Rossett war memorials
There are several war memorials in the churchyard and inside Christ Church itself. To read details of local people who died in the First and Second World Wars, choose a category below.
The main war memorial takes the form of a tapered stone column, unveiled in 1920. The names of people who died in the Second World War were added later.
To the right of this monument is the grave of an Irish nurse, Alice Maud, who died in Chester in 1919 of “poisoning contracted in France during the Great War”. Her father was Charles Hamilton of Roundwood, a mansion in Mountrath, County Laois, which was saved by the Irish Georgian Society in 1970.
To the left of the main war memorial is a white marble cross commemorating Terence Forester Hughes, a driver with the Royal Field Artillery in the First World War. His death in 1921, after the war memorial was created, is officially classed as a war death. The cross was erected by Rossett Ex-Servicemen’s Association.
On the opposite side of the path was a fragment of a wooden battlefield cross in a case. The replica cross above it was installed in 1999, after the original cross had decayed, and the original was later moved inside the church. The stone plaque beneath records that the cross was placed here in 1931, having been brought from the La Bassée Béthune sector of the Western Front. Temporary wooden crosses marked countless graves near the front lines but were discarded when the bodies were later exhumed for burial in cemeteries. Some redundant crosses were taken home by early visitors to the Great War battlefields, in the 1920s and 1930s.
Inside the church there are memorial plaques to several local men who died in action, and a small wooden shrine listing members of Rossett Men’s Bible Class who died in the First World War. Nearby is a stained glass window in memory of local men who died in that war. It was designed and made by AJ Davies of the Bromsgrove Guild, in 1925. It depicts a British soldier in action and a wounded soldier receiving medical attention, with the ruins of a bombed church in the distance. Names of the local war dead are displayed on a plaque along the window sill.
In Burton, west of Rossett, you can see a stone cross erected in memory of men who died in the First World War.
With thanks to Clwyd Family History Society
Postcode: LL12 0GD View Location Map
First World War
- Ackerley, John Henry, Private 18858. Died 25/09/1915 aged 22. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Son of George Ackerley of Covey Bank, Lavister. Loos Memorial.
- Barratt, William, Quartermaster Sergeant 13079. Died 22/10/1918 aged 28. Canadian Infantry. Awarded Military Medal and Bar, and Meritorious Service Medal. Son of John and Elizabeth J Barratt of 9 Lake View, Gresford. Buried Gresford (All Saints) Churchyard. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Bennion, Thomas, Private 200954. Died 20/08/1918 aged 36. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Son of Thomas and Jane Bennion of Broad Oak; husband of Constance Helen Bennion of Rossett Road Cottages, Trevalynt. Buried Corbie Communal Cemetery.
- Clare, Frank George, Private M2/182360. Died 30/10/1918. Army Service Corps. Buried Skopje British Cemetery. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Clays, Albert, Private 200956. Died 17/10/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Jerusalem War Cemetery. Also commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Cooper, Frederick Augustus, Midshipman. Royal Navy. Grandson of Francis Henry Barker of Llyndir. Born January 1899. Lost his life in action on board HMS Monmouth on 01/11/1914. Commemorated on memorial plaque in church.
- Crewe, John William, Private 235205. Died 09/10/1917 aged 21. Gloucestershire Regiment. Son of William and Mary Elizabeth Crewe of Burton. Tyne Cot Memorial.
- Crump, John Henry, Private 19113. Died 25/09/1916 aged 21. Leicestershire Regiment. Son of Thomas and Mary Crum, of Harwood’s Lane. Thiepval Memorial.
- Davies, Thomas John, Private 16931. Died 25/09/1915 aged 38. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Son of Jonathan and Hannah Jane Davies of Eccleston, Chester. Born in Rossett. Loos Memorial. Also commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Ellis, Samuel Percy, Private 8269. Died 06/10/1916 aged 22. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Son of John and Georgina Ellis of Trevalyn. Thiepval Memorial.
- Field, James. Lancashire Fusiliers. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Gibson, Walter, Private 25827. Died 06/09/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Brother of Mr S Gibson of Osborne Terrace, Gresford. Vis-en-Artois Memorial. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Griffiths, John.
- Hack, John, Wheeler L/5029. Died 27/04/1918 aged 25. Royal Field Artillery. Son of John and Mary Ann Hack of 89, Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Born in Rossett. Buried Outtersteene Communal Cemetery.
- Hughes, Herbert Edward, Private M2/174840. Died 22/07/1916. Army Service Corps. Buried Dantzig Alley British Cemetery. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Hughes, Terence Forester, Driver 736052. Died 21/01/1921, aged 25. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Rossett (Christ Church) Churchyard. Not commemorated on war memorial but by a cross nearby.
- Hughes, William.
- Jackson, William George. Possibly: Private T/289998. Died 21/05/1918 aged 35. Army Service Corps. Son of George and Catherine Jackson; husband of Winifred Alice Jackson of Back of 18, Scotland Street, Sheffield. Born at Sheffield. Buried Sheffield (City Road) Cemetery. Also commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Johnson, Thomas, Wheeler 1996. Died 03/08/1917. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Christ Church Churchyard, Rossett.
- Johnson, William, Pioneer 233991. Died 08/09/1917. Royal Engineers. Buried Christ Church Churchyard, Rossett.
- Jones, Harry, Private 27369. Died 12/08/1916 aged 21. King’s Liverpool Regiment. Son of Mrs Jane Jones of Poplar Row, Burton. Buried Exeter High Cemetery.
- Lloyd, Joseph, Private 23297. Died 15/04/1918 aged 32. East Lancashire Regiment. Son of Robert and Jane Lloyd; husband of Ada Lloyd of 14 Lodge Street, Blackburn. Buried Arneke British Military Cemetery.
- Maud, Alice, Nurse. Died 30/06/1919 aged 36. Daughter of Charles Hamilton of Roundwood, Mountrath, Ireland. Died as a result of poisoning contracted in France during the First World War. Not commemorated on Rossett war memorial.
- O'Brien, George, Corporal 13147. Died 10/08/1916 aged 21. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Son of Martin and Mary O’Brien of Hern House Cottages. Buried Sucrerie Military Cemetery. Also commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Partin, Frank, Private 28322. Died 22/03/1918 aged 22. Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Son of John and Frances Partin of Lavister. Arras Memorial.
- Pleavin, Walter.
- Randles, John, Gunner 736027. Died 17/09/1917. Royal Field Artillery. Born Rossett. Also commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Richardson, William, Sergeant 91529. Died 27/09/1918. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Hermies Hill British Cemetery. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Roberts, John. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Sandbach, Gilbert Robertson, Captain. Died 03/07/1917 aged 24. Denbighshire Yeomanry. Son of Gilbert Robertson and Harriet Jane Sandbach. Buried Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. Wounded by shell fire on 16/06/1917. Died of wounds at Nasrieh Hospital, Cairo. Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford. Joined the army in 1912. Also commemorated on memorial plaque in church.
- Simister, Reginald, Rifleman 4049. Died 02/07/1916 aged 19. The King's (Liverpool Regiment). Son of William John and Margaret Simister of Rivington, North Road, West Kirby, Cheshire. Buried Wailly Orchard Cemetery. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Smart, Broughton, Chief Officer, SS Potosi (Pacific Steam Navigation Company). Died 21/08/1916. Buried at sea. Husband of Winifred Smart. Commemorated on memorial plaque in church.
- Williams, William, Rifleman 51446. Died 09/04/1918 aged 19. King’s Liverpool Regiment. Only son of W and Mary Williams of Dee Style, Harwood’s Lane. Loos Memorial.
- Wooliscroft, William, Private W/879. Died 23/10/1916 aged 27. Cheshire Regiment. Son of William and Annie Wooliscroft of Birkenhead; husband of E Wooliscroft of 10, York Place, Pokesdown, Bournemouth. Buried Contay British Cemetery. Commemorated on memorial to the Rossett Bible Class.
- Wycherley, John Leonard, Private G/5463. Died 26/09/1915 aged 30. Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Son of Andrew Wycherley. Loos Memorial.
- Wycherley, Charles Spencer, Sergeant 5197. Died 21/02/1915 aged 37. Cheshire Regiment. Son of the Andrew and Elizabeth Wycherley; adopted son of William and Sarah Hughes; husband of Lillie Wycherley of Gamford Cottages. Served in the South African Campaign. Menin Gate Memorial. Born in Lavister.
Second World War
- Bennion, Alfred, Private 13050627. Died 12/03/1944 aged 29. West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own). Rangoon Memorial.
- Bolton, Benson Thomas Gilbert, Lieutenant 71457. Died 31/08/1944 aged 27. Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Son of Edward John and Florence Maude Bolton. Buried Gauhati War Cemetery.
- Brotherton, George. Possibly: Seaman LT/JX 303176. Died 23/11/1943. Royal Naval Patrol Service – HMS Santa. Lowestoft Naval Memorial.
- Chapman, Frank William, Sapper 1895293. Died 21/05/1943 aged 24. Royal Engineers. Son of William and Elizabeth Mary Chapman. Buried Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery.
- Davies, Reginald A.
- Finchett, Ernest, Private 4200996. Died 23/09/1944 aged 29. South Staffordshire Regiment. Groesbeek Memorial.
- Finchett, Thomas Henry, Private 14657839. Died 12/04/1945 aged 21. Worcestershire Regiment. Buried Maynamati War Cemetery.
- Hawkins, Ralph Hamilton, Sergeant 1462088. Died 24/11/1943 aged 23. Royal Artillery. Son of James and Charlotte Hawkins. Buried Christ Church Churchyard, Rossett.
- Jackson, James Henry, Private 3718668. Died 12/07/1944 aged 26. Devonshire Regiment. Son of Frederick Charles and Ada May Jackson. Buried Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery.
- Johnson, Arthur, Gunner 958456. Died 12/06/1944 aged 25. Royal Artillery. Son of Frederick and Alice Johnson. Buried Bayeux War Cemetery.
- Lowe, Ralph Frederick Manley, Major 13132. Died 05/01/1946 aged 48. Royal Artillery. Son of Francis Manley and Beatrice Mary Lowe; husband of Margaret Lowe. Buried Christ Church Churchyard, Rossett.
- Lucking, Kenneth Stephen Bamfylde, Captain 42126. Died 19/05/1940. Cheshire Regiment. Buried Isieres Communal Cemetery.
- Phoenix, George Dennis, Sergeant 2215390. Died 11/04/1944. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of George Phoenix and of Annie Phoenix. Buried Poix-de-Picardie Churchyard.
- Roberts, Ernest Verdun Carnoy, Lance Corporal T/172870. Died ?/04/1941 aged 22. Royal Army Service Corps. Alamein Memorial.
- Samuel, Frank Blelock, Flying Officer 104454. Died 08/01/1943 aged 20. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Son of Harold and Helen Samuel. Alamein Memorial.
- Sprent, William Swanson, Sergeant 1133844. Died 13/09/1942. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Yatesbury (All Saints) Churchyard.
- Suckley, Harry L, Private 366370. Died 06/06/1944 aged 23. Parachute Regiment. Son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Suckley; husband of Beatrice Violet Suckley of Dover, Kent. Bayeux Memorial.