DEBT OF HONOUR REGISTER

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

JOHN 15:13

I was fortunate enough to be born in peace time, albeit just a few weeks after VE Day in 1945. So as I grew up as a child it was during a time when we celebrated our victory in World War 2. The cinemas were showing lots of film celebrating our exploits during that traumatic time, but as a young lad I gave no thought to what impact it had on families. To be sure, each Remembrance Day we attended the Memorial Service at the Bramhall War Memorial to honour, amongst others, my uncle, Roy Marples.

For years, as we sped along the A26 motorway from Calais to Rheims on our holidays, we could catch just the briefest glimpse of the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy Ridge. Then one year we had a long weekend in early December in Arras, not far from Vimy Ridge. So on a cold, dank & misty Sunday morning my wife & I decided to visit it. It turned out to be one of the most moving experiences of my life.

We climbed steadily out of Arras up to the Ridge, passing through pine forests with signs warning of unexploded munitions and the zigzag trenches still visible. Eventually we parked in a deserted car park and followed signs for the memorial. We arrived at the path leading to the memorial to be greeted with the only sign of its type I have ever seen. It said: "No dogs allowed - including guide dogs". There was a plinth recording the gift of the plot of land by the Government of France to the people of Canada in perpetuity as thanks for their supreme sacrifice in World War 1.

As we walked towards the memorial it gradually loomed out at us from the mist. It was enormous. The memorial itself was mounted on a double plinth. As we approached I commented that the stonework of the plinth looked distinctly moth-eaten compared to the smooth stone of the sculpture above. Only when we drew near did I see, to my horror, that the reason why the plinth looked that way was because it was simply covered with names - not hundreds of names, not thousands of names, but tens of thousands of names.

The weather cleared and I could look down from the heights of Vimy Ridge. As I did so I could only think with despair at the desperate loss of life as it took 6 Canadian divisions to scale the heights and eventually win the Ridge. Only then did it really sink in that for each name of those tens of thousands of brave soldiers it meant a family ruined forever, with grieving mothers, wives, sweethearts and children. I determined then that I would do what I could to honour, in particular, those members of our family who made the ultimate and supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives so that we today can enjoy the freedoms and liberty that we from time to time take so much for granted.

I made sure that my children knew of what had happened. Not so long ago I took them to the Menin Gate, at Ypres in Belgium. This World War 1 memorial lists around 56,000 names of soldiers who have no known grave. Just think of it - 56,000 brave lads, a lot of whom had no choice over whether they served or not. Although World War 1 finished over 86 years ago, nevertheless at 8.00 p.m. each evening, come rain or shine, the Gate is closed to traffic (it straddles one of the main roads out of Ypres). Volunteers from the town's fire service parade and play Last Post on their bugles. It is a very simple, yet very moving ceremony. When we were there I was pleased to see that lots of parties of schoolchildren were present to witness a ceremony that has taken place every day since the memorial was opened. The only time when Last Post was not sounded was when the town was occupied during World War 2. Even then, it was sounded on the evening of the very day that the town was liberated.

This section is dedicated, with grateful thanks, to the memory of the members of the family who fell in service of their country. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 38 Marples whose graves are in their care. Of these, I can positively identify 13 as being members of our family. I have subsequently identified 35 further family members who come from female lines. It is particularly poignant and sad to have to record the deaths of two brothers and their first cousin, all members of the Sames family, and who all died in World War I, 2 brothers from the Settle family who served in the Army & Royal Flying Corps during World War I, and 2 brothers from the Sharp family who both served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. There are almost certainly more members of my family to record, but have yet to be discovered, and I apologize for their omission at this time. I hope in due course to be able to visit all their graves and memorials to honour them individually. (In July 2006 we visited 14 cemeteries and memorials. For a write up of our pilgrimage click on the link to the page War Graves & Cemeteries at the foot of this page.)

In the meantime, here are the ones I have identified. Include them in your prayers!

Wing Commander ROY MARPLES, DFC & Bar, Royal Air Force

Died on Wednesday, 26^th April 1944, aged 24

Buried in Chichester Cemetery, Sussex.

Lieutenant SIDNEY MARPLE, 52^nd Battalion, Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Infantry

Died on Thursday, 28^th June 1917, aged 28.

Buried in the Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France.

Sub-Lieutenant JOHN FRANCIS DAVID MARPLES, Royal Navy, serving on HMS Janus

Died on 23^rd April 1944 off the Anzio, Italy beachhead, aged 19.

Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

Serjeant CHARLES MARPLES, Coldstream Guards

Died on 28^th September 1915, aged 28

Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Serjeant SAMUEL MARPLES, 2^nd/6^th South Staffordshire Regiment

Died on 29^th July 1944, aged 29.

Buried in St. Michael’s, Lichfield and commemorated on the screen wall

Sergeant FRANK RONALD MARPLES, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 142 Squadron

Died on Tuesday, 23^rd February 1943, aged 29.

Commemorated on the Malta Memorial in Valetta.

Corporal ROBERT MARTIN MARPLES, Intelligence Corps.

Died on 3^rd April 1943, aged 29.

Buried in the East Finchley Cemetery, London.

Private GEORGE MARPLES, 13^th Battalion, Australian Infantry, AIF.

Died on Monday, 14^th August 1916, aged 43

Commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme France.

(George’s name is 6 names above the poppy – it was too high up the panel for us to reach.)

Private HAROLD THOMAS MARPLES, 7^th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

Died on Wednesday, 19^th July 1916, aged 27.

Buried in St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.

Marine JOHN MARPLES, Royal Marines

Died on Saturday, 13^th November 1943, aged 19.

Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

Driver ROBERT SEWELL MARPLES, 457^th Field Company, Royal Engineers

Died on Monday, 3^rd December 1917, aged 21.

Buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.

Private STANLEY MARPLES, 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Died on Saturday, 7^th April 1945, aged 25.

Buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

Private WILLIAM HENRY NOEL MARPLES, 2^nd Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company.

Died on Thursday, 15^th March 1917, aged 19.

Buried in the Gommecourt British Cemetery No. 2, Hebuterne, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Lieutenant Commander (E) DONALD EDWARD SMEETON, Royal Navy, serving on HMS Glorious

Died on 8^th June 1940 in the Norwegian Sea, aged 31

Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial

Captain MELLARD SETTLE, 1^st/5^th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment

Died on 23^rd December 1918, aged 23

Buried in the churchyard of Christ Church, Alsager, Cheshire

Flight Lieutenant JOHN FRANCIS SHARP, 106 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Died on 3^rd July 1941 over Germany, aged 26

Buried in the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany

Lieutenant WILLIAM FIELDING SAMES, 4^th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment

Died on 31^st May 1915, during the Gallipoli campaign, aged 22

Commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey

Second Lieutenant HOWELL THOMAS BALL, 36^th Field Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Died on 26^th April 1917, aged 25

Buried in the Roclincourt Valley Cemetery, France

Second Lieutenant GILBERT FIELDING SAMES, 10^th Battalion, Tank Corps

Died on 24^th October 1918, aged 20

Buried in the Premont British Cemetery, France

Second Lieutenant REGINALD WILLIAM SETTLE, 15 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps

Died on 23^rd July 1916, aged 25

Buried in the Beauval Communal Cemetery, France

Pilot Officer ANDREW FANSHAWE SHARP, 206 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 12^th June 1941 over the Atlantic, aged 20

Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial

Leading Stoker BERTRAM WOOD, DSM, Royal Navy, serving on HMS Havock

Died on 25^th April 1942, aged 44.

Buried in Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia

Quartermaster Sergeant JOSEPH HENRY WORSLEY, Royal Engineers

Died on 29^th October 1939, aged 36

Buried in Rastrick Cemetery, Yorkshire

Sergeant GORDON BOWRING, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died on 25^th November 1943, aged 24.

Buried in the Florence War Cemetery, Italy

Sergeant JOEL THOMAS BAMFORD, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 38 Squadron

Died on 14^th May 1944, aged 21

Commemorated on the El Alamein Memorial, Egypt

Lance Serjeant JOHN GREGSON, 1^st/6^th Battalion,

Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment

Died on 15^th May 1918, aged 38.

Buried in Wrexham Cemetery

Corporal ROBERT ROBINSON HEAP, 6^th Battalion, Border Regiment

Died on 7^th June 1917, aged 27

Buried in the Wytschaete Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium

Able Seaman GEOFFREY MARPLES EDWARDES, Anson Battalion,

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

Died on 3^rd September 1917, aged 20

Buried in the Naval Trench Cemetery, Gavrelle, France

Stoker 1^st Class JOHN WILLIAM FLETCHER, Royal Navy, serving on HMS Queen Mary

Died on 31^st May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland, aged 21

 Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire

Able Seaman JOHN O'NEILL, Royal Navy, serving on HM Submarine Urge

Died on 6^th May 1942 off Malta, aged 22

Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.

Private GEORGE ASHTON, 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers

Died on 2nd July 1916, aged 20.

He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Private JOEL BAMFORD, 9^th Battalion, Royal Scots

Died on 20^th September 1917, aged 19

Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres, Belgium

Private ALLAN BOWRING, 15^th Battalion, Sherwood Forresters

Died on 28^th March 1918, aged 31.

Commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France

Private WILLIAM BOWRING, 1^st Battalion, Manchester Regiment.

Died on 8^th March 1916, aged 43.

Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.

Private ALBERT EDWARD BURRELL, 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Died on 20th September 1918 in France, aged 33.

Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France

Private HAROLD STANLEY DOLDEN, 1^st/7^th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

Died on 17^th August 1917, aged 24

Buried in the Huts Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium

Private GEORGE FURNISS, 1^st/6^th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own)

Died on 10^th My 1915, aged 21

Commemorated on the Ploegstreet Memorial, near Ypres, Belgium

Sapper THOMAS HENRY GODLEY, 2^nd Field Company, Australian Engineers

Died on 18^th March 1915, aged 33

Buried in the Cairo War Cemetery, Egypt

Private ERNEST GREGORY, 150^th Field Ambulance, Royal Marines

Died on 8^th April 1918, aged 20

Buried in the Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension, No. 1, France

Private GEORGE WILLIAM HOLMES, 18^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Died on 30^th July 1916 at Guillemont, Somme, France, aged 28

Commemorated on the Thiepval memorial

Private JAMES WILLIAM KNIVETON, 2^nd/5^th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

(Notts & Derby Regiment)

Died on 15^th April 1918, aged 19

Commemorated on the Ploegstreet Memorial, near Ypres, Belgium

Private LUTHER MARTIN, 12^th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

Died on 6^th January 1918, aged 29

Buried in the Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France

Private HERBERT COLIN SAMES, D Company, 1^st/6^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment

Died on 23^rd January 1915, aged 20

Buried in the Chatby War Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt

Private WILFRED SLINN, 1^st Battalion, Coldstream Guards

Died on 31^st July 1917, aged 25

Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium

Private HUGH GOODWIN STROYAN, 16^th Battalion, Manitoba Regiment, 

Canadian Infantry.

Died on 23^rd April 1915, aged 18.

Buried in the Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa about 5 km north-east of Ypres in Belgium.

Telegraphist ENOS YATES TAYLOR, Royal Navy, 

serving on HM Landing Craft Gun 2

Died on 1^st November 1944 off Ostende, Belgium, aged 22.

Buried in the Ostende New Communal Cemetery, Belgium

Private CYRIL WATTAM, Royal Army Service Corps

attached to the HQ 4th Parachute Brigade

Died on 25/26th September 1944, aged 24

He is buried in the Amerongen (Holleweg) General Cemetery

"WHEN YOU GO HOME, TELL THEM OF US AND SAY:

FOR YOUR TOMORROW WE GAVE OUR TODAY"

WAR GRAVE CEMETERIES & MEMORIALS

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