DRINKSTONE WAR MEMORIALS



Inside the church of Drinkstone All Saints, on the north wall of the nave, are two Portland stone tablets.
For the Great War the tablet is 74 cm high, 110 cm wide.

The incised dedication, filled in black, reads
IN HONOURED MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918
(15 names in 2 columns - forename-surname-unit-regiment)


Immediately below in a similar style is a Portland stone tablet for 1939 - 1945 except only the initials instead of the forenames of the three men are inscribed. This tablet is 46 cm high by 710 cm wide. Made by Messrs Mossford of Bury St. Edmunds, costing £28.10s. Unveiling details not found.

Additionally, the Village Hall is also a War Memorial. The original hall was erected in 1923.
The hall was originally an officers' mess hut at nearby Great Ashfield Airfield during the Great War. It was damaged in a fire in 2013, ending its working life in Drinkstone. It was dismantled to be moved to a museum and wildlife centre on the WWI airfield at Stow Maries, near Chelmsford, Essex. A new hall was built on the site and dedicated as a war memorial. In 1995 a wooden plaque was placed on the inside wall by the Royal British Legion on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of VE and VJ Days, which reads, in gold lettering

LEST WE FORGET
DRINKSTONE VILLAGE HALL
IS A WAR MEMORIAL
1914-1918 and 1939-1945





Inside the village hall is a further memorial, in the form of a glazed embroidery memorial to Private Arthur Pryke.


Bought at a car boot sale in about 1998, it then appeared on ebay, and was spotted by Robin Sharp of Drinkstone who recognised the name. Phone calls were made and the embroidery was purchased for around £60.
At a cost of almost £1,000 the embroidery was meticulously restored and glazed and installed in the village hall.


Drinkstone All Saints

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They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.