OVER the spring bank holiday weekend, Bude Stratton & District Old Cornwall Society held an exhibition researched and arranged by Alan McIntosh and Audrey Aylmer in St Marwenne’s church, Marhamchurch to commemorate the Battle of Jutland Centenary.

This was to be the biggest naval conflict of World War One.

The material on display from the archives contained details of the local sailors who lost their lives in this battle —

HMS Defence: Leading Seaman Sydney J Abbott and Stoker 1st Class Lewis Vincent.

HMS Malaya: Midshipman Henry Percival Coode Cotton.

HMS Indefatigable: Chief Petty Officer, Claude Yeo, Mechanician, Frederick Pratt and Blacksmith’s Mate, James Douglas Daw.

HMS Queen Mary: Wire­man, John Stanley Orchard and Assistant Paymaster, John Churchward Hart.

HMS Lion: Engine Room Articifer Mansell George Griffiths

The following is a report from the Cornish & Devon Post on June 10, 1916. ‘Quite a gloom was cast over Marham­church when the residents heard of the death of Mansell George Griffiths. He was 27-years-old and only son of Mr W H Griffiths schoolmaster of Marham­church’.

He is remembered on a wall plaque in St Marwenne’s. For the last four years he served on HMS Lion, flagship of Vice Admiral Beatty.

Records of earlier sea battles in which local men took part were on display, Coronel, Falklands, Dardanelles, Dogger Bank, plus seamen who survived. A chart showed position of ships of various nations sunk by submarines in Bude Bay. Also a list of hospital ships sunk including SS Donegal on which Archie Jewell, of Titanic fame, lost his life.

Bude & Stratton and Marhamchurch branches of the Royal British Legion and Bude branch of The Royal Naval Association were invited to take part and their standards were displayed ‘in saltire’. They organised a commemoration service to which many of their members came. This was taken by the Rev Peter Judson, who is himself a retired Naval Lt Commander.

Thanks have been extended to the churchwardens and the many helpers at St Marwenne’s for their assistance over this centenary weekend.

Bude Stratton Old Cornwall Society is always pleased to receive any snippets of information relating to history of people and places in the area. All are welcome to attend meetings, advertised on posters and in the Post.