The following is a brief review of the War Memorials to the dead of two World Wars situated in the Parish Church of St Mary’s, SOUTH KELSEY. Personal data is drawn from The Commonwealth War Graves Commission and from ‘ Soldiers Died in The Great War ‘ Vol 15.
On the north side of the nave is displayed a white stone tablet on which are the words
IN GRATEFULL AND AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
GEORGE ASHLEY GEORGE FUSSEY
JACK MITCHELL BROWN ROBERT CLEW
TOM BROWN GEORGE ARTHUR HEDISON
GEORGE CRISP JOHN WAINWRIGHT
HERBERT WILLIAM FAWCETT
MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO LAID
DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1918
A second white marble tablet set upon a black stone backing, also on the north of the nave, reads as follows:
IN MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF SOUTH KELSEY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR
1939 – 1945
SYDNEY CHAPPELL RAF
WALTER HENRY TUTTY RN
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
1914 -1918
GEORGE ASHLEY
George ASHLEY was born in South Kelsey the son of Sophia Ashley who at the time of his death lived in Stockport, Lancashire. He enlisted into the 7th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 14956 and died of his wounds on the 10th March 1916 aged 26.He is buried in the Lissenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.
GEORGE FUSSEY
George FUSSEY was born at Market Rasen and enlisted at Louth into the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 14475.He was killed in action on the 20th April 1917 and having no known grave is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
GEORGE ARTHUR HEDISON
George Arthur HEDISON was born at Claxby and enlisted at Grimsby into the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 1374.He died of wounds received on the 26th August 1918 and is buried in the St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.
JOHN WAINWRIGHT
John WAINWRIGHT was the son of John and Mary Sophia Wainright of North End, South Kelsey. He was killed in action on the 23rd March 1918 aged 29 whilst serving as Private 45841 with the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
HERBERT WILLIAM FAWCETT
Herbert William FAWCETT was born at Lincoln and enlisted there into the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment as Private 15440.He was killed in action on the 8th June 1917 and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Jack Mitchell BROWN, Tom BROWN, George CRISP and Robert CLEW have not been further identified.
1939 – 1945
SIDNEY CHAPPELL
Sidney CHAPPELL was the son of Alfred Wright Chappell and Loretta Chappell of the adjacent parish of North Owersby. He served as Sgt 189099 (Flight Engineer) in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and died of wounds on the 4th April 1944 aged 19.He is buried in the churchyard at South Kelsey.
WALTER TUTTY
Walter Henry TUTTY died on the 21st August 1940 aged 23 whilst serving as Stoker 2nd Class Lt/KX 104124 on HMS Steam Drifter Resparko of the Royal Naval Patrol Service. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Tutty of South Kelsey and is buried in Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall.
