"LEST WE FORGET"
Remembering the men of Aldenham
who served in The Great War 1914-1918
In 1915 the vicar of Aldenham, Rev. E. Stogden, compiled a list of the 149 men from the parish who were currently serving in the forces. The vicar kept this list on the altar in the church and prayed for the men every day. A copy of the list, the Roll of Honour, was published in the October 1915 edition of the Parish Magazine. (See "ROLL OF HONOUR" page.) Later, many more men from the parish joined the forces when they became old enough to serve their King and country. The previous vicar of Aldenham, Archdeacon Kenneth Gibbs, wrote in the October 1915 Magazine:
"As I look through Aldenham's Roll of Honour, which lies ever open before God on the altar of Aldenham Church, I find many whose names I gave them when I held them at the font, and commended them to the love of our Father and dedicated them as Christ's faithful soldiers and servants. I pray that they may be found faithful, even if need be, unto death, that they be brave in danger, loyal to their friends and merciful to their fallen enemies."
Sadly, many of the men lost their lives, and their names are on the War Memorial in Letchmore Heath, on the War Memorial in the Lady Chapel in Aldenham church, on the Ringer's Memorial in the church tower, and on the "Lest we forget" plaques on houses in the parish. Many of those who did return were severely injured, both physically and mentally.
"As I look through Aldenham's Roll of Honour, which lies ever open before God on the altar of Aldenham Church, I find many whose names I gave them when I held them at the font, and commended them to the love of our Father and dedicated them as Christ's faithful soldiers and servants. I pray that they may be found faithful, even if need be, unto death, that they be brave in danger, loyal to their friends and merciful to their fallen enemies."
Sadly, many of the men lost their lives, and their names are on the War Memorial in Letchmore Heath, on the War Memorial in the Lady Chapel in Aldenham church, on the Ringer's Memorial in the church tower, and on the "Lest we forget" plaques on houses in the parish. Many of those who did return were severely injured, both physically and mentally.
The War Memorial in the Lady Chapel
The Ringer's Memorial in the tower
"LEST WE FORGET"
After the war Lord Knutsford had a memorial tablet placed on the home of every serviceman from the parish of Aldenham who died in the war. Sadly, many of these plaques now seem to be missing, These ones are on houses in High Cross, Pegmire Lane and Letchmore Heath.
