Remembering what was happening in St Michael’s Church 100 years ago

A hundred years ago our community was mourning the loss of many many lives – not only from the First World War but also from the ‘Spanish flu’ pandemic that followed it.

Nonetheless, the May 1920 edition of the parish magazine tells of a “delightful Spring day” on Saturday 24th April - when a large number of local people gathered in the church for a Service of Dedication.  The service had been arranged to dedicate the stained glass panels, crafted by Horace Wilkinson, which had been installed in the East Window and the Lady Chapel and the two carved wooden Memorial Panels in the nave – commemorating those who died in the Great War, 1914-1919.

The names of the men of this congregation and parish who gave their lives in the Great War are recorded in the panel on a pillar between the centre and south aisles.

Bishop Henry Montgomery, who lived in Bolton Road, Grove Park, led the service. He was the father of Bernard L Montgomery, who became well known during the Second World War as Field Marshall Montgomery and later Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.

Remembering Clarence Douglas Slatford MC - St Michael's WW1 Roll of Honour

During the 9.30am and 11.00am Holy Communion Services on Sunday 28th October 2018, we remembered the centenary of the death of last of the 33 men listed on the carved Great War memorial in the nave of St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road.

2nd Lt Clarence Douglas Slatford, MC, died at Devon Nook convalescent home, Chiswick on 31st October 1919 and is buried in Highgate Cemetery.

He enlisted with the Royal Fusiliers on 27th August 2014, saw action in 1915 and after a serious illness in 1916, now a 2nd Lieutenant, was posted to the 7th Essex Regiment in August 1917. He had several bouts of illness in 1917 and early 1918 before being awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and devotion on duty on 19th September at Kefr Kasim in Egypt.

He was demobilised in June 1919 but died of pneumonia following an operation for appendicitis later that year. His parents lived at 152 Sutton Court Road.

More can be read about the men on the Roll of Honour memorial inside St Michael's Church in the Heroes of Chiswick booklet ‘Commemorating St Michael’s Church’s WW1 Soldiers’. Please use the contact us page to ask for one of the booklets which we will post to you.

Remembering Stanley Northcote Walter - St Michael's WW1 Roll of Honour

During the 9.30am and 11.00am Holy Communion Services on Sunday 28th October 2018, we shall remember another of the 33 men listed on the carved memorial in St Michael’s Church, Elmwood Road.

Stanley Northcote Walter was born in early 1891, however his mother died soon after. His father married again later that year and a half sister, Marjorie Vyvian was born in 1893. The family moved from Hammersmith to 59 Ellesmere Road, Chiswick between 1901 and 1911.

By 19th August 1913, he would appear to have enlisted with the British South African Police, which suggests he must have emigrated between 1911 and 1913. He entered the theatre of war in the areas of East Africa, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia on 3rd October 1915. He died of pneumonia on 26th October 1918 at Salisbury, Rhodesia and is buried in the Harare (Pioneer) Cemetery.

By 1921, his father and stepmother lived at 7 Cedars Road and remained there until their deaths in 1946 and 1943 respectively. His half-sister Marjorie married Walter Lewis Hanks at St Michael's Church on 23rd April 1921.

More can be read about the men on the Roll of Honour memorial inside St Michael's Church in the Heroes of Chiswick booklet ‘Commemorating St Michael’s Church’s WW1 Soldiers’ with their stories of those who lost their lives in 1918 being told on pages 13 to 14 and 15. Please use the contact us page to ask for one of the booklets which we will post to you.