A few days back I discovered a church here in Leeds that I had not yet visited, St Johns, Roundhay.
Having spent perhaps an hour or so wandering around the churchyard I am not sure which saddens me most the state of the church or the old churchyard. I used to think that St Marks church in Woodhouse was perhaps the most neglected church building in Leeds, I know know that I was mistaken it is St Johns in Roundhay.
Unfortunately the church of St Johns was closed by the church of England in 2008 and subsequently they sold it to a small London based evangelical group for a nominal £1. Sometime more recently the Pentecostal City Mission (PCM) appears to have given up on the church. But enough of that here, back to the point of this post the Davies brothers.
Walking around the newer part of the graveyard I saw the above memorial headstone to the Davies brothers. The two Davies brothers John and Geoffrey both served in World War II, John in the RAF and Geoffrey in the RE both being killed less than one year apart at the age of 22. I know nothing about Geoffrey other than what it says on the memorial. John Davies I have found out a few more details because he was aircrew, he was in the RAF VR an air gunner with 600 SQN at Manston where they flew Blenheim's using them as night fighters when he died.
The headstone reads: In loving memory of Sgt. John DAVIES R.A.F. V.R. killed in action Sept 7th 1940 aged 22 years. Cpl. Geoffrey DAVIES R.E. killed by enemy action June 13th 1941 aged 22 years. Also Winifred Mary beloved mother of the above died Dec 14th 1949
It must have been heartbreaking for their mother to have buried these two sons at such a young age.
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This is such a heartbreaker...and it is just keeps going on and on and on. When my daddy was in WWI that was supposed to be the Great War, the one to end all wars. So sad that has not been the case. I love that both brothers are buried together. Such a wonderful gesture. genie
ReplyDeleteHow the mother could have gone on, I do not know. Heartbreaking though I'm glad you highlighted it. So many stories like this from wars past and present. It reminds me of tales from the American Civil War, with families where all sons were killed.
ReplyDeleteSadly, not so uncommon for a family to lose all their sons (and sometimes their daughters) in the war :-(
ReplyDeleteThings like that just should one make more determined than ever to support peace efforts whenever possible.
It must have been awful for poor Winifred. Prehaps their early deaths helped her on the way to her grave. Grest post!
ReplyDeleteBeneath Thy Feet
The tragedy of war.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love this post for its very dichotomy: the personal tragedy; and the tragedy of neglect.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you entered the details about the mother, as I could only see such a glimpse, tantalising though that be. She cannot have been old, can Winifred Mary, dying only 8 years after a 22 year old son. There must have been so many parents, on both sides, in similar situations.
I fully understand that the state cannot commit to upkeeping old buildings like this. But why oh why did the CofE sell to another church. Why not open up the sale to the general public. I know our history here in Australia is so young in comparison, yet we have churches sold to be renovated as private homes. Here is one currently on the market, which will sell for about 1.6 million. http://www.ljhooker.com.au/UTFF5S
I would love to see images of both the graveyard AND the church. Have you done any posts on the church?
He does have one, if you scroll through his photos. If you'd like more, and ones of the terrible south graveyard which is now like a forest and closed off I can send you some. Actually, there is an Australian buried in the north yard here.
DeleteYour photograph is crystal clear and the background is informative yet very sad. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am sure t must have been unbearable for the mother.
ReplyDelete