In September 1919 a meeting was held in the village school. Canon Hodge

reported in the magazine that those attending

‘unanimously decided that it should take the form of a brass mural

tablet to be placed in the Church with the names of the heroes and

a suitable inscription’.

The fund to purchase the memorial closed 12 months later having reached

£60 (equivalent to about £2,000 today). The names to be inscribed on the

memorial were listed in the Benington Parish Magazine of January 1920 by

the Rector Canon Walter Hodge –

‘R Bailey; G Bland; A Bolland; J Bolland; C R Crawford; H Crowder; F

C Crowder; W Harwood; G Harwood; H Harwood; F Needham; A C

Sharp; C Tetther; J Thompson; J R Ward; W Woods. Any mistake or

omission or wrong initials is asked to be told to the Rector’.

The design for the Tablet was submitted to Wipple and Co. of Sheffield in

January 1920 but there was an 8 month delay because Wipple’s had difficulty

obtaining the necessary metal, brass, which was in short supply after the

end of the war.

The Tablet was received by the Parish in October 1920 and was dedicated at

a service in the Church held on October 31st, the eve of All Saints day. Canon

Hodge described the service in the Parish Magazine sent out in December

1920:

‘No one present will easily forget the solemn function when the

Tablet was unveiled by Captain Cogan MC whose address was most

appropriate and much appreciated. The two new vases have been

given in memory of Harold Toynton and Fred Needham by their

respective parents. Once deadly shells, they are now put to the

peaceful use of holding flowers in memory of our heroes who have

gone on before.’

When All Saints re-opens as the Beonna the brass memorial will be

returned to this building.

In the Parish Magazines Canon Hodge gave details of gifts given to the Church

by the families of the fallen in memory of their sons.

Mr & Mrs Ward gave a brass cross in memory of their son Joe.

(1918)

Mr & Mrs Crawford and family gave vases matching the brass cross

in memory of Dick (1918)

The parents of A C Sharp gave a brass book rest; his brothers and

sisters gave a brass alms dish (1919)

Mr and Mrs Toynton gave a brass flower vase in memory of Harold

(1920)

Mr and Mrs Needham gave a matching brass flower vase in

memory of Fred (1920)

The two flower vases were made from brass artillery shells. Canon Hodge

wrote:

‘Once deadly shells, they are now put to the peaceful use of holding

flowers in memory of our heroes who have gone before’.

In February 1919 Canon Hodge reported to his parishioners that he had:

‘..lately received from the citizens of Benington, Vermont, USA, an

address of fellowship and the American flag, both of which will be

displayed in our Church. The ‘Union Jack’ on one side and the ‘Stars

and Stripes’ on the other will symbolise and represent the close

union there is now between us and the United States. When those

early settlers left this neighbourhood and founded Boston in

America, doubtless some settler named his new hamlet after the

name of his native place in Lincolnshire, and this has now become a

flourishing town, and as is the case with Boston, the daughter is

much more important than the mother. I hope we may send back a

Union Jack to be hung up in one or their public buildings. I shall be

glad to receive subscriptions towards the flag to be sent to

Benington in America. I shall have occasion to speak on this subject

of brotherhood and league of nations on one of the Sundays of this

month.’ As Canon Hodge hoped a Union Jack flag was sent to

Benington, Vermont, USA in May 1919 and he added: ‘most houses

sent a contribution towards it.’

In Benington’s Parish Magazine of December 1918 the Rector, Canon Hodge,

described the news that an Armistice had been concluded between Germany

and Britain and her allies.

The national Government declared Saturday July 19th 1919 as a day of

national celebration. In August’s magazine Canon Hodge described the

celebrations in Benington:

WORLD WAR I

PEACE MEDAL