The 41 Project

The 41 Project

This is one of several things that St John’s are doing to commemorate the local young men who went and fought in the First World War (FWW).  It is not to say that the Second World War is not important, it is however the 100th anniversary of the end of the FWW that perhaps lends it to be a special time of remembrance.  Sunday the 11th November is the official day of service of remembrance for all of those who have died in war, during this community act of gratitude and remembering here in Hedge End the names of those recorded on the war memorial are read out during the service.  41 of those names are the names of young men who went to fight in the trenches and other battle fields in (mainly) France.  We do not know exactly how many actually went but we know that 41 never returned because of the names.  A list of the 41 young men can be found here.

When thinking about this list we felt that it was easy to forget that these were local people, fathers, sons, lovers and husbands, some would have gone willingly others caught up in conscription but all from what at that time was a small community of people here in Hedge End.  They were individual local people.

The 41 Project is simply a way to try to understand something of that.  Across Hedge End in various public spaces, shops, cafes, we have asked people to place a knitted poppy with a small card with a single name on it.  Each is a small act of remembrance for that individual.  You might like to find all 41, it would be simple to gather the names they are on the memorial just below the church, but perhaps it is more about finding these names as the individuals they are, not just a list.

We also recognise that we don’t know much about these young men.  If you are local it may be one of them was a relative of yours, we would love to hear about that (see below). 

We are doing other things at the church . . . . . .

There is currently a national project entitled “Here but not Here” that involves some cut outs of human figures (Tommies) seated on benches or in outline (2000 Centre) representing all those who never came back.  There are some in St John’s Church as you may know if you have been up to a service in the past couple of weeks. 140 children from Freegrounds School recently heard the story behind the rather ghostly figures sitting amongst them when they visited.

Some of the ladies of the church are currently making a large wreath that consists of 41 smaller poppies to display in the church around Remembrance Sunday along with the usual flowers and the paintings and drawings by Martin Coates.  The church is open every day from 9:00 until 16:00.

My thanks to all the local shops and businesses that have helped in the project; to Viv who knitted the 41 poppies, to Sue, Shan, Daphne and the ladies of the Thursday Knit-and-Natter group for the other work they have done.

Chris Rowberry, Vicar

We would love to hear your stories about any of the 41 if you would like to leave them.  If you leave a comment please let us know if we can include you comments and name on the website.  We will not display/share your contact details if you leave any.  Alternatively, you can send us your comments and stories by emailing the41project@stjohns-hedgeend.org.uk.

* Required Fields
Privacy Notice | Powered by Church Edit