William Henry PARSONS - Double View School, Cinderford (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 17:06 (4170 days ago) @ HarryBrook

Good afternoon HB,
please accept my belated apologies for your detailed reply re the Great War fallen of Cinderford and specifically Double View School, all very interesting indeed. As we've discussed here before sometimes these public Memorials do contain errors or surprise entries or ommissions, to be expected in those days, it's good to hear the Cinderford Memorial was at least updated to reflect this as best as possible. I'm pleased to hear the "sailor" Ivor Jaynes is listed, one of my ancestors also died in the Royal Naval Divisions during the Advance to Victory yet he isn't mentioned on any of the relevant memorials, we assume this was at the request of his mother.
It's a sobering fact to hear that 87 ex boys of Double View School lost their lives in the War, all those from "just" one school in a small rural town; it serves to illustrate just how massive the total losses were during WW1 across the involved Countries and the significant effects within all those communities. I suppose it's also a good reflection of the patriotic uptake across Europe in those days, as was the fund-raising efforts by the School to create what sounds like a fitting Memorial. Sadly my sister doesn't ever recall seeing the Memorial in her days at DVSS, altho she says the pupils didnt routinely use the main entrance much as we weren't "allowed to" at RFDGS. I will write to the Academy and enquire as to the Memorial's current state, I'm sure it will still be there and well cared-for.

For full list of names see http://forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=43700

On a similar subject, I spent a few years at Cinderford Technical College in the 80s, previously East Dean Grammar School of course. I recall the main front entrance off Station Street & the long corridor therein was ornately-built and contained some engraved "tablets" set into the walls. No doubt one relates to the opening ceremony etc, but do you please know if there is also a War Memorial related to EDGS past pupils and staff, if so I hope they're also still there now as I'm told this part of the building is still in use ?.

Regarding the "surprise" entries on the Triangle Memorial, I suspect you include the man responsible for the ornate Gates of St Stephen's Church ?. This was always our family Church so I read the history behind the gates with great interest from the excellent article within Issue 25 of The New Regard, my mother's still actively involved with the Church and she and her fellow Parishioners found it most interesting too.

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Thanks also to Slowhands for kindly updating your earlier post and confirming Walter and William Parson were both railway enginemen. I'm sure you found my request odd considering I'd already posted a Marriage PR which suggested this, sorry for not seeing the woods for the trees in my late-night enthusiasm ;-)

J