A war memorial can easily become something we pass every day without really seeing. Names carved in stone become familiar, but the people behind those names can gradually disappear from living memory.
That is why we are delighted to share a remarkable piece of research into the men commemorated on the Colwall War Memorial.
Over several years, Jenny Harrison has painstakingly researched the lives of those from Colwall who died in the First World War. The result is a collection of biographies which goes far beyond dates, ranks and places of death. It seeks to recover something of the people themselves: where they lived, the families they belonged to, their occupations, their connections with Colwall, their military service and, where the evidence survives, something of their character.
The research draws on a fascinating range of sources, including Commonwealth War Graves records, census information, parish records, contemporary newspapers, military records and surviving photographs and documents. The result is a vivid picture of a community affected by the First World War.
Some stories are particularly striking. We discover men who had worked locally, attended St James’, played for Colwall Football Club or belonged to local organisations. There are brothers who served together, families who sent several sons to war, and men whose lives took them far beyond Herefordshire before they were killed. Some are buried in distant cemeteries; others have no known grave and are commemorated on great memorials to the missing.
There are also stories where the evidence is fragmentary. In some cases, surprisingly little is known. Rather than filling those gaps with speculation, the research records what can be established and leaves the unanswered questions for future researchers. That makes this not only a memorial, but a valuable piece of ongoing local history.
We hope that people will use this research rather than simply read it once. If you recognise a family name, discover a connection with your house or village, or simply want to know more about one of the names on the memorial, the biographies provide a wonderful starting point.
The memorial commemorates names. This research helps us remember people.
Explore the Colwall War Memorial research and discover the stories behind the names.
