Memorial Title

Lt W Meynell

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a Crimean War memorial to Lt William Meynell at Kirk Langley, Derbyshire.

Images

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Further images may be available on request.

Locations

Last known location:
St Michael's Church
Church La
Kirk Langley
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
DE6 4NG

NGR:
SK 28646 38858
(From online digital mapping.)
(Map opens in new window.)

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

Type

Overall type: Tablet.

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

Description:

A wall-mounted white marble tablet on a black marble backboard. The tablet is in the style of an unfurled scroll bearing an incised inscription in upright capital roman lettering coloured black. At its head is a plain cavetto cornice and above that is a carved montage comprising four battle flags over two cannons, a fixed bayonet, a sword and the badge of the 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot. The tablet is mounted on an oblong black marble backboard with triangular arch top, which also bears a copper medallion with a likeness of William Meynell in relief at its foot, with a further inscription to each side incised in upright capital block lettering. Mounted on the wall above the backboard is a small coat of arms carved in white marble with a black painted border. The backboard is supported by two plain oblong brackets at the foot.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Tablet	White marble	c1100	c640	c100	Fair
Medallion	Copper	195	dia	10	Fair
Backboard	Black marble	c1350	820	30	Fair
Bracket x 2	Black marble	35	105	70	Fair
Coat of arms	White marble	c120	c120	c25	Fair
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

Tablet:

THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL
AND OFFICERS
OF H.M. 75TH. REGIMENT
TO THEIR LATE COMRADE AND BROTHER OFFICER
WILLIAM MEYNELL,
SENIOR LIEUTENANT,
WHO, A VOLUNTEER ON LEAVE
FROM HIS REGIMENT IN INDIA,
FELL GLORIOUSLY AT GUERGIVO, ON THE DANUBE
THE 7TH. DAY OF JULY 1854.
AGED 28,
WHILST GALLANTLY LEADING A PARTY OF TURKS
AGAINST THE RUSSIANS.
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED
AS A MARK OF THEIR AFFECTIONATE REGARD AND ESTEEM,
AND OF THE DEEP REGRET THEY FEEL
AT HIS UNTIMELY BUT GLORIOUS FATE.

Foot of backboard:

THEY SAY THAT WAR IS HELL,
BUT WHEN I SEE IT AT ITS WORST,
AND WHEN SEE HOW NOBLE NATURES FORM
THAT HE WHO MADE THE EARTHQUAKE

A THING IMPOSSIBLE TO BE FORGIVEN,
I STILL FIND BLUE IN HEAVEN,
IN THE RED RAIN OF WAR, I DEEM IT TRUE
AND THE STORM, PERCHANCE, MADE BATTLES TOO.

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	Crimean War (1854-1856)	Totals
Action	Battle of Giurgevo (7 July 1854)
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: Kirk Langley Parish Council; Belper Rural District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Kirk Langley Parish Council; Amber Valley Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History

13th February, 1967: The church was listed Grade I, Heritage List for England number 1109095.

28th June, 1995: The church lies within the Kirk Langley Conservation Area designated on that date.

25th June, 2017: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson. It was in fair condition.

References

Arthur Mee; Derbyshire, in the King's England series; p172: a brief reference to the memorial.

Comments

The battle location, on the banks of the River Danube, said to be Guergivo and also known as Giurgevo, is believed to be the modern town of Giurgeni in Romania.

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