County Herald 20 June 1919
SOUGHTON WAR MEMORIAL FUND SPORTS
The above sports were held on Whit-Monday in a field kindly lent by Mr Rogers, Liverpool Road, Soughton. This being the first sports held in the village for the above object, we are pleased to say the event proved a great success, some hundreds of people paying for admission. At the conclusion of the programme, Mr C.L. Williams CC, JP, Lower Soughton Hall as general chairman of the War memorial Committee, presided at the meeting called for the purpose of distributing the prizes. Lady Bankes kindly undertook the duty of distributing the prizes to the successful competitors and during those proceedings the Chairman requested Lord Justice Bankes, who was present, to say a few words to the mass of people who stood around the platform. Lord Justice Bankes came forward and stated that he had not done so with the intention of making a speech but in response to the Chairman’s request he would just say that he was very pleased to see so many people present, especially such a lot of children, which was a good augury for the future of the village. He would also like to impress on all present, the importance of each individual performing some work of national utility as there were possibly trying times in front of us; and it behoved us all to make the very best of everything. I conclusion he wished the memorial Committee every success- A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Lord Justice Bankes for his excellent words of advice and encouragement; also to Lady Bankes for distributing the prizes; and to Mrs Brown, Green Bank, Chairman of the Sports Committee. We congratulate the committee on the excellent arrangements and sincerely hope that next year there will be another sports programme arranged, better still, if possible. _ Mr J W Craven carried out his duties as Hon Secretary for the day in an excellent manner.
Can anyone help us with the naming of these people? We believe that the lady at the right end of the second row is Mary ‘Chwarel’ – a deliverer of babies and layer out of the dead. The man 3rd from the right on the back row is Mr Clivery. The photograph was taken in front of Lower Soughton Hall, the home of the Chairman of the Committee, Mr CL Williams.
Sychydn War Committee Medal, made by J.A.Restall&Co. Birmingham 1919
Northop Parish Magazine April 1921
Our friends in Soughton had been hard at work for a long time providing means for erecting a memorial for those men from the district who had made the supreme sacrifice during the Great War. After much careful and deliberate consideration it was decided to erect a suitable archway close to the school forming an entrance to a plot of ground to be used for recreation.On Easter Day the Memorial was unveiled and dedicated in the presence of a large number of people. First there was a united service held at the Memorial Hall when all the religious communities of the village joined in. The feeling envinced showed clearly how each and all realised the loss sustained and the noble example set by those who had laid down their lives for King and Country. The address was given by the Vicar.Outside the Hall there was a procession formed headed by clergy and ministers and on reaching the Memorial an address was given by Lord Justice Bankes and at the request of the Chairman of the Committee (Mr E Williams) the ex Chairman of Flintshire County Council (Mr C L Williams) unveiled and the Vicar dedicated the same. The last post was played by members of the Northop Band. When the Union Jack was removed the names of the fallen carved on a marble slab on each side of the entrance were exposed to view and those assembled keenly felt the situation.
The dedication ceremony of the Memorial in Sychdyn on the 27th March 1921
To view Order of Service booklet Click on image above
Two years after the unveiling of the Memorial, The Bowling Green was formally opened. This is the occasion in 1923. Few people today, realise that the thriving Bowling Green in Sychdyn is actually part of the War Memorial. Sychdyn people raised the money to pay for both in memory of the boys who were killed. (They wouldn’t let her on the green in those heels today!!)
We’re not sure what this occasion is or what group this is. We estimate it to be about 1947 and is possibly when the Second World War names were added. The clothes certainly suggest that period.
The above photographs have been supplied by Sychdyn Bowling Club (via Cllr Mel Higham), Mrs Tegwyn Roberts and Mr Nigel Parry. Many thanks to them all
In fact, the very first memorial to be erected in the Parish was this one below. It is on the wall inside the Bryn Seion Chapel, Sychdyn and was unveiled on the 11th April 1920
The Memorial is dedicated to a former minister of the chapel, Rev Thomas Roberts and also to the three members of the Congregation who were killed in the war.
This is the order of service from the unveiling ceremony.
Sychdyn Bowling Club Circa 1939
Centenary Rededication of the War Memorial on the 27th March 2021
Restrictions in the world of a Covid pandemic meant that the planned reenactment of the original dedication could not take place. Instead a small scale service was held and was videoed so that the residents of Sychdyn could watch it on line. The video also includes what Sychdyn did during ‘lockdown’ by way of preparation for this event. Click on the u tube link below. Turn the sound up and set your screen to full and sit back to appreciate Yvonne Elwell’s moving video.