WW1 - Scouts Memorial to Geoffrey Vesey Holt

Wooden Memorial - WW1 Geoffrey Vesey Holt - Taken by Nicola Coppen & 1st North Cray Scout Group 20 Oct 2018

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Scout Group - Stripped and repainted - Vesey Holt family grave plot (Photo permissions granted for all those in the picture) - Taken by Nicola Coppen & 1st North Cray Scout Group 11 Nov 2018

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Scout Group Memorial for WW1 - Geoffrey Vesey Holt - Taken by Nicola Coppen & 1st North Cray Scout Group 21 Dec 2018

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Scout Group Memorial Area - WW1 Geoffrey Vesey Holt - Taken by Nicola Coppen & 1st North Cray Scout Group 21 Dec 2018

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Reference WMO/261853

Address:

1st North Cray Scout Group

Geoffrey Hall

North Cray

DA14 5EB

England

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Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace

Description: Board/Plaque/ Tablet

Materials:

Metal Metal (any)

Lettering: Inscribed on a plaque

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: As part of our history, the 1st North Cray Scout Group have done many things to ensure the memory of Geoffrey Vesey Holt lives on. From visiting his resting place in Bard Cottage, Ypres to arranging a Memorial in our Scout Grounds as part of the Royal British Legion 'Thank You 100' event - Young People and their families have a connection with the past going into the future. Our Scout Hall, named after Geoffrey, is within walking distance of the family tomb at St James Church - for the Remembrance commemorations on Nov 2018, the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Leaders worked to rub back, clean and repaint the family plot. Local Historian, Sylvia Malt, explains more about Geoffrey and his family: The North Cray mansion of Mount Mascal (now demolished) over its many centuries of existence was home to many historical families, but perhaps the one family which have left an extraordinary legacy were the family of Army Agent, Vesey George McKenzie Holt, who owned Mount Mascal from 1894 until the end of WW2. Army agents kept accounts for army regiments. He was also a partner in Holt's bank with premises in London. As well as Mount Mascal, the family also leased a fashionable London house in Knightsbridge. The family of Vesey George and his wife, Mabel, consisted of six sons and one daughter, but only the youngest, Geoffrey, was born at Mount Mascal. Geoffrey took an enthusiastic interest in the Boy Scout movement, established by Baden Powell. His father was President of Sidcup Association of Baden Powell Boy Scouts and Geoffrey formed the first Boy Scout Patrol of the district in North Cray and was Assistant Scout Master. Geoffrey was little more than 16 years-of-age at the outbreak of WW1 but decided just a year later to follow in the family's long tradition of military service and joined the 91st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, enduring a rigorous training period at Woolwich Artillery Barracks. He was immediately commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and was later sent overseas to join his Regiment. Unfortunately, on 2nd September 1917 Geoffrey was killed. The news was absolutely devastating to the young boys of North Cray Troop, who went into mourning for a month in memory of their late Assistant Scoutmaster. They decided to call their premises 'Geoffrey Hall' in his honour. Their leader told the local newspaper: He set by his example and keenness the highest ideals of scout craft, and by none is his death more sincerely mourned than by the boys of his troop, who will forever cherish his memory with admiration and esteem for what he did for them and what he was to them. Geoffrey is buried in the Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium and his name has been included on St. Jame's Church War Memorial. His deeply grieving parents also ensured that his name was engraved on the family tomb in the St. James' churchyard. Sylvia Malt 2018

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Comments:

The Portland Stone Memorial is set within a dedicated area of the Scout Hall grounds, all visitors have to walk past the area to walk up to the Scout Hall entrance.  The Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Leaders all helped to create this area and there was a special unveiling on 20 October 2018 - forming our 'Thank You 100' event, a campaign to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War 1. 

The wooden representation was unveiled on 20 October as there had been an interesting scenario with the first Memorial Stone, meaning it had to be replaced, but this was not possible for the date!

The Portland Stone memorial arrived on 21 December 2018 and in February 2019, the Scout Group have invited the Great Nephew of 'our' Geoffrey Vesey Holt to see all that the Group have done in remembering his Great Uncle and name sake.  For our VIP Guest is also called Geoffrey Vesey Holt.

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Inscription:

1st North Cray Scout Group/ In Memory of / 2nd Lt Geoffrey Vesey Holt/ & all Military and Civilian Members of this Borough/ Who lost their lives during the Great War 1914-18/ 11 November 2018/ We will Remember Them

Names:

2nd Lt. Geoffrey Vesey Holt

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Custodian name:

1st North Cray Scout Group

Custodian website:

http://1stnorthcray.ukscouts.org.uk