Felsted - Cross

• Second World War (1939-1945)
  Total names on memorial: 12
  Served and returned: 0
  Died: 12
  Exact count: yes
  Information shown: Initials, surname
  Order of information: Alphabetical by surname, across three faces of the pedestal
• First World War (1914-1918)
  Total names on memorial: 45
  Served and returned: 0
  Died: 45
  Exact count: yes
  Information shown: Initials, surname
  Order of information: Alphabetical by surname, across three sides of the plinth
• 21st Century Wars (2000-Present)
  Total names on memorial: 1
  Served and returned: 0
  Died: 1
  Exact count: yes
  Information shown: Place of death, year of death, initials, surname
  Order of information: Undefined

• Cross
  Measurements: Undefined
  Materials: Stone
• Pedestal
  Measurements: Undefined
  Materials: Stone
• Plinth
  Measurements: Undefined
  Materials: Stone
• Tablet
  Measurements: Undefined
  Materials: Stone

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Comments: The combined cost of the Cross and the Memorial Hall was £2000 in 1924 (£400 of which was donated by the Vicar and Churchwardens of Felsted, raised by the sale of the old Felsted School building near the Church).

• Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 29/2/1924 printed a lengthy report of the opening of the Memorial Hall and the unveiling of the Cross in front of it, the opening paragraphs of which read: 'FELSTED MEMORIAL Village Hall to Unite Parish People's Handsome Response On Sunday afternoon the Felsted village war memorial, which consists of a capacious and handsome hall, erected facing the Braintree Road, and in front of which stands a memorial cross of grey stone bearing the names of the 45 Felsted men who fell in the war, was opened by the High Sheriff of Essex, Major Gilbey Gold, in the presence of a large gathering. The hall and memorial cross have cost £2,000, towards which the Vicar and Churchwardens of Felsted gave £400, the proceeds of the sale of the old school to the Old Felstedians' Association. The hall will prove quite an acquisition to the village, and all the parish associations have already become centred in it. The hall is substantially built of red brick, with a red asbestos roof, and comprises a main hall 60ft. by 24ft., with stage, billiards room, green room, games room, and offices. The High Sheriff, in the uniform of the Essex Yeomanry, sat in the centre of the stage at the opening, supported by the committee which raised the funds and made the arrangements: The Rev. F. Stephenson, hon. sec; Mr. F. Jacob,chairman; Mrs. Wilson, Miss Gepp, the Revds. E, J. Doherty (vicar), A. J. Fitton (of Rochford, formerly Congregational pastor at Felsted), and F. D. Windsor; Messrs. A. L. Pulford. E. C. Hicks, J.P.. H. Dowsett, A. T. Holmes, R. Norris, G. Wright, A. E. Scrivener. The service opened with the hymn, "Lead us, Heavenly Father." The Vicar offered prayer and read the lesson. A MONUMENT TO FAITH. Mr. Jacob, as chairman of the committee, explained that they first met five years ago, and decided to have a fitting memorial to the men of Felsted who fell in the war. Several proposals were advanced, and the Rev. A. J. Fitton put forward the memorial hall proposal, to cost £1,500. That figure took the breath away from some of them; it seemed almost madness to attempt to raise such a sum in a little place like Felsted. But as in the past, when the faith and prayers of Nehemiah re-built the walls of Jerusalem, so the faith and prayers of Mr. Fitton had built the Felsted hall and institute. But for Mr. Fitton, the memorial hall would not have been built, and it would remain a monument to Mr. Fitton's great faith. His enthusiasm carried away all opposition, and won others to the same way of thinking Gratitude was also due to Mrs. Wilson for her work. After several years the £1,500 was collected, but it was found that hall and institute could not be built for £1,500. Fortunately, the Vicar and churchwardens came to the rescue; the old school, near the church, had fallen into a bad state of repair, and £300 was required to put it in order. After raising £1,500 in the village, there did not seem much prospect of raising £300 to re-pair the old school, and the Old Felstedians' Association, having a sentimental interest in it, offered to buy it for £400 and put the place in order. The Vicar and churchwardens accepted the offer, and kindly presented the the £400 to the village war memorial. Everything then became plain sailing; Mr. Dannatt presented excellent designs, and the building had been well done by Messrs. Wicks. The memorial cross was designed by Mr. Armitage. FOR UNITY AND FRIENDLINESS. Mr. Jacob said he hoped the hall would be the means of bringing more unity and friendliness into the village, and so help the inhabitants to do away with a good deal of those petty jealousies and bickerings which sometimes marred the amenities of rural life. In that case the sacrifice of the 45 men of Felsted who gave their lives in the Great War would not be in vain. Mr. Jacob then read the names of the fallen:- L. H. G. Arnold, P. Baker, E. Bambridge, H. W. Bambridge, G. Barnard, G. Bentall, C. Brock, H. O. Burns, F. J. Blackwall, P. E. Chadwick, J. Chalk, A. V. Clift. S. T Fuller, F. G. Gibson, G. J. Hance, S. Hance, E. E. Hance. A. Haslen, F Jarvis, W. W. Livermore, G. Lanham, J. Marshall, F. Moorat, A. Peagrum, A. L. Pulford, J. C. Pulford, F. Reynolds, G. Rowe, C Reeve, J. Radley, S. Radley, O. N. Saltmarsh, A. S. Steward, G. H. Shuttlewood, E. Shuttlewood, A. J. Sivell, P. J. Smith, W. Smith, E. Smith, H. E. Stock. W. Turner, S. Turner, J. Tyrell, P. W Tyrell, W. Wren. The High Sheriff then went outside to the memorial, and removed the Union Jack with which the cross was shrouded. The Rev. F. D. Windsor said dedicatory prayers and buglers from Felsted School Cadets sounded the "Last Post." The party then returned to the hall, where the hymn, "Soldiers who are Christ's below," was sung...' www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000516/19240229/043/0005
• Photos of the WW2 inscription and names and of the supplementary plaque added in 2003 re A.E. Slater, plus further information regarding the memorial, can be found at www.felstedremembers.uwclub.net/Felsted Memorial Pictures.htm
• Braintree Witham and Dunmow Times 17th April 2003, p18; 27th February 2003, p20
• www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/251472/
• East Anglian Daily Times 4/4/2003 published the following report by Ted Jeory: 'Village tribute to dead soldier. THE father of an Essex soldier killed in Kosovo has told how a memorial in his son's name will help his family's life return to normal. Trooper Adam Slater, 24, from Felsted, was serving with the 9th/ 12th Royal Lancers Prince of Wales as part of the Kfor peacekeeping force in Kosovo two years ago when he killed after his Scimitar armoured car hit an anti-tank mine. His name has now been added to Felsted's war memorial and at just after 4pm tomorrow, two years to the day of his death and to the sound of the Last Post, an Army captain will unveil the inscription, Kosovo 2001 A E Slater. Ten of Tpr Slater's former colleagues - currently on stand-by in Germany for deployment in the Iraq war - will form part of a procession of 40 friends and relatives from the Memorial Hall to the dedication at the Braintree Road memorial. Tpr Slater's name has been added on a new plaque above the 55 soldiers from the village who died in the First World War and the 12 who were killed in the Second World War. His father, Terry Slater, said he, his wife Jean and their elder son Julian, 31, were honoured by the tribute to their son. “The day will be tinged with sadness, but in a poignant way, we're looking forward to it,” he added. “The memorial is near the village shop, so we'll pass it every day now and no doubt look at it with more interest. “Life has not been too good in the last couple of years. We'd only lived in the village three or four months when Adam died and that slowed our integration into the village life somewhat. “Life was a bit tough, but it does get easier as time goes on. It will be a little bit trying on Sunday, but it will help us get back to normal again. We're going to be determined about it.” Mr Slater also thanked the local branch of the Royal British Legion for organising tomorrow's service'. www.eadt.co.uk/news/village-tribute-to-dead-soldier-7428060