Hyde Soldiers

Over 70 servicemen who had a connection with Hyde fell either in battle or by illness or accident as a result of the First World War. 

The Hyde Soldiers project was inspired by Frank Lovelock (born at 1 Alswitha Terrace) whose youngest brother James is named on the war memorial.  

In conversation, Frank had commented:

"It makes me sad, this remembrance thing. We all stand once a year for two minutes and I think of him and then we all forget. Except me. Nobody ever really talks about them; nobody talks about my brother or knows anything about him. That’s not remembrance". 

And so Hyde900 began a four-year project to research, commemorate and celebrate the lives of these men through a series of exhibitions, lectures and other events.

The majority of the detailed research was delivered by Caroline St Leger-Davey and a team of enthusiasts, ably fed information by Steve Jarvis whose knowledge of war memorials is legendary. 

Encouraged by the advent of the 100-year anniversary of World War 1 in 2014, Hyde900 put on the first Soldiers event in St Bartholomew’s Church - an evening of songs and poems interwoven with a fascinating presentation by General Sir Tony Walker KCB.  Tony’s depth of military knowledge and experience created an extraordinary picture that moved seamlessly between local, national and international theatres. 

Hyde900 invited the householders of the six men killed in 1914 to come and place a flag on a map of Hyde, on ‘their’ house. This proved to be a very personal and moving tribute of remembrance and gratitude, and the men were talked about for months before and after the event, including most poignantly the two Hewitt brothers killed two weeks apart in October 1914.  

The Soldiers project had started.  Also involved in the research were local officer cadets, and it became part of their training as officers to deliver a presentation focused on their chosen soldier of that year’s fatalities. 

An annual November presentation at St Bede's Primary school also features the background of the project and a discussion around the soldiers, many of whom lived in the houses where pupils now live. Some householders have taken family trips to visit ‘their’ soldier's grave or memorial in Northern Europe. 

The project was enriched by Winchester Community Choir, poems written and read by local people and, most importantly, the engagement and interest of the community. 

We would like to think that Frank might consider this ‘Remembrance’.