Wootton is a small village in North Oxfordshire, just outside Woodstock. St Mary is a pretty 13th Century church in the centre of the village. The church contains 8 battlefield grave markers from WWI, which can be seen on the opposite wall as you enter the church. The church walls also have many commemorative plaques for those who fell in the Great War, making me feel this particular village felt their losses very deeply at the time and had a real need to ensure their sons would not be forgotten.
Some research has been completed on the individuals, found on this link: http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/wootton.html
The crosses range in size, shape, design and quality. My favourite by far is the cross for Gnr Varney, which has a piece of tin which appears to have been simply scratched out by his mates. I tried to peer behind the curled up corner to see whether I could determine where the tin came from – perhaps a tin of spam, tobacco or pilchards or something. Unfortunately I couldn’t make anything out.
There is an enormous contrast between a lowly Gunner’s cross with a piece of tin tacked to it and the impressive carved and painted crosses of the Officers.
Samantha Fryer
Location: St Mary the Virgin, Wootton-by-Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1DX
Survey and photographs Samantha Fryer. Date of survey: 31 Oct 2016
Cross 1
Details on cross:
GRU
4B/1
235049 L/CPL. G. CLIFFORD.
OX & BUCKS
20-12-17
Text type: GRU tags
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 1150mm
Cross Beam: 410mm
Width of wood: 70mm
Thickness: 20mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Nail and ring shaped hook.
Detailing: None
Evidence of use in field: Yes, mud on the bottom
Surface insertion depth: 230mm
Finish: None
Condition: The wood is in very good condition, but the tags are tarnished and very difficult to read.
Notes:
A very elegant and large marble plaque is on the wall to the left of the crosses, in memory of LCpl Clifford, which states he was killed at Paschendaele, aged only 20 years old, and is now buried in the Northern Cemetary at Ypres.
Cross 2
Details on cross:
GRU
I.W.G.C.
9945. PTE. A. WASHBROOK.
5TH. BN. OX. & BUCKS. L.I.
24.8.16
Text type: GRU tags
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 690mm
Cross Beam: 408mm
Width of wood: 70mm
Thickness: 20mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Hook to screw in wall
Detailing: ends of cross beam are chamfered, otherwise none.
Evidence of use in field: Yes, bottom of shaft has rotted away
Surface insertion depth: 95mm of remaining wood
Finish: None
Condition: Overall, not bad. Some evidence of historical woodworm, bottom has rotted away as previously mentioned, the tags are quite weathered.
Notes:
Pte WASHBROOK was killed in action at the Battle of Delville Wood, aged 22.
Cross 3
Details on cross:
GRU
2/LIEUT. S. J. STEVENS
5/OX & BUCKS 10-4-17
Text type: GRU tags
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 1120mm
Cross Beam: 397mm
Width of wood: 70mm
Thickness: 20mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Hook onto screw in wall
Detailing: None
Evidence of use in field: Yes, mud on cross and water damaged wood.
Surface insertion depth: 330mm
Finish: None.
Condition: Overall OK, some evidence of historical woodworm, water damage to wood, tags are weathered and difficult to read.
Notes:
2Lt Stevens was killed in action during the Battle of the Scarpe, aged 26. There is a very elaborate brass plaque on the church wall in memory of 2Lt Stevens.
Cross 4
Details on cross:
R.I.P.
In Memory of
MAJOR. J. F. WILKINSON. M.C.
54TH BATTERY R.F.A.
KILLED IN ACTION
30.10.18
Text type: Hand Painted
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 1150mm
Cross Beam: 672mm
Width of wood: 72mm (shaft), 78mm (beam)
Thickness: 20mm
The four ‘connecting’ pieces of wood between the shaft and the beam have an overall height of 510mm, width 490mm.
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Hook, wire, nail.
Detailing: Painted grey. Ends of beam and top of shaft is/are pointed.
Evidence of use in field: Only where the paint stops.
Surface insertion depth: 190mm
Finish: Painted grey
Condition: Good condition.
Notes:
There is a very ornate wooden plaque on the church wall donated by Maj Wilkinson’s parents, which states he fought in France for 4 years with the First Division and was killed in battle at Catillon aged 23.
Cross 5
Details on cross:
GRU
211120
GNR H VARNEY
D/64TH BDE H.B.R.F.A
11th SEPT 1917
Text type: 1 x GRU tag, hand carved tin
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 1110mm
Cross Beam: 410mm
Width of wood: 60mm (shaft), 65mm (beam)
Thickness: 20mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Ring/wire/nail
Detailing: ends are pointed
Evidence of use in field: There is mud at bottom of cross.
Surface insertion depth: 240mm
Finish: None
Condition: Wooden cross is in good condition. Scratched writing on tin very, very difficult to read.
Notes:
Harry Varney is one of 2 brothers killed in WWI, commemorated in the church.
Cross 6
Details on cross:
1592 PTE. J. FIELD
1-4TH OXFORD & BUCKS L.I.
22.7.18
Text type: GRU tags
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 1160mm
Cross Beam: 410mm
Width of wood: 68mm
Thickness: 20mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: hook/wire/nail
Detailing: The ends of the cross beam pointed.
Evidence of use in field: There is mud on the bottom of the cross.
Surface insertion depth: 170mm
Finish: None
Condition: Good, apart from a big split across beam.
Cross 7
Details on cross:
GRU
2.D.1
CAPTAIN A.W.N. PONSONBY
2ND. OXFORD & BUCKS LIGHT INFY
8TH SEPTEMBER 1915
Text type: GRU tags
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 1110mm
Cross Beam: 412mm
Width of wood: 65mm
Thickness: 20mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Hook/wire/nail at top
Detailing: None
Evidence of use in field: Yes, water damage to wood.
Surface insertion depth: 240mm
Finish: None
Condition: Good.
Notes:
It looks like one GRU tag has been lost from the cross beam – the tacks remain in place. There is a lovely stained glass window in memory of Capt Ponsonby.
Cross 8
Details on cross:
IN
MEMORY
OF
2ND. LT. J. D. MARRIOTT.
THE CAMERONIANS
KILLED
IN
ACTION
26/9/17.
Text type: Carved and painted
Cross Dimensions:
Shaft Height: 970mm
Cross Beam: 510mm
Width of wood: 73mm
Thickness: 45mm (beam), 50mm (shaft)
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Hook & nail
Detailing: None
Evidence of use in field: Yes -rotten wood
Surface insertion depth: 90mm on remaining wood.
Finish: Perhaps it was painted once
Condition: Good, apart from rotten bottom.
Notes:
2Lt Marriott was only 19 when he died. There is a very intricate carved plaque on the church wall depicting a knight slaying a dragon.
