WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Name Joseph Edward Dodd
Regiment Royal West Surrey Regiment * see note below
Service Rank and Number Gunner 22099
Military Cemetery/Memorial Thiepval Memorial
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial Pier and Face 5D and 6D
Country of Cemetery/Memorial France
Medals Awarded
Date and Circumstances of Death He was killed at Ailes, France on either the 24th, 25th or the 27th February 1917 aged 19.
Biographical Details known He lived at Wellfield View, Northop Hall The 1901 census places him there as a three year old in the home of his widowed grandmother, Margaret Dodd. Also living in the house were four of her children George 26 was a brickyard labourer, William 22 was a coalminer as was 17 year old Charles. Margaret H was a ten year old daughter.
Joseph served 2years 8 months in the army. (*On the Flintshire Roll of Honour cards his regiment is described as 16th Lancs but his CWGC certificate and Northop Church memorial state the Royal West Surrey). The family gravestone in Northop churchyard is inscribed as follows,
Biographical Details Known
Regiment Royal West Surrey Regiment * see note below
Service Rank and Number Gunner 22099
Military Cemetery/Memorial Thiepval Memorial
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial Pier and Face 5D and 6D
Country of Cemetery/Memorial France
Medals Awarded
Date and Circumstances of Death He was killed at Ailes, France on either the 24th, 25th or the 27th February 1917 aged 19.
Biographical Details known He lived at Wellfield View, Northop Hall The 1901 census places him there as a three year old in the home of his widowed grandmother, Margaret Dodd. Also living in the house were four of her children George 26 was a brickyard labourer, William 22 was a coalminer as was 17 year old Charles. Margaret H was a ten year old daughter.
Joseph served 2years 8 months in the army. (*On the Flintshire Roll of Honour cards his regiment is described as 16th Lancs but his CWGC certificate and Northop Church memorial state the Royal West Surrey). The family gravestone in Northop churchyard is inscribed as follows,
Biographical Details Known
In Loving Memory of George Dodd
Who died Nov 22 1930
Aged 57 yrs
Peace perfect Peace
Also J E Dodd
RW Surrey Regiment
Who was killed in France
Feb 25th 1917
Aged 19
Also Thomas Wilcock
Beloved husband of Margaret H Wilcock
Died May 271932
Aged 61 years
Nearer my God to Thee
Who died Nov 22 1930
Aged 57 yrs
Peace perfect Peace
Also J E Dodd
RW Surrey Regiment
Who was killed in France
Feb 25th 1917
Aged 19
Also Thomas Wilcock
Beloved husband of Margaret H Wilcock
Died May 271932
Aged 61 years
Nearer my God to Thee
Visit to Thiepval Memorial 15th September 2008
These walls are on either side of the entrance to this huge memorial
We arrived at Thiepval towards the end of a long day. The sky was darkening and it was getting cold which accentuated the atmosphere at this place which commemorates a chilling and gruesome chapter in history.
This is another memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and it is situated next to the village of Thiepval, off the main Bapaume to Albert Road (D929).
Everything about it is vast. The memorial is huge but then it had to be to carry the names of more than 72,000 officers
More than 90% of those named were killed on the Somme in one five month period in 1916 (July to November).
This is another memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and it is situated next to the village of Thiepval, off the main Bapaume to Albert Road (D929).
Everything about it is vast. The memorial is huge but then it had to be to carry the names of more than 72,000 officers
More than 90% of those named were killed on the Somme in one five month period in 1916 (July to November).
The Thiepval Memorial is the largest British Military Memorial anywhere in the world.
Every year on 1st July a major ceremony is held at the Memorial.
Every year on 1st July a major ceremony is held at the Memorial.
We found Joseph's name and here Viv is pointing it out for the photograph.
Joseph E Dodd, a lad from Northop Hall.
This small cemetery which lies at the foot of the memorial contains the graves of equal numbers of French and Commonwealth graves, this is to recognise and honour the joint nature of the 1916 battle. The French graves are marked with simple crosses on the left of the photograph and the commonwealth graves on the right are marked with the traditional simple stone gravestones of the CWGC. All of these were unknown soldiers "Known unto God"
There was something very incongruous about this gigantic construction in the middle of what is now a peaceful, rural, agricultural area. It is surrounded by fields of crops and farmers working.