GRID REF: NY54328 55414 Postcode CA8 9LU
St Peter's Church, Castle Carrock War Memorial
Memorial to the Fallen of Castle Carrock, situated in the churchyard of St Peter's.
Just 10 miles east of Carlisle on the edge of the North Pennines, Castle Carrock is a hidden Cumbrian gem. The village currently has a population of around 300. It combines a respect for heritage and history with the practicalities of life in the 21st century. Castle Carrock has a thriving primary school, a church, a shop and a village hall as well as a pub.
Now in the 21st Century it is mainly an agricultural area with much of its population commuting to work in nearby towns and cities. But one hundred ago the region supported a thriving mineral extraction industry, primarily coal from a number of local mines. And working in those mines were the young strong men of the district.
The Roll of Honour within the local Parish Church of St Peter tells us that during the Great War at least thirty-four of those men answered the call to arms. And six did not return.
The names of those who made the Supreme Sacrifice appear on the Memorial to the lost of “the War to end war” just within the churchyard entrance. Nearby is a Memorial to those who perished in the Second World War.
The names on the Great War Memorial are;-
Pte Cyril Christopher David Bradberry, 2630 (Cyril CD Bradberry as shown on the cross) died in action at the age of 23 while serving with 24th Bn (Sportsmen's Battalion) the Royal Fusiliers. He enlisted on Jan 15th Nov 1915, completed his training, and was sent to the Front in Nov 1915. He was killed at Beaumont Hamel on 13th November 1916. A week before he was killed he was serving with13 Pln D Coy. He is interred at Redan Ridge Cemetery No1, ref 14931.
Cyril was the son of the Rev Thomas C Bradberry MA and Mrs Edith Alice Bradberry of Garthfoot Castle Carrock. He was born at Longton, Stoke on Trent but moved to Cumberland where he was educated at Grosvenor College Carlisle and Brampton Secondary School. His name also appears on a Roll of Honour at Christchurch, Stonegravels, Chesterfield, where his aunt was a well-loved member of the congregation.
LCpl Robert Ellwood, died of wounds on 28th July 1916 at the age of twenty-two. He was serving with 8/10th Bn Gordon Highlanders. Robert is interred in Etaples Military cemetery. He was the son Thomas and Tamar Ellwood, of Gairs Cottage, How Mill, Castle Carrock.
Pte John William Simpson, died of wounds on 9th Oct 1918. He was serving with 8th Bn Border Regiment and was 30 at the time of his death. He is interred in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, in grave iv.F.38. He was the son of John and Sarah Jane Simpson of Corbridge, and husband of Hannah, of Castle Carrock. John was born at Houghton, Carlisle.
Pte John Johnston, was reported Killed in Action on 14th Nov 1916. He had been serving with 1/7th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, on panel 10B/11B. John may have been born in Alnwick.
Pte Edward Dargue, died of wounds on 29th Oct 1917. He was 23 year of age and had been serving with 2/24th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He is interred in Dozinghem Mil Cemetery, near Poperinge, Belgium. He was the son of William and Mary Dargue, of Castle Carrock.
Pte John James Minshaw was 34 when he died on 14th March 1916. He had been serving with 21st Bn (Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers. He is interred at Ration Farm Mil Cemetery, France Nord, in grave i.C.6. John was the son of Thomas and Isabell Minshaw, of Maryport. He had enlisted under the name Morrison, and has a CWG record in that name. The reason is unknown.
ACCESS The Memorial to the Fallen is in the churchyard and is accessible at any time. The church is often open in daylight hours.
