Memorial

Ampthill Camp Memorial

Dedicatory plaque

Source: Copyright C Garrand

1/3

Current Location

Ampthill Park, Ampthill, Mid Bedfordshire, Bedfordshire, MK45 2GU , England

OS Grid Reference

TL 02576 38353

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Cross
WMR Reference Number: 1683
Description: Latin stone cross on three step octagonal stone plinth with rectangular abutments on each corner. A metal sword is mounted at centre of cross face and cross terminals have carved bosses in the form of stylised roses with stamens. The head of cross shaft is decorated with foliate carving. The plinth has 16 faces to which bronze cast plaques were mounted. The coats of arms of the Duke of Bedford is carved in relief on upper plinth.
Inscription: 6 O'Clock Face: TO YOU WHO PASS IN QUEST OF HAPPY HOURS/ BEHOLD THE PRICE AT WHICH THOSE HOURS/ WERE BOUGHT STREW HERE THE FRAGRANCE OF MEMORIAL FLOWERS/ THE SILENT TRIBUTE OF A GRATEFUL THOUGHT IN MEMORY OF/ SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN/ OFFICERS WARRANT OFFICERS/ NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS/ AND MEN OF THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT/ WHO WERE TRAINED AT THE/ AMPTHILL CAMP/ AND WHO FELL FIGHTING IN THE/ GREAT WAR OF 1914-1918/ THIS CROSS IS ERECTED/ BY THEIR FIRST COMMANDING OFFICER/ HERBRAND XI DUKE OF BEDFORD/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS 9 O'Clock Face: STILL STANDS THIS CROSS FROM THAT DREAD/ HOUR TO THIS/ ERE SOME BRIGHT STAR ABOVE THE DARK ABYSS/ STILL THROUGH THE VEIL THE VICTOR STANDS/ LOOK DOWN TO THE (...) LANDS (?)/ LEST WE FORGET 2237/ OFFICERS AND MEN JOINED OF THEIR OWN FREE/ WILL UNDER VOLUNTARY ENLISTMENT/ NOT A MAN WAS ABSENT FROM PARADE WHEN/ THIS DRAFT MARCHED OUT OF THE CAMP FOR THE FRONT; COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE BECAME LAW IN 1916/ AMPTHILL PARK THEN CEASED TO BE A TRAINING/ CAMP FOR VOLUNTEERS AND BECAME A DEPOT AT WHICH/ 8569 MEN RETURNING WOUNDED AND INVALIDED/ FROM THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES RECEIVED REMIEDIAL/ TREATMENT 3543/ OF THESE MEN RETURNED TO THE FRONT LINE/ 10604 MEN/ PASSED THROUGH THE CAMP BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1914/ AND MARCH 1919/ REMEMBER THE LORD GREAT AND TERRIBLE/ AND FIGHT FOR YOUR BRETHREN YOUR SONS/ YOUR DAUGHTERS YOUR WIVES AND YOUR HOMES 12 O'Clock Face: PROUD YOU GATHERED RANK ON RANK TO WAR/ AS WHO HAD HEARD GOD'S MESSAGE FROM AFAR/ ALL YOU HAD HOPED FOR ALL YOU HAD YOU/ GAVE TO SAVE MANKIND YOURSELVES YOU SCORNED/ TO SAVE "HISTORY OF AMPTHILL CAMP"/ LORD KITCHENER WHEN SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR/ SPEAKING IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS IN SEPTEMBER 1914/ SAID "IF ANY RETIRED OFFICER COMPETENT TO TRAIN/ TROOPS HAS NOT YET APPLIED I HOPE HE WILL/ COMMUNICATE WITH ME AT THE WAR OFFICE/ IN WRITING" THE DUKE OF BEDFORD APPLIED AND CONSTRUCTED IN/ THE SPACE OF 2 MONTHS A HUTTED CAMP IN/ AMPTHILL PARK FOR THE ACCOMODATION OF 1000 MEN/ THIS CAMP WAS KNOWN AS THE BEDFORDSHIRE TRAINING/ DEPOT WHICH UNDER THE DUKE'S COMMAND FORMED A/ UNIT OF THE COUNTY REGIMENT AND SUPPLIED DRAFTS OF/ MEN TO 6 BEDFORDSHIRE BATTALIONS THE/ REGULAR ARMY SERVING IN FRANCE AND ITALY/ THE RECRUITING AREA COMPRISED BEDFORDSHIRE/ HERTFORDSHIRE AND HUNTINGDONSHIRE 3 O'Clock Face: O VALIANT HEARTS WHO TO YOUR GLORY CAME/ THROUGH DUST OF CONFLICT AND THRU BATTLE FLAME/ TRANQUIL YOU LIE, YOUR KNIGHTLY VIRTUE PROVED/ YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED IN THE LAND YOU LOVED/ THE CROSS OVERLOOKS THE HOLLOW/ DOWN WHICH 2235 OFFICERS AND MEN/ PASSED WHEN/ ON COMPLETION OF THEIR TRAINING/ THEY LEFT THE/ CAMP AT AMPTHILL/ TO JOIN THE/ BATTLE LINE IN FRANCE/ THE ROLL OF HONOUR ON THE BASE/ ON THE CROSS SHOWS THE SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN/ WHO WERE DESTINED NEVER TO RETURN/ DEATH (...) 4.30 O'Clock Face: (Names) 7.30 O'Clock Face: (Names)

War MemorialsRegister

Ampthill Camp Memorial

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Ampthill Camp Memorial

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

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