Published on 28th April 2014
Paving stones are to be installed to mark the 100th anniversaries of Cheltenham’s First World War Victoria Cross heroes.
Three men from the borough who received the award will have commemorative stones placed at the war memorial outside the Municipal Offices.
The stones have been provided to local authorities by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which last year ran a competition for the design of the stones. Across the country, each First World War VC recipient will have a stone, commemorating their efforts made one hundred years ago.
Relatives of the three men are invited to contact Cheltenham Borough Council to attend the unveilings and be involved in the planning. The three service men are:
• Lieutenant Colonel Richard Annesley West of the North Irish Horse Regiment who died 2 September 1918
• Captain Anketell Moutray Read of the Northamptonshire Regiment who died 25 September 1915
• Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby of the South Staffordshire Regiment who died 25 September 1915
Hannah Wright, strategy and engagement assistant said: “We have already made contact with the Grandchildren of Lt Col West and the Great Nephews of Captain Moutray-Read, and are currently trying to track down relatives of Captain Kilby. I have spoken with a very distant relative of his in Australia, but would like to locate any closer relatives, geographically or genealogically, so that they can have the chance to be involved in the commemoration of their ancestor’s heroic actions.”
Captain Kilby was born 3 February, 1885 at East Hayes, Pitville Circus Road. After graduating from Sandhurst in 1905, he was commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment and promoted to Captain five years later. Captain Kilby died of the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915.
If there are any relatives of the three Victoria Cross recipients that would like to get involved in the celebrations, or for more information on the VC servicemen from Cheltenham, please contact Hannah by email: [email protected].
ENDS
For media enquiries, contact: Tom Wheatly, web and communications apprentice, telephone 01242 775192 or email: [email protected].
The stones have been provided to local authorities by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which last year ran a competition for the design of the stones. Across the country, each First World War VC recipient will have a stone, commemorating their efforts made one hundred years ago.
Relatives of the three men are invited to contact Cheltenham Borough Council to attend the unveilings and be involved in the planning. The three service men are:
• Lieutenant Colonel Richard Annesley West of the North Irish Horse Regiment who died 2 September 1918
• Captain Anketell Moutray Read of the Northamptonshire Regiment who died 25 September 1915
• Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby of the South Staffordshire Regiment who died 25 September 1915
Hannah Wright, strategy and engagement assistant said: “We have already made contact with the Grandchildren of Lt Col West and the Great Nephews of Captain Moutray-Read, and are currently trying to track down relatives of Captain Kilby. I have spoken with a very distant relative of his in Australia, but would like to locate any closer relatives, geographically or genealogically, so that they can have the chance to be involved in the commemoration of their ancestor’s heroic actions.”
Captain Kilby was born 3 February, 1885 at East Hayes, Pitville Circus Road. After graduating from Sandhurst in 1905, he was commissioned into the South Staffordshire Regiment and promoted to Captain five years later. Captain Kilby died of the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915.
If there are any relatives of the three Victoria Cross recipients that would like to get involved in the celebrations, or for more information on the VC servicemen from Cheltenham, please contact Hannah by email: [email protected].
ENDS
For media enquiries, contact: Tom Wheatly, web and communications apprentice, telephone 01242 775192 or email: [email protected].
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