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Farnborough

The war memorial in the village of Farnborough in north west Kent is in the churchyard of St Giles the Abbot. The church, along with the churchyard and everything within it, is Grade B listed. The memorial is a slim Celtic cross, with rosettes on the circular parts of the stonework between the arms of the cross, one in each quadrant. Near the top of the shaft of the cross is an alcove containing a stone figure. The memorial stands on a plinth on a shallow square base which stands on a quadrate cross base. A larger base extends from beneath this, into which two sets of steps are cut. There is a plaque on the front face of the plinth, one inscription on the front face of the extended base, and one on the front face of the step below this. A long wall extending east from beside the cross is covered in rectangular tiles each commemorating an individual. The tiles are inscribed with the name, rank, regiment and date of death and place of burial of each of the fallen of World War One. The extended base is now covered in tiles commemorating the fallen of World War Two in the same way.

In October 2006 War Memorials Trust gave £1250 towards the supply and installation of 5 new Portland stone plaques and the costs of cutting and enamelling the lettering on these plaques. Names of the fallen of World War II as well as a dedication were inscribed on these plaques, which were fixed to the extended base of the cross. In addition the memorial was cleaned and damaged stones replaced, repaired or re-pointed, but this work was not covered by the WMT grant.

The inscription on the new stone on the front face of the extended base reads

The names
of those from Farnborough
killed on active service
in the wars of 1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945
and recorded on this memorial

The inscription on the front face of the step below this reads

At the call of King and Country they left all that
was dear to them, endured hardness faced danger and
finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of
duty and self-sacrifice giving up their own lives that
others might live in freedom. Let those who come after
see to it that their names be not forgotten.

The names of the fallen of the Second World War who are commemorated here are

Sgt. Plt. Peter D. Goldsmith 10th Sqdn RAF VR 13 Nov 1940 St Giles
Pte. Ronald Cooper Royal West Kent Regt. 26 Oct 1943 St Giles
W.O. Norman Cooper 214 Sqdn RAF VR 22 Mar 1945 Runnymede Mem.
Sgt. Herbe4rt G. Atkinson Royal Artillert 26 Jan 1943 Malaysia
F.O. Flt. Engr. Frederick J. Watson DFM 161 Sqdn RAF VR 5 Mar 1945 Denmark
Gunner Frederick W. Mace Royal Artillery 29 May 1941 Greece
Pte. Edward E. Mace Royal West Kent Regt. 28 May 1940 Dover
Cpl. Dennis C. Mace 2nd Btn. Royal Fusiliers 27 Apr 1943 Tunisia
Flt. Sgt. Engr. William J. Wearn RAF VR 23 Aug 1943 Holland
L/ Cpl. Donald R. Sturrock 1st Btn. Scots Guards 7 Feb 1944 Cassino
Ldg. A.C. Alfred J. Sims RAF 17 May 1940 France
Sgt. Plt. Reginald T. Stoneman RAF VR 16 Dec 1943 St Giles
Flt. Sgt. Engr. Eric F. Reeve 144 Sqdn RAF 6 Aug 1941 Runnymede Mem.
Pte. Frank C. Curd Royal West Kent Regt. 4 Oct 1943 Italy
Pupil Pilot George W. Coombs S.A. Airforce 12 Nov 1942 S. Africa
Gunner George W. Borer 171 Btn Royal Artillery 27 May 1942 Libya
Captain Philip N. Grinley Border Regt. 7 April 1945 Brookwood Mem.
Sgt. Maj. Frank E. Court Coldstream Guards 21 May 1940 Belgium
Ord. Seaman Dennis A. Collier Merchant Navy 26 June 1941 s.s. River Lugar
Gunner Horace C. Baldwin 95 Btn. Royal Artillery 20 June 1944 Singapore
Pilot Officer Robert E. Waugh RAF VR 8 July 1941 St. Giles
Cpl. Gordon P. Surridge 1st Btn Hertfordshire Regt. 16 Nov 1944 Cassino
Flying Officer Raymond Lines Roberts 3 Sqdn RAF 13 May 1940 Armentieres
Pilot Officer James R. Harrison 217 Sqdn RAF VR 26 Sept 1941 St Giles
Pte. Bernard C. Wells Ox and Bucks Lt. Infantry 16 July 1944 France
Cpl. Frank Taylor Royal Marines 1 Nov 1944 Chatham Mem.
Capt. Owen A. Small 7th Armd Bde R.E.M.E. 18 Sept 1944 Italy
Sub-Lieut. John W. Morrish Royal Navy VR 7 March 1944 St. Giles
Cpl. Montague G. Leckie RAF 25 Oct 1940 St. Giles
Driver Sidney Gibbs R.A.S.C. 23 June 1942 Tobruk
Pte. Neville Burbeck Royal West Surrey Regt. 9 Sept. 1943 Salerno
Pilot Officer Ian E. Brennan 3 Sqdn RAF VR Mar 1941 Runnymede Memorial

The land where the First World War memorial is situated was given by the family of Sir John Lubbock, Lord Avebury, of High Elms, Farnborough.The architect was Mr. Fred Harrild (1883 – 1969) who was articled to Sir Edwin Lutyens. Mr. Harrild had himself served as a volunteer ambulance driver for the Red Cross in France and later served as a lieutenant in the Army Service Corps in Mesopotamia, from where he was invalided to India.

The unveiling ceremony on 15th October 1922 began with a procession to the memorial. Among the marchers were ex-servicemen. The service round the memorial was attended by nearly everyone in the village. The memorial was unveiled by Brig-Gen G Lubbock CMG DSO and dedicated by the Venerable Archdeacon of Rochester the Rev Donald Tait MA.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM799
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 11042

The church and its curtilage of churchyard and memorials is Grade B listed number 358403

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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