The Saffron Walden Weekly News, 28/10/1921, reported the unveiling: 'The War Memorial to the 24 men of Ashdon who sacrificed their lives in the Great War was unveiled on Sunday 23 October 1921 by Major-General Sir S. W. Hare KCMG, CB in the presence of a large number of inhabitants. The scene was a most impressive one. Ex-servicemen, having paraded, marched into position headed by the Hadstock Band. On the General arriving he inspected the ex-Servicemen, after which he read out the names of the fallen. The General then unveiled the Memorial, and the Last Post having been sounded, he gave a short address appropriate to the occasion, with touching reference to the loss the parish had sustained by the passing of those men, who so nobly gave their live for King and Country. The dedicatory prayer having been read, the Hymn For all the Saints was sung followed by a reading of a portion of scripture. Another Hymn O God Our Help in Ages Past was followed by the Benediction. The Reveille was sounded and a vote of thanks accorded to the General. Relatives and friends then placed their floral tributes at the base of the Memorial and the singing of the National Anthem brought the ceremony to a close. The Rev. C.H. Hartley (Rector) and the Rev W.T. Shephard (Baptist Pastor) officiated at the Service'.

"Lest We Forget: The First World War Memorials of Uttlesford District", published by Recorders of Uttlesford History, 2014; ISBN 978-1-873669-14-3, pages 4 and 5, include a photo of the unveiling service, in which a trench gun is visible atop the plinth. The book contains the following comment re the omission from the memorial of the names of 3 of the 24 local men who had died: 'The names of the three Kent brothers are missing, since Richard and Ellen Kent, who lived at Church End, Ashdon, did not want their sons' names to be inscribed - an understandable response to the unbearable tragedy of losing three sons in the war'. (The three brothers, Frederick, Erasmus and Albert Kent, were included on the memorial within All Saints' Church in Ashdon - our record of which can be found at https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22975 ).

The War Memorials Trust's records of this memorial can be found at https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/101141/ and http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=544

https://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/news/ashdon-war-heroine-who-died-saving-american-airmen-after-their-5299982 reported on 18/8/2014: 'Ashdon war heroine who died saving American airmen after their plane crashed in 1944 is remembered. A woman who died rescuing American airmen after their Havoc bomber crashed in Ashdon during the Second World War was remembered last week. Elizabeth Everitt and the 27 Ashdon men killed in the two world wars were honoured when the village came together to commemorate the centenary of the First World War on August 6. Paying their respects were residents who directly descended from those who died in both world wars. The bronze plaque on the front of the stone lists the 24 Ashdon men who died in the Great War, including Walter Williams, remembered on the day by his great-nephew Keith Williams, three Bartram brothers, whose niece and nephew Kath and John Bartram attended, and Luke Furze, whose 94-year-old sister Pat, her husband George, and their daughter Sarah marked his memory. Following the Second World War, a further four names were added – two RAF Pilots, one soldier, and Mrs Everitt, who was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal for her bravery. At that time it was the highest honour awarded for gallantry for saving life. Mrs Everitt’s daughter-in-law, Norma Everitt, was also present and proudly displayed the medal. The leader of Uttlesford District Council (UDC), Councillor Howard Rolfe attended the service, and afterwards said: “The debt that we owe the men and women who have died in service of this country is immeasurable, but by keeping their names alive for future generations to witness, they will never be forgotten.” Ashdon war memorial, erected in 1921 following an appeal in the village, has just been refurbished thanks in part to a grant from UDC'.

ESSEX AIRFIELDS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR by SMITH, G 173 Source: Image Library (re Mrs Elizabeth/Betty Everitt).