The Parish Church of

Holy Trinity Milton Regis

 

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Gravestone of Private G. Emptage, Middlesex Regiment

Church War Memorials - remembering those who gave their lives so that we may have peace

   

In remembering all those who have died in the horrendous wars of our century, we see in our church memorials to those who have been killed in some of those wars and in the churchyard the graves of others who died in service in the armed forces.

 

The Milton Regis Memorial previously stood in the graveyard of Holy Trinity.   The only remains of the original memorial are of the base although it is hoped that some re-instatement of the memorial will be undertaken in the future.

 

The Memorial was paid for by public donation.   On Remembrance Day 1920, the people of Milton paid tribute to the sons that didn't return home.   So many people attended the church service that many had to stand outside.   The base of the Memorial was one mass of flowers placed there in affectionate remembrance of the fallen heros by sorrowing relatives and public bodies.   Amongst the floral tributes were wreaths from Milton Regis Fire Brigade, Milton Conservative Club, Milton Council, Schools, The Soldiers & Sailors Families Association and The Sittingbourne branch of the Royal British Legion and many small posies that simply read "To Dear Daddy" .

 

The late Philip Sweetland, then chairman of the British Legion, inspects the damage in 1988

 

The Memorial at Holy Trinity was destroyed in the hurricane-strength storms of 1987.   Because of the state of the Milton Memorial and due to pressure from the Royal British Legion, Swale Borough Council agreed to include The Milton men on Plaques around the walls of the Memorial Garden built to house the Sittingbourne Memorial.

 

 

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At Holy Trinity we continue to remember for both World Wars those servicemen of our parish commemorated on the former war memorial outside the church porch.

We remember too those civilians of our parish who perished in the conflicts.

For all who suffered and died, both military and civilian, we commend their souls to God.

 

We remember:

 

 IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR 1899 TO 1902

  • Brevet Major G. L. S. RAY 5th Fusiliers *1

  • Sergeant A. G. WILLSON 7th Dragoons

 

IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914 TO 1918

  • Colonel S. K. RAY Army Medical Staff

  • Private J. E. A. LOCKYEAR Australian Army Medical Corps

  • Private G. EMPTAGE Middlesex Regiment *2

  • Private M. GOLDSMITH East Kent Regiment - The Buffs

  • Private H. S. HODGES East Kent Regiment - The Buffs

  • Private H. G. KELSEY East Kent Regiment - The Buffs

 

IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 to 1945

  • Private K. R. DAVIES East Kent Regiment - The Buffs;  and his brother

  • R. L. DAVIES killed in Italy 1943

 

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*1   Commemorated in the Chancel window - see 'History of Holy Trinity' and 'The Commemorative Window'.

*2   Link to photograph of headstone.

 

For further details on the memorials in the Sittingbourne and Milton area and information as to the history of the 1st World War in this area please look at this excellent website 'Sittingbourne Remembers'.

 

 

 

 

www.holytrinitymiltonregis.com          Holy Trinity Milton Regis - last updated 12/07/2008