St John the Baptist
Wednesday, 22 August 2018 (11–3–14)
1260 Doubles
300 Grandsire, 480 Reverse Canterbury Pleasure Bob & Plain Bob
1 Felicity A Lewis
2 Sarat E R White
3 Leonard A Huckstep
4 Douglas Neve
5 Michael J Little (C)
6 Freda E Parker
Rung in memoriam of Gunner Henry Staplehurst, a Margate ringer who died of wounds in France in 1918.
He was the only one of six St John’s ringers who served in France & did not return.
Henry served as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery with D Battery 50th Brigade.
On 18th August 1918, this Brigade, with the rest of the 9th Division Artillery, fired a barrage to support the attempt to capture the Outtersteene Ridge.
This action was successful and pressure was maintained on the enemy until the end of that month.
He was probably hit by counter fire; he died of wounds on 22nd August 1918 and is buried in La Kreule Military Cemetery near Hazebrouck in Nord, France.
Henry had joined the Kent County Association of Change Ringers in 1911 and when the associate's librarian Hazel Basford and other local ringers visited the cemetery some years ago, they played a recording of the Canterbury Cathedral bells as a tribute to him.
£3.00