Memorial Title

2Lt G F Marsden-Smedley

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a WW1 war memorial tablet commemorating 2Lt George Marsden-Smedley in St John the Baptist's Church, Dethick, Derbyshire.

Images

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Further images may be available on request.

Locations

Last known location:
St John the Baptist's Church
Mill La
Dethick
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
DE4 5GG

NGR:
SK 32715 57972
(From online digital mapping.)

Location details:
The church is on the south side of the road. The memorial is inside, on the south wall of the nave.

Type

Overall type: Tablet.

Overall condition: Fair. The inscription is legible and the memorial is cared for.

Description:

A nowy-headed white marble tablet in an elaborate grey marble frame. The grey-veined tablet has a portrait in relief in a roundel at the head surrounded by a loose laurel wreath in relief. The incised inscription is in upright capital roman lettering coloured grey. The mottled marble frame has a swan's neck pediment at the head with a scroll bearing a Christograph at the centre. Below it a frieze bears a gilded quotation incised in upright capital roman lettering and the remainder of the frame forms a moulded border to the tablet which has an oblong nowy head. The foot of the frame is formed by a cornice bearing a full-coloured carved badge of the Rifle Brigade at its centre.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Tablet	White marble	960	565	-	Fair
Frame	Grey marble	1550	830	100	Fair
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

IN FAITH AND HOPE
LET US KEEP IN MIND
GEORGE FUTVOYE MARSDEN-SMEDLEY
2ND. LIEUT. 3RD. BATTN. THE RIFLE BRIGADE
BORN 23RD. JULY 1897
EDUCATED AT HORRIS HILL AND HARROW
IN BOTH SCHOOLS HE WAS CAPTAIN OF
THE CRICKET AND FOOTBALL ELEVENS
KILLED IN ACTION
AT THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME
NEAR GUILLEMONT STATION
18TH AUGUST 1916
MANY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
AWAITED HIM IN THIS PARISH
BUT OBEYING A MORE URGENT CALL
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE
THAT OTHER MEN MIGHT HAVE
FAITH IN GOD
LOVELY AND PLEASANT IN LIFE
IN DEATH SERENE AND UNAFRAID
MOST BLESSED IN REMEMBRANCE

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	First World War (1914-1919)	Totals
Action	First Battle of the Somme (1 Jly - 18 Nov 1916)
Number died	1	1
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names	1	1

Administration

Custodian: Presumed to be the Parochial Church Council

Local authorities:
From WW1: Dethick, Lea and Holloway Parish Council; Belper Rural District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Dethick, Lea and Holloway Parish Council; Amber Valley Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History

13th February, 1967: The church was listed Grade II*, Heritage List for England number 1373840.

23rd December, 1996: The church lies within the Dethick, Lea and Holloway Conservation Area first adopted on that date.

12th October, 2016: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson and Anne Branson. It was in fair condition and cared for.

References

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