The lost men of Denham

In November 2023 we published on this website a contribution from former Parish Council Clerk, Paul Graham about his plan to write a book based on his research into the men whose names appear on the War Memorial in St. Mary's churchyard in the village. His work rapidly expanded beyond the 27 men whose names are inscribed on that memorial to the 67 Denham connected men who died.

In his 2023 piece Paul paid tribute to our late, long serving Parish Councillor, Mrs. Hope Shaw who first asked him to carry out the research on the war memorial. Sadly Hope died in 2017 before Paul had completed his greater task, but he remained determined to carry on. Now two years on, the book is completed and available to buy. Published in hardback, it is an outstanding achievement. Beginning with a brief history of the Great War of 1914 to 1918, and setting the scene with a description of Denham before 1914, Paul tells the stories of 67 Denham men who sacrificed their lives against the background of a small village in a country at war.

So now let Paul tell his own story.

Two years ago, with the support of the Denham Community History Project, I embarked on a book to commemorate the men of Denham who died in WW1. Happily just in time for Remembrance Day, I am pleased to report that the book is now written, printed, and on sale. Many parishes have had a similar book published, but this is the first for Denham. I believe that anybody with an interest in Denham and its history since Victorian times will enjoy it. It is hardback, in full colour, indexed and illustrated, with over 300 pages.

There are full biographies of 67 men with Denham connections, including the 27 on the war memorial in St Mary's churchyard. Barrett, Bronsdon, Ceillams, Delderfield, Evans, Ewer, Hine, Hull, Kedge, Peverill, Rance, Sirett, Sudbury, Tillard, Wareham ……… the names ring out like poetry across the decades and are part of the rich fabric of Denham. They are more than chiselled letters in stone. This book brings alive the stories of the men and their families, many of them still living in Denham or close by.

Included are:

• a summary of WW1 history

• a description of Denham before 1914

• a chapter on the war's long-term effects on Denham

• details of the wonderful work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

• how a German Prisoner of War came to be buried at St Mary's churchyard

• the role of Denham Camp as an Army and RFC/RAF base - the beginnings of Higher Denham

• a full history and description of the Denham War Memorial including its architect Francis Bacon

• links to wallpaper manufacturer Sanderson's

• the massive role of young men from Newtown Road - 14 of the men who died were born or lived there

• detailed historic Ordnance Survey maps of Denham

• photographs of 28 of the 67 men

And I pay a special tribute to the late Mrs Hope Hardwick Shaw (1924-2017). She had a very personal interest in remembering the men of the war of 1914 to 1918. Both Hope's father and her uncle served in the war. Her father fought in the ill fated Gallipoli campaign and her uncle served as a stretcher bearer on The Somme where he died.

Hope was a long serving parish councillor in Denham and tireless in her support for the community. As my story published here in November 2023 describes, it was Hope who encouraged me to write my book.

Because of the terrible conditions, especially on the Western Front, an astonishing 34 out of the 67 men still have no known grave. I have visited and photographed most of the graves and memorials of the men, both in this country, from Dover to Orkney, and abroad - France and Belgium mostly, although not yet the two in Turkey and Egypt. The book serves as a memorial to them all.

The men range in age from Royal Marine Artillery Gunner, Cecil Joseph Hand who died at just 17 years 9 months in the Zeebrugge Raid, to Captain Arthur George Tillard who died at La Bassée in France in 1914 just weeks from his 40th birthday. The men's occupations include watercress farm worker, game keeper, hay binder, railway worker, baker, wheelwright and the Reverend Lathbury's domestic gardener. The homes of 21 of the men still survive.

The book also describes the awful and often terribly random or prosaic ways in which the men died. Let us hope that the awful slaughter is never repeated.

This book is an entirely non-profit venture. The selling price of £10 will simply cover my costs if all the books are sold.

The venture is also being supported by Denham Parish Council, and in due course it may be possible for the book to be available in their office.

To purchase a copy of Paul Graham's book "The Men of Denham lost in the Great War" email him at pgrahamiver@gmail.com or call him on 07958 777184. He'll be pleased to hear from you and you will be delighted to have his work on your bookshelves.

Click here to read Paul's contribution to our website in November 2023.