The stories of the men commemorated on the memorials

Welcome to www.HintleshamWarMemorial.com

 

There are 44 names on the war memorials in Hintlesham and Chattisham in Suffolk.  But who were they and what were their connections to this part of the world?   This website presents fragments of their lives and their relationship to this corner of England.  
There is also a section devoted to other local men who died in the two World Wars who have local connections, but are not listed on our villages' memorials. 
As the years pass, the historic footprint left by those killed in war is deeper than that of those who survived. None the less, we also remember those who returned home from ALL conflicts, often bearing the physical and mental scars of war, for their service and sacrifice. 
HintleshamWarMemorial.com welcomes comments, corrections and especially your contributions of photographs and information.   
Thank you for visiting,
Gerald Main

Remembrance Sunday 2020

A Service  of Remembrance took place at St Nicholas Church in Hintlesham despite the pandemic.
It was held outside, observing social distancing and was attended by over 50 people.

Remembrance 2020 - Remembering the men from Primrose Hill, Hintlesham

Summer 2020 – New Name Added to Memorial

The name Harold G Tipple has been added to the war memorial in Hintlesham.  Harold was a pilot and was killed on the outskirts of the village on 16 December 1939.  The details of the crash can be found in the Hintlesham WW2 section of the website.
Harold was buried in the churchyard, but his name was never added to the memorial.  After this website made a request under the Freedom of Information Act, the records of the crash and subsequent inquiry were declassified.  In the spring of  2020, the Parish Council agreed to his name being added to the memorial and the stone mason completed the task on 31 July 2020.
Gerald Main, the founder of HintleshamWarMemorial.com says:
"Pilot Officer Harold G Tipple served his country and made the ultimate sacrifice.  I think everyone  in Hintlesham should be proud to see the name of the 19 year old pilot on our memorial."
In August 2020, Gerald wrote and presented a short video about Harold: "The Last Man on the Memorial".

The Last Man on the Memorial

Media Coverage

Gerald Main writes ... The story of  The Last Man on the Memorial  has been followed by several media outlets.  I am particularly grateful to Judy Rimmer at the East Anglian Daily Times / Ipswich Star, Charlotte Frost from Anglia TV,  John Ingham (Defence Editor) of the Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph and Lesley Dolphin and Johnnie Wright from the Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Suffolk for their interest in the story.
See Anglia TV's report, Radio Suffolk's interview & newspaper coverage HERE.

A Century of Remembrance

The 13th June 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the Hintlesham War Memorial.  A century ago, the whole village turned out to see the huge monument which bore the names of 23 men killed in the Great War.  The crowd in the road was 6 deep in places, straining to get a better look as the Bishop, High Sheriff and the congregation poured out of the church ... and a photographer was there to capture the moment.
This website, in partnership with St Nicholas Church, had planned a special service to re-dedicate the memorial.  However, the pandemic (something those attending the unveiling in 1920 knew all about) has scuppered those plans.
To mark the anniversary, Gerald Main has written and presented a short film called A Century of Remembrance.

 

The Story of the Hintlesham War Memorial

Empty Chairs for Centenary of the end of the Great War.

In 2018 we marked the centenary of the end of the Great War with a special Service of Remembrance  which included  a piece of community drama entitled "Empty Chairs."  29 men and one woman represented the fallen by reading out details about a man on the memorial.  Several of those taking part were  directly related to the fallen on the memorial.

Remembrance Sunday 2018 - Empty Chairs

Memorial Makeover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the last couple of years the memorial's condition has slowly, but surely, improved.  Gentle cleaning and several treatments of a herbicide spray has removed all of the moss, algae and lichen.  In July 2018,  Hintlesham & Chattisham Parish Council paid for Suffolk Masonry Services to repair and re-paint the lettering.

Before & after

Before The Great War …

Village school

Hintlesham School early 20th century

In 1901, Alfred & Mary Green lived at 23 George Street and next door were Charles and Sarah Green.   Between them they had seven sons  ranging in age from 4 to 13.  One can imagine them going to school and playing in the fields. The Great War claimed the lives of two sons from each family.

 

"Who dare tell the lambs in spring,
What fate the later season brings?"

100+ years on …

HCS1

Hintlesham School
21st century
Children from Hintlesham & Chattisham Primary School regularly visit the memorial and learn about remembrance.
Photograph by kind permission of the school.

Hintlesham WW1

Hintlesham men killed in the Great War

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Hintlesham WW2

Hintlesham men killed in the Second World War

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Chattisham WW1

Chattisham men men killed in the Great War

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Chattisham WW2

Chattisham men killed in the Second World War

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News

News about the memorials, research, etc.

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Other Locals

Others associated with the villages killed in war

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Contact

Say hello, comment or correct

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