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Eastville's Lost Heroes Honored Anew
30 Oct
Summary
- A WW1 memorial inside a church honours 114 lost men.
- The elaborate, hand-painted memorial dates back to 1921.
- An exhibition aims to uncover the personal stories behind the names.
An effort is underway to bring a significant, yet largely overlooked, World War One memorial back into public awareness. This memorial, commemorating 114 men from Eastville, resides within the New Testament Church of God. A new exhibition now centers on this artifact, aiming to preserve the memory of the individuals it represents.
The memorial, erected in 1921 at a substantial cost, features two elaborate, hand-painted panels depicting saints and the names of the fallen. Local war historian Jeremy Banning notes its unique craftsmanship, describing it as stunning with ornate stonework and vibrant colors, unlike simpler memorials common at the time.
The 114 names include diverse individuals, such as brothers, a Bristol Rovers footballer, and a merchant seaman lost at sea. These men served in various forces, including the Gloucestershire Regiment and Canadian forces, with some having local ties to the Eastville area. Organizers hope the exhibition will help descendants and community members discover these forgotten stories.
