MINSTEAD WAR MEMORIAL PROJECT

Over the past eight years books have been published on the War Memorials of Beaulieu, Bransgore, Brockenhurst, Hordle, Lymington, Pennington and Milford-on-Sea, as part of the project to research all the New Forest War Memorials by 2014.  The aim is to identify all those who died as a direct result of war in each town or village, to describe the local connection and to explain the circumstances leading to each death. This will ensure that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. We are also very interested in details of those men who went to war and RETURNED SAFELY. In focusing on the Lyndhurst area we would like to start by researching the backgrounds of those Men of Minstead who went to war between 1914 and the present day.

If you can help the project in any way, with stories and photographs of these men and their families, could you please contact either:

John Cockram (01590 624338 or john.cockram@virgin.net)

or

Carole Standeven (023 8028 3459 or carolestandeven@btinternet.com

All such help will be acknowledged in the proposed book. Research material will be respectfully treated and returned soonest.

The profit from these publication is donated to the Poppy Appeal, which to date has benefited by £2,800 from the project.

Your help in this matter is appreciated.

MEMORIALS

Minstead has a Memorial Plaque in All Saints Church with the names of those from Minstead who lost their lives during World War 1 and World War 2.  There are also a number of individual plaques in the Church and headstones in the churchyard.  In addition there is a War Memorial Cross on the Village Green which has no names inscribed on it.

There is a silver Alms Dish given in 1953 by 716 Company Royal Army Service Corps, Airborne Light Division, who were stationed in Minstead during World War 2.  The names of the 33 men from this Company who died are inscribed on the dish but as they were not from Minstead they are doubtless commemorated on the War Memorials of their own towns or villages.

There is a memorial cross at Mogshade Hill to all the Canadians who were encamped at Boldrewood whilst waiting for D-Day which stands on the spot where their Sunday Services were held.

INFORMATION GATHERED SO FAR

(by Ed 29.1.09: This information will be built up over the next few weeks to as time permits)

FIRST WORLD WAR

a. Names on War Memorial in All Saints Church

b. Names of Men not on Minstead War Memorial but with strong Minstead Connections

SECOND WORLD WAR

a. Names on War Memorial in All Saints Church

b. Names of Men not on Minstead War Memorial but with strong Minstead Connections