- Type of Memorial
- Battlefield cross or marker
- WMR Reference Number
- 49908
- Description
- Battlefield cross and framed and glazed dedication with two battlefield scenes and drawings of poppies growing out of grassland.
- Inscription
- A SACRED RELIC/ "THERE'S A HOST OF WOODEN CROSSES/ IN THE WOUNDED HEART OF FRANCE;/ WHERE THE CORNFLOWERS USED TO GLISTEN/ AND THE BLOOD RED POPPIES DANCE."/ WAR POEM/ ONE OF THESE WOODEN CROSSES, NOW REPLACED BY/ THE PERMANENT HEADSTONE, HAS FOUND ITS LAST RESTING PLACE/ ON THE NORTH WALL OF OUR PARISH CHURCH./ IT IS THE CROSS WHICH STOOD OVER THE GRAVE OF ERIC/ D'AUVERGNE COLLINGS, 2ND LIEUTENANT, 1ST BATTALION THE QUEEN'S/ (ROYAL WEST SURREY) REGIMENT, YOUNGEST SON OF ONE OF OUR/ RESPECTED SIDESMAN, DR C D'A COLLINGS, OF THE GRANGE./ ERIC COLLINGS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY AT THE EARLY AGE/ OF 19 YEARS ON AUGUST 23RD, 1916 ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE SOMME./ SURELY THERE HAS BEEN NO PROUDER MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF/ THE OLD PARISH CHURCH THAN THE OCCASION WHEN IT RECEIVED/ WITHIN ITS WALLS THIS SACRED RELIC OF THE GREAT WAR AND SAW IT/ PLACED ALONGSIDE THE ALABASTER MEMORIAL ERECTED TO THE/ MEMORY OF THAT GALLANT BRITISH OFFICER./ THIS ACCOUNT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THE PARISH MAGAZINE OF THE TIME.