Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News - Saturday 13 May 1922 (page 6) reported:
'WENDOVER'S WAR MEMORIAL. THE UNVEILING CEREMONY. In the brilliant sunshine of the first glimpse of spring weather so far vouchsafed in this uncertain climate, Wendover's memorial to the great and glorious dead was unveiled on Sunday afternoon by Major Edwin P. Smith, the lord of the Manor, who deputised for the Lord Lieutenant, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, who was prevented by indisposition from attending. Over 500 of the inhabitants of the township attended the ceremony, and they were joined by friends from Aylesbury and the villages near. On parade were the ex-service men numbering over 70 under Capt. Agnew, the Girl Guides and Brownies under Miss Otway Mayne and Mrs. Simon Ord, Miss Smith and Miss Purssell; the Rover Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster Armstrong Brown. Supporting the Lord of the Manor were the Chairman of the Parish Council (Mr. F W. Blake) and the following members: Messrs. F. J. Pedel, W. L. Cannon (vice chairman), J. Rance, H. Wood, F. Sears, H. Stafford, E. W. Margetts and G. Pickop (the latter parading with the ex-service men) and J. S. Mayne (clerk), with Mr. A. Morley, who with Mr. Margetts represents Wendover on the Wycombe Board of Guardians and Rural Council. Others present were Lady Lincolnshire, General Sir Bruce Hamilton, Col. Lionel A. Smith, Col. Geoffrey S. Smith, Mr. A. Hudson, K.C., Dr. Leonard H. West, O.B.E., and Mrs. West, Mrs. Agnew, Alderman R. W. Locke, Major Otway Mayne, Mr. and Mrs. F. Longley, Mr. C. E. Wrigley. The choir boys in their surplices led the singing, which was accompanied by the Wendover Band, conducted by Mr. Wymark Stratton, and the members must be congratulated on the able way in which they accompanied the hymns sung during the service of dedication. The service opened with the hymn "O God our help in ages past," followed by the Lord's Prayer, led by the Rev. C. L. Burges, curate of Wendover, in which the people all reverently joined. The collect "Grant, we beseech Thee, merciful Lord, to Thy people pardon and peace," followed, and the Baptist Minister (the Rev. T. J. Pennell, H.C.F.), who wore his chaplain's uniform, impressively read the prayer from the office for the burial of the dead, "Almighty God, in Whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord," the Rev. M. H. Roberts, Congregational Minister, following with the: prayer "O Heavenly Father, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, did weep at the grave of Lazarus His friend." Before unveiling the memorial, which consists of a slender shaft of Portland stone surmounted by an old English stone-work lantern and cross, with a pedestal of stone and panelled brick work, Major Smith said he was very sorry that at the last moment Lord Lincolnshire did not find himself well enough to come over to unveil the memorial. They would all join with him in regretting his absence, for he was not coming over to Wendover to unveil a War Memorial as Lord Lieutenant, but because of the close connection of his family with Wendover. They all knew and grieved with his Lordship in the loss during the war of his only son, Lord Wendover. He was, however, glad to say that Lady Lincolnshire had kindly attended to represent the Lord Lieutenant. It was a great compliment to Wendover that she had attended. He had been asked by the Committee to take Lord Lincolnshire's place and to unveil that Memorial erected to the memory of over 50 men from Wendover, all of them their dear friends who made the supreme sacrifice. Their names were recorded in the Parish Church. The memorial was an expression of Wendover's deep gratitude for victory, for the peace they brought us and for the sacrifice they made. Major Smith then removed the Union Jack which draped the column and the Rev. C. L. Burges read the dedicatory prayer. After the last hymn, "All people that on earth dwell," the "Last Post" was sounded by trumpeters from Halton, viz., Sergt. Taylor, A. C. 2 Carrington, A.C. Le Plond. Mr. F. W. Blake placed the first wreath on the foot of the memorial, with the words, "On behalf of the inhabitants of this ancient township, I place this wreath on the memorial in honour of all who served or suffered in the Great War." Relatives and friends followed, beautiful floral tributes being brought to honour the memory of the sacred dead. The National Anthem brought a short and simple ceremony to a close. Mr. Gerald Cogswell was the architect, and the work was carried out by a Salisbury firm. Major Smith has made himself responsible for the collection of the money to defray the cost, which was estimated at about £350. The bells rang a muffled peal previous to the ceremony. Among the many wreaths were the following: In memoriam; from the inhabitants of Wendover; In everlasting memory of our Comrades who fell in the Great War, 1914-1918, Wendover Branch, British Legion; From Major and Mrs. E. P. Smith, Barbara, Pamela, Venetia; In memory of the Boys fallen from Wendover, Tom Smith; In memory of our dear Brother, H. Fantham; In loving memory of our dear Frank, from T. Birch; From Mr. and Mrs. F. Longley in grateful remembrance; To the ever cherished memory of our boys, Sam, Ted and Sid Harding; In loving memory of our dear boys Alfred and Fred Pedel; In affectionate remembrance, Thomas and Gordon Carter; To our dear boys never forgotten; In everlasting remembrance of G. B. T, London Scottish; Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, to the unfailing memory of James Norman Johns; In loving memory of Private Walter Deering; In loving memory of Sergt. Nunn; In loving memory of Pte. C. H. Caudrey; In loving memory, from Mrs. Spittals and family; From Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley'.
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