Status:
On original site
Type:
Freestanding
Location:
Internal
Setting:
Inside a building - public/private
Description:
Lectern or Desk
Lettering:
Incised
Conflicts:
- First World War (1914-1918)
About the memorial:
Brass stand surmounted by a brass lectern in the shape of an eagle with its wings outstretched. Inscription incised at the top of the stand below the eagles talons.
The vicar of Great Coates church in 1919 was the Reverend James Francis Canon Quirk, MA, JP, previously vicar of Grasby. He wrote in the church magazine of January 1920
“The Memorial to the fallen and those who served will be shortly completed and the one to be placed in the Church will soon to be decided upon”
By February the decision had been made and Canon Quirk wrote in that month’s magazine
“The subscribers to the memorial to be placed in the Church have decided to purchase a Brass Lectern, which will be a very suitable memento of those who fell for their country. It is now in hand and the inscription is being engraved on it.”
In the June edition of the magazine, which was entitled “Home Words Great Coates and Aylesby Parish Magazine” the arrangements for the dedication of the memorial were in place as Canon Quirk wrote
“We are looking forward with great pleasure to the visit of the Bishop of Lincoln and Mrs Swayne to our village on June 3rd and 4tth. On the 3rd the Rector and Mrs Quirk hope to see a large number of those connected with the Church at the Rectory to meet them; and the Bishop will preach in the church at 7. 30pm., when all are invited. His lordship will dedicate the new “Brass Eagle Lectern” during the service, which has been given by many subscribers in honour and affectionate memory of those who from Great Coates gave their lives for King and Country in the Great War, 1914-1919. It is already paid for.”
The Bishop of Lincoln at the time was Bishop W. Shuckburg Swayne.
In the July edition of the magazine, the Canon wrote about the dedication service and published a list of the subscribers to the Brass Eagle Lectern’s Fund.
“The visit of the Bishop of Lincoln and Mrs Swayne on the 3rd and 4th was a great pleasure. We should have liked to have seen more at the Garden Party at the Rectory, but no doubt the polling kept many away. We were glad to see so many at Church in the evening to listen to him and that he was able to dedicate the new Brass Eagle Lectern. He was much pleased with what he saw and the hearty welcome they both received. They were also very interested with Immingham Dock and its churches.”
I am not sure what is meant by the reference to the fact that “polling may have kept many away” The third of June, 1920 was a Thursday, which is traditionally polling day but I have yet to find out what “election event was happening in Great Coates at that time. The Immingham Docks were opened by the King and Queen on 22nd July 1913.
Below will be found the balance sheet respecting the Eagle, which is very interesting from a Family History point of view as it lists some of the people living at Great Coates in June 1920.
SUBSCRIBERS TO THE BRASS EAGLE LECTERN FUND
£ s d
Mrs Astley 23 0 0 Brass Eagle & engraving £88 10 0
Mr C. H. Fowler 10 10 0 Carriage £2 2 7
Mr. J. Degnan 5 5 0
Rev Canon and Mrs Quirk 5 5 0
R. William Smith 5 5 0
Mr. Baxter 5 0 0
Mt James Turner 5 0 0
Miss Gainer 5 0 0
Mr. H.N. Franklin 3 3 0
Mr. Wright Kirton 2 10 0
Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Edmondson 2 2 0
Mr. J.R. Mackrill 2 2 0
The late Mr. Edwin Tuplin 2 2 0
Mr John Broadhead 2 0 0
Mr C. F. Smith 1 10 0
Mr. W. Howlett 1 1 0
Miss Ward 1 1 0
Mr. E. Cooke 1 1 0
Miss Wilson 1 0 0
Mr. William Tuplin 1 0 0
A Well Wisher 0 10 0
Mrs Skells 0 10 6
Mrs Fiske 0 10 0
Mrs Mackenzie 0 10 0
Mrs Martin Bacon 0 10 0
Mrs Noble 0 10 0
Mr. H. Gruby 0 10 0
Mr. and Mrs. T. Collingwood 0 5 0
Mrs. Clayton 0 3 0
Interest in Bank 0 17 10
Totals £91 13 10 £90 12 7
Balance in hand £1 1s 3d
Below are some ‘pen-portraits’ of the persons on the 1914 – 1918 Roll of Honour, from the Parish Magazine.
1. February 1916
Sergeant Clifford Robinson
One of our noble defenders has been taken away, Sergeant Clifford Robinson. He was the first from the village to enlist, and is the first to go. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in the 2nd 5th Lincolns. He died of rheumatic fever at Harpenden at the early age of 19, and was buried at his home in Sheffield. His father is an inspector on the Great Central and the family is much respected. He was of a nice quiet disposition and had many friends in Great Coates.
2. February 1916
Private Reginald Gruby
We regret very much to have to record the death of Private Reginald Gruby 10th Lincolns “the Chums”, on February 22. When volunteering to take the place of a soldier late at night who had not turned up, he was shot. He was a very keen soldier and was an excellent shot, but his early decease has prevented him making a name for himself in that line. Many letters of sympathy from officers and men have been received testifying to the respect and affection in which he was held. He was much devoted to the old Church at home in which he used to love to worship. At his special request, several of his favourite hymns have been sung in church since he went to France. He lies in the Bois de Generey Cemetery with many, who like him, have given their lives for King and Country. We respect and honour such. It was doubly sad for Mrs Gruby, as her father died just about at the same time. We continue to receive cheery letters from several who have gone from our villages. Amid the sufferings and horrors of War they keep good heart. May God preserve them and help them to do their “duty”.
R. G. Gruby was the son of Herbert & Eleanor Gruby, who lived 174, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby. He was a private in the 10th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, service number 334. He was 21years of age at the time of his death on 22/02/1916. He is buried at Brewster Orchard Cemetery, France, grave reference IVA 35.
3. June 1918
Thomas Hinch
We are sorry to announce that Thomas Hinch was killed in April in France; that Robert Adams has been wounded (but not severely); that Christopher Neal and George Mew are prisoners of War; that Jack Adlard is missing; and Ellis Adlard is wounded, but not badly.
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