I have to prologise because I did not go anywhere this week for a couple of reasons but I'm still not happy about going out places but in a couple of weeks they are allowing places of worship to open again so I will endeavour to venture out then but I do have a couple of blogs I can write before hand.
This is a place I forgot I visited back in 2012. I did have a specific purpose which was to visit the grave of an Airman Killed in a crash near Wallingford back in 1944. It's a story I had heard about and after seeing the cairn in memory to them at the junction of Andrew and Wilding roads in Wallingford I thought it would be good to find theirs graves sometime. I knew one of them was buried at Brookwood Cemetery and found out Sgt Andrews was buried at Kerry in Wales. After finding out where the place was my wife & I went out for a drive one day when we were on holiday.
St Michael & All Angeles looked like a typical church you would find in Wales
In the square near the church you can see the village War memorial
There were two men from the village who are named on the Memorial Sgt F/E J F Anders RAF is the person who dies near Wallingford and was buried at his local church
Now I did not take any photos of the church apart from the weather vane on the porch. I think the fact the church was locked and I had left my wife with the dogs was the reason
I did walk around the back looking for his grave and came across this Commonwealth War grave of Private Price Charles Evans in the overgrown grass. It was the first slate headstone I had seen
I realised there was a cemetery nearby so went there to look for the grave I was after
The cemetery held the more recent burials
I soon found the Grave of Sgt Andrews
I felt I had put closure to my quest in finding the two RAF heroes. When you hear the words "Greater Love has no man than he lays down his life for his friends" it rings true.
You can read more of what I found out about Flying Officer J A Wildingford & Sargent J F Andrew in this link.
Take Care and have a wonderful weekend
"Greater Love has no man than he lays down his life for his friends" that is the most beautiful words
ReplyDeleteVery nice photoes from the church.and graveyard.most be very peaceful..
Thanx for sharing!
I would like to see in the church but I cannot see that happening
DeleteI am glad you were able to find them. I have only ever come across one slate headstone, too.
ReplyDeleteSeen quite a few now when I visited churches in Wales. Must admit I thing I was lucky to find the graves, gave it closure
DeleteSo glad that you found the grave you were looking for. Those brave men were so young. Poignant remembrance of the link with Wallingford. May you have a peaceful week Bill.
ReplyDeleteYes If I am near where they crashed I always think of them. I even knew a couple of people who remember it happening in WWII.
ReplyDelete...the Commonwealth War grave of Private Price Charles Evans is simple and classic!
ReplyDeleteI thought that as well and have come across many like it in Wales
DeleteIt is moving to think about the people killed in action.
ReplyDelete