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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Captain H J Savill RN

    Memorial Plaque

    Source: Andrew Harris

    1/1

    Current Location

    Memorial placed inside on the south wall of the Church, St Mary the Virgin Church, Church Street, Bocking, Braintree, Essex, CM7 5JY, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TL 75689 25684

    Denomination

    Church of England

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-22060

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    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    22060
    Description
    Oval brass plaque within a marble frame. All lettering is raised upper-case.
    Inscription
    IN MEMORY OF/ HERBERT JOHN SAVILL R.N./ CAPTAIN OF H.M.S. HAMPSHIRE/ WHO ON ACTIVE SERVICE AT SEA/ JUNE 5 1916/ GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY/ A GALLANT EXAMPLE TO HIS MEN/ AND/ AN HONOUR TO THIS PARISH/ THIS TABLET IS ERECTED AS A/ LASTING RECORD BY HIS FRIENDS/ IN BOCKING AND DISTRICT/ AIMEE VIOLET HIS WIFE/ AT REST, JULY 27 1915.
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    1
    Died
    1
    Information shown
    Forenames, surname, rank, military unit, manner of death, date of death, relationships
    Maker(s)
    • Cecil G Hare, Designer

    Sponsor Type
    private
    Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information
    The memorial was funded 'by local friends, at the instance of Dr. J. Harrison, H.M. Coroner for East Essex'.

    Ceremonies

    Dedicated

    26 November 1916

    The Dean of Bocking officiated

    Custodian
    Church of England

    Components

    Frame

    Height: 500mm

    Width: 350mm


    Made from: Marble - Black


    Condition: Good


    Plaque

    Made from: Brass


    Condition: Good


    Chelmsford Chronicle Friday 1/12/1916 reported: 'WAR MEMORIALS at BOCKING. CAPT. SAVILL AND LIEUT. OLLETT. On Sunday morning the Dean of Bocking officiated at Bocking Parish Church, where brass memorial tablets have been erected to two Bocking officers who fell in the war: Capt. Herbert John Savill, R.N., who was in command of H.M.S. Hampshire when she went down off the coast of Scotland with Lord Kitchener and his staff on board as they were proceeding to Russia; and Lieut. A. O. Ollett, Essex Regt., son of the Dean's warden at Bocking Church (Mr. O. J Ollett), who fell in France. The memorial to Capt. Savill was raised by local friends, at the instance of Dr. J. Harrison, H.M. Coroner for East Essex, and it is placed in the south wall of Bocking Church, below the tablet to his father, the late Col. S. G. Savill, of Boleyns, Bocking. The brass tablets, designed Mr. C. G. Hare, London, are enclosed in marble frames, that to Lieut. Ollett being also in the south wall, between the windows. The tablets bear the following inscriptions:— "In memory of Herbert John Savill, R.N.. Captain H.M.S. Hampshire, who on active service at sea, June 5. 1916, gave his life for his country. A gallant example to his men and an honour to this parish. This tablet is erected as a lasting record by his friends in Bocking and district. Aimee Violet, his wife, at rest July 27, 1910." "In loving memory of Alfred Oscar Ollett, of this parish, aged 21 years, 2nd-Lieut. Essex Regt.. who on April 27. 1916, fell in action at Calonne, and was laid to rest at Bully Grenay. France." The service opened with the processional hymn, "Let saints on earth in concert sing," and the hymn, "Eternal Father, strong to save," was also sung. The Dean of Bocking, preaching on the value of good works, said the walls of Bocking Church were now graced with lasting memorials to two Bocking officers, who, although their duties were different, yet each served his God, his country, and his King. Each did his task in varying circumstances; each had completed his task and had been taken by Almighty God into His eternal and loving care. Capt. Savill was a gallant sailor, who had reached high rank, and came fresh from the battle of Jutland to be entrusted with a most important and perilous mission; he went forth to do his duty and died in the attempt. When he sailed with his ship the task set him was completed; he set an example of gallantry which would be remembered in the British Navy. The other tablet which graced the walls of the church was to Lieut. Ollett, a young man in the prime of life, beloved by all in the parish: brought up in the happiest surroundings. He gave his life, which was all he had, for his country. The two monuments were graceful examples of what should be placed in their church, and after the war was over it was hoped the other Bocking men who had fallen would be permanently commemorated there also. At the conclusion of the service the congregation, which included soldiers of the Royal Scots, sang " God save the King," and then remained standing while Miss Yeldham played " Rule Britannia" on the organ'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000322/19161201/043/0005
  • Biographical details of the Parish's WW1 casualties are on the Church website https://www.stmarys-bocking.com/great-war-memorial
  • A photo of Herbert John Savill and of the panel of Portsmouth Naval Memorial on which he is commemorated, can be found at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56705364/herbert-john-savill
  • https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3038353/herbert-john-savill/
  • https://www.everyoneremembered.org/profiles/soldier/3038353/
  • https://battleofjutlandcrewlists.miraheze.org/wiki/HMS_Hampshire_Crew_List_(Photographs)