First World War in Headington & Marston

New Marston War Memorial

Please follow the pointer above if you would like to see a biography of all the men on the memorial

Front of memorial
	Pte A. G. AKERS. 2nd O.B.L.I. Pte H. AKERS. Rl West Kents L.Cpl H. ALLUM. 2nd 4th O.B.L.I. QrM. Sergt H. BAKER. 1st O.B.L.I. L.Cpl F. C. BURBOROUGH. 5th O.B.L.I. Pte J. B. CROSS . Q.O.O.H. L.Cpl G. H. CUMMINGS. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte T. C. DEARLOVE. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte P. J. EVANS 8th Glos. Regt Rifleman R. FAULKNER 2nd Batn K.R.R.C. Pte E. GOUGH. R.A.M.C. L.Cpl F. GRAY. 5th O.B.L.I. Pte F. GREEN. Rl Fusls2 Cpl A. HARLEY. Rl Berks 1st Class Stoker C. HARTWELL. R.N.R. Pte L. HEATH. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte T. MADDEN. 1st O.B.L.I. Pte R. MATTHEWS. 10th Batn K.S.L.I. Cpl F. NEWPORT. R.F.A. Pte C. PHIPPS. O.B.L.I. Bombr W. PLUMRIDGE. RFA Sergt Majr R. SHRIMPTON. Q.O.O.H. 2nd Class Seaman E. W. SHRIMPTON. U.S.N. Pte P. J. SMITH. Rl Berks Pte C. TOLLEY. 1st 4th O.B.L.I. Pte J. WALTON. 1st 4th O.B.L.I.     [The two men named Shrimpton on this stone were brothers]
	THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE —— THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THEIR FRIENDS OF NEW MARSTON
Left side of memorial
	IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN FROM THIS VILLAGE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914–1919       An “S” was later added to the words “GREAT WAR” above, and the following text was squeezed in at the foot of the left side. AND 1939–1945 TOM BAILEY     FREDERICK MATTHEWS JAMES CRANK     GEORGE THOMAS WALTER E. GILES      NORMAN WAKELEY GORDON HERN      DENNIS WARD[??] ERNEST MACKENZIE     GEORGE WIGGINS KENNETH YOUNG   [On base of left side, presumably an omission] ARTHUR KERRY   More on dead of Second World War
Right side of memorial
	GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

The New Marston War Memorial stands on the east side of the Marston Road, near St Michael’s Primary School. It was originally set up to remember the dead of New Marston in the First World War, who are listed on the front of the pillar facing the road. It was later amended to include the dead of the Second World War, who are listed on the left-hand side.

Unlike the memorials in the other villages of Headington and Marston, this memorial is set on the public highway rather than in a church. This is because New Marston only became a parish in its own right in 1963, following the consecration of St Michael & All Angels Church. At the time this memorial was erected, the north side of New Marston (then just William Street and part of the north side of the Marston Road) was in the parish of St Andrew in Old Headington, while the south side (Edgeway and Ferry Roads, and part of the south side of the Marston Road) was in the parish of St Nicholas in Old Marston.

The memorial is about nine feet tall and stands on a raised area of ground with a red-paved surround. Each of the four sides of the pillar is surmounted by an arch, and there is a cross on top.

Three poems by children of St Michael’s CE (Aided) Primary School, Marston Road