GRID REF: NY9848 61646 Postcode CA6 4NR
St. Kentigern's Churchyard, Irthington
The village of Irthington is on the north side of the River Irthing, just a short distance from the A689 between Carlisle and Brampton. It is located on what was the Roman frontier road, called Stanegate (meaning ‘stone road’), a road which stretched from Carlisle in the west to Corbridge in the east. Irthington, though small and somewhat secluded, has a church, post office and shop, primary school, and inn. The Parish Church of St Kentigern, rebuilt in the 19th century around some of its original 12th century features, stands prominently within the village.
In the churchyard we find a traditional Celtic Cross. It was erected by the community of Irthington in commemoration of those who gave their lives for others in the Great War and subsequent conflicts. The names of the Fallen, simply inscribed on the base of the memorial, do not indicate rank, date of death, or unit served. The churchyard also holds some service burials – a few identified by CWG grave markers - and a number of tributes on family gravestones.
There is limited information available to our researchers on some of those listed. This is indicated where applicable. There are no doubt readers who can help. Please feel free to contact us at one of the E mail addresses on our Branch Website (search “Meetings”).
The Great War casualties whose names appear on the Memorial are as follows;-
John Blaylock. This may be Cpl John James Blaylock, who died on 2nd Dec 1917 while serving with 11th Bn Border Regiment. Cpl Blaylock 26291 has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot in Belgium. More detail would be welcomed.
Pte Richard Davidson was 20 years old when he died on 10th April 1918 while serving with 8th Bn Border Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 6 of the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, in Beck’s Cemetery Extension, south of Ieper. He was the son of Henry and Mary Davidson, of Fordlands, Hethersgill.
John Herbert. John does not appear on the CWGC database as a casualty. Help would be appreciated. He may be related to William Dacre Herbert.
William Dacre Herbert 143012 may be a relative of John Herbert. It is known William died on 29th May 1918 while serving with 25th Machine Gun Company (Infantry) during the desperate battles to stop the Central Powers as they made a last desperate throw for victory. William has no known grave and is commemorated at Soissons Memorial. The German assault was stopped on the Aisne, just 100 km from Paris. It was defeated by the sacrifice of William Herbert and thousands of others. William was the son of John and Martha Herbert, of West Knowe, Hethersgill.
John Irwin Hetherington died on 28th May 1918, aged 32. He was serving with D Coy 8th Bn Border Regiment. He too was one of those who desperately fought off the grim last ditch effort of the Central Powers. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial to the Missing. John was the son of Joseph and Mary Jane Hetherington, of Newby East, Warwick Bridge, and the husband of Jane, also of Newby East.
Cpl John George Irving was 25 years old and serving with 2/4th Border Regiment at the time of his death on 7th March 1918. He is interred in grave 3.A.14., of Rawalpindi War Cemetery, near Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pte Robert Hodgson Law was 34 years old when he died on 7th March 1918 in a Warwickshire hospital. He was serving with 24th Bn Canadian Infantry. Robert is interred in the local Churchyard – St Bartholomew’s, Binley - with four other service burials. He was the son of Robert and Helena Hodgson, of Irthington, and the husband of Margaret, of Glendower Ave., Coventry.
Joseph B. Megahy may be Pte 202686 Joseph Megahy, who died at 19 years of age on 16th Aug 1917 while serving with 1st Bn Border Regiment. Pte 202686 Megahy is interred in Artillery Wood Cemetery. He was the son of John and Jane Megahy, of 6 King St., Wigton. Confirmation and further details would be appreciated.
James Moscrop, the last name on the Memorial, may have served with the Royal Navy.
Within the churchyard of Irthington are two family graves bearing tributes to relatives who died in the Great War. Neither name appears on the War Memorial. They are;
L/Cpl Irving James Brough.
He was the son of Thomas and Mary Brough, of Ruleholme, Irthington, and husband of Mary Elizabeth (nee Batey). Irving died in hospital at Etaples on 4th Feb 1917 at the age of 25, and is interred in Etaples Military Cemetery, in grave xxi.D.9A. He served with 8th Bn Border Regiment. At the time of his death 8th Bn was in training and had just left a quiet sector. However shelling and sniper activities still accounted for casualties. Henry may have received his injuries then.
and,
Pte Joseph Herbert Barnes, who died on 18th November 1916 at the age of 25 while serving with 11th (Lonsdales) Bn Border Regiment. He was the son of Joseph and Josephine Barnes, of the Parish of Irthington. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, on Panel/face 6A/7C. The Battle of The Somme was drawing to a close as the onset of winter and the bloody toll of fighting since July 1st forced a stalemate.
11th (Lonsdales) was a Pals Bn which had 516 all ranks dead or wounded in the first few hours of 1st July 1916.
ACCESS Located in Churchyard and accessible at all times.
