The little church at Cumnor was crowded on Saturday, the occasion being the
unveiling of the village roll of honour and war memorial. A large number were
unable to obtain seats. The ex-Service men turned out in large numbers and formed
three sides of a square. Previous to the unveiling a memorial service was held
in the church, where the tablet is fixed. The Rev.L.M.Walker dedicated and unveiled
the stone, assisted during the service by the Rev.H.Milnes.
The Rev.E.M.Walker, in an address, said the names on that stone were the names of men who had given their lives for their country, to keep it great and free. Although there were feelings of sorrow among them that day, there must also be feelings of pride and gratitude. He referred to the way the lads came forward in the early days of the war, seeming utterly unconscious of the splendid act they were doing. They would not save themselves from death before they had saved others, and a man could have no greater love than to lay down his life for others.
The tablet, which was executed by Messrs Axtell of Oxford, was inscribed as follows: "In undying memory of the men of this place who laid down their lives in the Great War that others might live. Lieut.F.D.Wilkinson M.C., E.W.Ayers, A.Barson, P.Barson, F.W.Bateman, M.Bennett, A.T.Brogden, S.Bullock, P.Capel, W.T.Cook, E.W.Didcock, H.Gibbs, W.G.Hathaway, E.Lambourne, F.Lardner, E.J.Neale, H.Parker, B.Pike, W.Richards, M.F.Saunders, E.P.Sparrow and R.Trinder. 1914-1918. Their name liveth for evermore."
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the war memorial, erected on the roadside, was unveiled and dedicated by Major Worsley,'Stroud Court.' The memorial was draped with the Union Jack, and was also the work of Messrs Axtell, bearing the same unscription as that on the tablet, and the Major, in a brief address, referred to the memorial as a memorial of peace as well as of war, and also a warning to any enemy in the future. It reminded them of the duty they had to perform under certain circumstances, and of the horrors of of war which should not be forgetten, as, should there be another war, it would be at their own doors. Three buglers of the Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry sounded the 'Last Post' and 'Reveille', and parents and friends placed floral tributes at the base of the memorial. These included three wreaths from 'The demobilised men of Cumnor, with deepest sympathy.'