Gloucester Journal - Saturday 14 August 1920 (page 3) printed a lengthy report of the unveiling:
'Upton St. Leonards War Memorial. UNVEILING AND DEDICATION CEREMONY.
With impressive ceremony, the cross erected at Upton St. Leonards in memory of the men of the village who fell in the war, was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday afternoon.
The cross, which stands in the corner of the churchyards, near the school, is a handsome stone monument, comprising a massive base, and a large cross bearing the figure of the Saviour. Upon the central panel of the base is the following inscription and on the other panels the following names of the fallen appear in order, according to the years in which they fell:
"In grateful memory of the men from this parish who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914 - 1918." Henry Panter, George Avery, Arthur Edward Ballinger, Arthur Percival Dearman Birchall, Walter Ireland, Ernest Phelps, Arthur Cameron, Rupert Ancrum Evans, Henry Hopkins, Arthur James Mourbey, Sydney Millard, Edward Bailey, Francis John Spring, George Henry Miles, Reuben Edward Lloyd, Daniel John Smith, Edward Vivian Dearman Birchall, Henry Isaac Tranter, William George Ridler, William Francis Dyer, Frederick John Chorley, Arthur Edwin Barnard, Luther Hardy, Francis George Smith, Ernest Frank Williams, Lewis Henry Lloyd, Arthur Charles Rice, Harold Samuel Millard, Edwin James Mills, Albert John Smith, Theo Dashwood, Ewart Smith, Alfred James Davis, Lionel Arthur Jackson, John Webb, Henry Ridler.
The memorial, designed by Mr. George Warren, of London, and erected by Messrs. W. T. Nicholls and Sons., Ltd., was provided by subscription. The first part of the service took place in the church, which was filled, the surpliced choir being in attendance. The clergy taking part were the Rector (Canon Brewster) ,the Curate (Rev. C. E. Ind), and the Rev. J. Uttley Helliwell (Superintendent Minister of the Gloucester Wesleyan Circuit).
The second part of the service took place around the memorial, a procession being formed, lead by a banner-bearer, the choir and clergy, and including the relatives of the fallen, men who had served in the war, and volunteers.
The cross was unveiled by Major J. Dearman Birchall, M.P., and dedicated by the Rector with the words. "To the honour and glory of God, and in memory of these whose names are here recorded, whose lives have been given in the service of their country, we dedicate this cross; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen".
The hymns sung were "Onward, Christian Soldiers," "O valiant hearts, who to your glory came," and "When I survey the Wondrous Cross". "Last Post" and "Reveille" were sounded by two buglers from the camp of the 5th Gloucesters at Sneedham's Green, and the first verse of the National Anthem was sung. Appropriate voluntaries were played by the organist, Mr. Genge. At the close of the ceremony relatives of the fallen placed floral emblems at the foot of the memorial, one of the first to do so being a lad who was wearing his dead father's 1914 medal.
After the unveiling and dedication of the memorial, Major Birchall addressed the assembly. He said the cross before which they stood would bring many things to the minds of everyone. To those whose loved ones' names appeared upon its panels it would bring memories too sacred and too private ever to be revealed. It would remind the people of Upton generally of men who had, most of them, been born in Upton and lived amongst them; who knew those lanes and hills which spread before them, and that school in which many of them were taught the eternal truths which they never forgot. It would remind all who saw it of the share Upton men had in the Great War, which began almost to a day six years ago: a share which the descendants of the present generation of Upton people might well look back upon with pride, for no fewer than 36 men from that country village had given their lives in the cause of right against might and for the defence of the weak against the strong. The dedication of the cross had given it spiritual power to remind all who passed by of the wondrous truths for which stood. Although their visible memorial was beautiful, it was not, in itself, a sufficient memorial. Memories of their fallen friends should lead them to bring into their lives and homes something better and more worthy of the great sacrifices which their men had made. That cross should remind them of that great spirit of fellowship which sprang amongst the men who fought, fellowship in which officers and men alike gave their lives without thought of social position, wealth, or attainments. One sacrifice was common to them all. They gave everything, regardless of everything. There was nothing to distinguish between them in the sacrifice they made, and there was no distinction of rank or position in the inscriptions upon the cross which had been erected to their memory. One common sacrifice, one common memorial.
In every part of the world where British soldiers had fought and died there would be a little bit of England, their resting-place being marked by one common headstone. How different would the world be to-day if men remembered and brought into their daily lives the fellowship which existed in the trenches. As it was, they saw around them strife, envy, and mistrust. They looked round upon a world gone wrong. They had hoped for better things; for a world which would be better for the sacrifice made for it, and they were disappointed and almost disheartened, but when they looked at that cross they could look over the sea of troubles which surrounded them to something better, something greater, something which would carry them through to the end. That cross would remind them of the words of Jesus Christ. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me".'
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000532/19200814/015/0003 