Writings on the Wall by Sylvia McKean January 2022
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Writings on the Wall by Sylvia McKean January 2022
Last September on one of the National Heritage (free entrance) Open Days I took advantage of making a return visit to Quex Park Birchington. I was actually seeking information on a particular taxidermist which unfortunately I did not find, however I did discover some interesting artefacts with a Herne Bay link. Cemented into the veranda wall of the museum are fragments of carved and inscribed stones depicting foliage, scrolls and figures. ( see picture aside)
The inscriptions (close- up image seen here) are mostly memorials and according to Quex Park historians, almost certainly fragments of Roman memorial gravestones.
How did they come to be at Quex Park?
Major Percy Horace Powell Cotton (1866- 1944) was well known for his many expeditions to Africa and Asia where he collected a wide variety of animal specimens and related artefacts which form the basis of the museum’s displays.
Although Percy spent his early life in London, he regularly visited the family home at Garlinge Margate for week- ends and holidays. By 1884 the family had purchased Quex House which Percy helped his father to modernise. It was around this time that a young Percy, obviously with a keen eye for historic collectables, bought the Roman fragments. He wrote to his father Henry seeking guidance on how many to buy and the cost; “Shall I offer £8.00? Shall I ask for all the [memorial] stones…the two old men on pillars would do nicely for the garden at Quex?” Percy revealed in his letter that the Roman ‘marbles’ – as he called them, were found in a garden in Herne Bay. The plaque at Quex Museum containing this information does not state in whose garden they were found or who the vendor was, although it does say that Percy sent a letter from the vendor to his father. I wonder if the garden belonged to Herne Bay’s Antiquarian Dr Tom Bowes (1868- 1954) or perhaps another of Herne Bay’s early collectors?
Do they have a link to Roman Reculver? Perhaps this information has already been
or perhaps more digging around is needed?
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100 Years Ago Herne’s First World War Memorial unveiled
Cover of Herne's Heros. See publications.
100 Years Ago Herne’s First World War Memorial unveiled
Sylvia McKean June 19th 2020
Herne & Broomfield Local History Group
This spring the UK has made history as having been the sunniest since records began in 1929. One hundred years ago June 29 1920 a Kent village was also experiencing sunshine then described by Rev Giles Daubeney as ‘glorious weather’. It was on this day that he led the service which unveiled the war memorial to those sixty-six men who lost their lives in the First World War. Parents, wives, brothers, sisters and children of Herne’s fallen would have turned out dressed in their best summer clothes carrying their flowers of remembrance. They stood around the new memorial under the shade of the ancient churchyard yews.
Rev Daubeney was keen to get a memorial in place as early as possible and the idea was first mooted at a vestry meeting at the beginning of 1917. A public meeting was held in the village in December 1918 when a committee of parishioners and relatives was formed to decide; a suitable design, where it should be erected and to organise subscriptions. The Parish magazine records subscription as little as 5 shillings and as much as 5 guineas.
Who are these men? There are seven sets of brothers. The youngest to join the Services was aged 15 years. The youngest to die was “not quite seventeen.” There is a Victoria Cross recipient amongst them, as well as 2 Military Crosses, a Distinguished Service Medal and 2 Military Medal awards. Seven served in the Royal Navy.
As well as a core of men from Herne parish the memorial encompasses places worldwide with which they had links. They had a diversity of occupations including; bankers, stockbrokers, art & antiques Dealer, tea importers and plantation owner from Ceylon (Sri Lanka), China, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Canada. The extraordinary story of a Missionary and Military Chaplain adds an extra dimension.
In Kent the servicemen came from families with links to Canterbury, Birchington, Sturry, Sittingbourne and Faversham. One sailor’s mystery has not been solved. Edwin (Edward) McManus came from a seafaring family with links to Gillingham, Faversham and Whitstable and despite numerous searches Edwin’s role in the war and his demise have not been discovered.
The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant of Kent Lord Harris of Belmont House Faversham – sadly he was to unveil many more such Kent memorials. He was accompanied by Major Prescott-Westcar OBE and Mrs B. Prescott-Westcar of Strode Park. The cadets of Herne Bay College and Herne Scouts formed the guard of honour. Herne Bay Press reported that; “the relatives and friends made a most pathetic group. Most of them were carrying wreaths and the air was filled with the scent of flowers.” Some beautiful prayers, words of comfort for the mourners were read and a muffled peal was rung before and after the service when College buglers played the Last Post. Rev Daubeney described it as a short but impressive service.
Remembered each by name every November Remembrance Day, I know many are also thought of daily by their families and descendants from near and far.
In his dedication speech Lord Harris said; “It remains for us now to do all we can to show our gratitude, and we now place some substantial memorial, something that will last long after we have gone, that will show what we thought of the them in this day, how we honoured them, how we reverenced their memory and revered their courage.”
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