a garden, deer park, and grounds. (IWM)
James was subject to a concentration burial. the burial return notes there was a cross on his original grave at SH 28.V.19.b.5.7. near Warneton See link here the location is just off the D945 He was reburied at Strand Ploegsteert (Extension) in 1920, the only RFC man in a group of Canadian war dead.
From Kathryn’s blog.
On 25th June, 1917 he took off on his final flight as the observer to Lieutenant Leslie Spencer Bowman, flying a RE8 biplane above the Ypres Salient. They were to be shot down by the infamous Red Baron, Manfred von Richtofen at approximately 18:40, the 56th of his 80 victories. Clutterbuck’s body was found and buried at Strand Military Cemetery, near Ploegsteert. However, Bowman’s was not and he is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
See her blog here
From CWGC
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 25/06/1917
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps 53rd Sqdn. and Royal Field Artillery
Grave Reference: IX. I. 7.
Cemetery: STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of the late Surgeon-Major E. R. Power, A.M.S., and of Mrs. C. A. Power Clutterbuck, of Rockstowes, Dursley, Glos.
Survey and photographs courtesy of Kathryn White
Date of survey: 15/10/2016