100 YEARS ON

NOVEMBER 2014

An exhibition in Kettlestone Village Hall recalled the lives of the men from the village who went to war. Villagers also contributed photographs and stories of their own relatives from WW1. A memorial concert on November 7th 2014 told in words and music some of the events of the war that local men and relatives of current villagers had experienced.

Kettlestone memorial concert Nov 7th 2014.mp3

Listen here to a recording of the 2014 concert.

THEIR LIVES REMEMBERED

NOVEMBER 7TH 2014

1. Extracts from the Rector’s notes

2. Extracts from the letters of Robert Millington Knowles

3. Extracts from the Rector’s notes

4. Poem ‘Send-Off’ Wilfred Owen

5. Extracts from the letters of Robert Millington Knowles

6. Notes about a new German gas shell - Captain Cyril Percy Bassingthwaighte

7. Extracts from the Rector’s notes

8. Extract from a newspaper article written by Charles Evans of the Sherwood Foresters.

9. Poem ‘The General’ by Siegfried Sassoon

NOTES

Cpt Millington Knowles, Cpt Cyril Bassingthwaighte and Charles Evans are all related to Kettlestone villagers.

Captain Robert Millington Knowles M.C. [1893-1950 ] of Taverham Hall is Dermot Strangwayes-Booth’s great uncle. At the outbreak of the Great War he was at Trinity Hall Cambridge. He took a commission in the Special Reserve Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. After 2 years on the Western Front he volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps. As an observer /Lewis gunner he and his pilot were awarded the Military Cross for their success in dogfights. Shortly afterwards he himself was downed and injured to the extent that he, despite his requests, was unable to return to active duty. The items in the programme are selections from letters written to his mother, [Dear Old Girl],sister, and elder brother Andrew [Danny] who was killed in East Africa.

Charles Evans [ 1892- c.1968] is Martin Boddy’s great uncle. At the outbreak of war he was at college in London training, it is thought, to be a teacher. He came from Retford Nottinghamshire and joined the Sherwood Foresters. While serving he wrote articles for the Retford Herald. His writings were found by chance when Martin was clearing out Charles’ sister’s house.

10. Two extracts from the diary of Captain Cyril Percy Bassingthwaighte

11. Extract from a newspaper article written by Charles Evans of the Sherwood Foresters.

12. Extracts from the letters of Robert Millington Knowles

13. Poem ‘Base Details’ by Siegfried Sassoon

14. Extract from ‘Goodbye to All That’ by Robert Graves

15. Poem ‘Blighters’ by Siegfried Sassoon

16. Poem ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth ‘ by Wilfred Owen

17. Poem ‘Disabled’ by Wilfred Owen

READERS

Roger Townsin - The Rector’s Notes

Dermot Strangwayes- Booth - Cpt. Robert Millington Knowles

Lesley White - Cpt. Cyril Percy Bassingthwaighte

Martin Boddy - Charles Evans

Poems and other extracts - Julia Murray, Judith Kilbourn, Bob Fielden

Captain and Adjutant Cyril Percy Bassingthwaighte M.C. and Bar [1890-1974] is the father in law of Pauline Bassingthwaighte and grandfather of Lesley White. He was born in Norwich and lived in the Grove Walk and Earlham Road area of the city. When war broke out he was working in the family grocery and baking business on West End Street. He enjoyed writing and the first extract is taken from his notebook. The second extract of two items is taken from his war diary. After the war he was an active member of the Old Boys Association of the 9th Norfolks. He continued in the family firm and became National President of the Grocers’ Association.

Images from the exhibition held in 2014

2014 -2018

The 100th anniversary of each soldier's death was commemorated at the church. Flowers were placed on the war memorial and the bell was rung at 11am, one strike for each year of the soldier's life.

THOMAS WILLIAMSON

Remembered on 27 September 2015

SIDNEY GE0RGE GREEN

Remembered on 17th March 2016

FRANK WILLIAM MOORE

Remembered on 12th August 2016

FREDERICK PERCY LACEY

Remembered on 5 Oct 2016

GEORGE COLMAN

Remembered on September 16th 2016

WALTER BLUNKETT

Remembered on 13 Aug 2017

ARTHUR FREDERICK HARRISON

Remembered on 2nd September 2018

SIDNEY HARRISON

Remembered on 26th October 2018

NOVEMBER 2018

A commemorative concert in words and music was held on November 9th to remember Armistice 1918

A second exhibition was held on Sunday November 11th 2018 to commemorate Armistice, and to remember the lives of villagers during 1914-1918. The displays featured information about the WW1 soldiers from Kettlestone, their military service, what happened to those who returned, and life in the village during the war.

The image below represents Walter Blunkett, close to the cottage where he lived

Images were made to represent each of the eight soldiers killed. They were placed along the street close to where it is believed each soldier lived.

The image immediately to the left represents George Colman who lived at the White Horse .

Villagers made a cascade of poppies for the church

Photo by Roger Townsin

The poppies were displayed behind the altar for the Remembrance Service on the 11th November 2018

Photo by Roger Townsin

The entrance to the Armistice exhibition

spring 2019

Village youngsters plant poppy seeds

from Flanders

The poppy seeds were donated by North Norfolk District Council

July 20th 2019. villagers meet in the village hall to commemorate 100 years since peace day

As in 1919, villagers enjoyed a splendid tea including ham and plenty of cake.

Photos courtesy of Roger Townsin

After tea everyone joined in games. Prizes included chocolate and mugs as in 1919.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 12TH 2023