At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
As the nation commemorates the centenary of the First World War, described as thr Great
War for civilisation, St Martin's Church remembers the four young men of Shipton Gorge
who answered their King and Country's call and died that we might live.
Private John William Gale, 3rd Bttalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
John William Gale (Known to his family as Jack) was the son of William Stone Gale and Mary Ann Gale, who at the time
of his death lived at Greenway in Chapel Street, Shipton Gorge. In 1911 Jack was living with his parents, his brother
Thomas ans his sister Mary Ann at the New Inn, where his sister was the innkeeper. He originally enlisted with the
Dorsetshire Regiment but later served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Three years fighting in France, where
he was twice wounded, once buried in his trench and once gassed shattered his constitution. He was invalided out on
14 March 1918 with an honourable discharge. From then on Jack was nursed by his mother and sister but he passed
away peacefully on 19 March 1919 at the age of 42 and his Commonwealth War Grave is here at the west end of the
churchyard.
Private Alexander William Sanders, 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment
Alexander William Sanders (known as Will) lived at vine Cottage in Cuckoo Lans, Shipton
Gorge with his twin brother Harry. After the declaration of war, Will enlisted as a volunteer in
the Dorsetshire Regiment. He was a keen bellringer here at St Martin's and joined in the
ringing on the last Sunday he was in England before being sent overseas in December 1914 to
Ypres in Belgium. He endured several months of trench warfare but died at Hill 60 on 2 May
1915, aged 21, as a result of a gas attack mounted by the Germans. Will's name appears on
the Menin Gate at Ypres, a memorial to over 54,000 officers ans men who died in the Ypres
Salient in World War I and have no known grave.
Private Reginald George Stevens, 5th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment
Reginald George Stevens was the son of Richard and Kathleen Stevens Higher Sturthill Farm,
Shipton Gorge. He was married to Annie and had two children. He enlisted in the Dorsetshire
Regiment in 1914. Sent to Gallipoli on 11 July 1915, he survived that infamous campaign and
returned to serve on the Western Front. He was killed at the age of 25 on 17 September 1916,
at which time the 5th Dorsets were engaged in action near a German stronghold called
Mouquet Farm on the Somme Battlefield. Reginald is commemorated on the Thiepval
Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, which bears the names of more than 72,000 officers
and men who died on the Somme sector before 20 March 1918.
Sapper Ernest White, 7th Field Company, Royal Engineers
Ernest White's family lived at Bonscombe Farm, Shipton Gorge. He was the son of George and Ellen White and had
served three years in the army prior to the war, being again called up in Augaudt 1914 when war was declared.
Described as being a great favourite in the village, he was involved in much fighting over the ensuing years. He last
wrote home on 21 April 1917 to say he was then going into the thick of it again, a reference to the Battle of Arras in
France that had started on 9 April. Ernest was killed at the age of 28 by shellfire on 22 April, the day after he wrote his
letter. He is commemorated on a panel at London Cemetery, Neuville Vitasse, near Arras. Ernest's parents placed a
memorial tablet here in St Martin's Church bearing the movinf epitaph "His sun is gone down while it was yet day."
We remember Jack. Will, Reginald and Ernest with proud thanskgiving for their lives and their great
sacrifice. We pray that they may rest in peace.
Commonwealth War Grave in churchyard.
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31709 Private
J.W. Gale
Duke of Cornwall's L.I.
19th March 1919 Age 42
Jesus called him
to heaven's perfect peace
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