A commemorative cross in All Saints Challoch churchyard, near Newton Stewart, belonging to a highly decorated local World War I hero, has been remade by a local craftsman working for Whithorn ReBuild – just in time for this year’s Doors Open weekend 2-3rd September.
Francis W. Armitage, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hampshire Regiment, was killed in action in France on 22nd April 1918, aged just 34 years old at Pacaut Wood in the German offences on the Lys. He is buried at Gonnehem British Cemetery in France where his grave is marked with a stone memorial. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 9 April 1917, mentioned five times in Despatches, and his citation quotes: “He commanded his battalion with utmost skill and determination. Subject to heavy shellfire throughout, he remained in close touch with the enemy counter-attack and held on until relieved.”
He was the son of Arthur Calrow Armitage and Alice Barbara Armitage, of Kirroughtree, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire and husband of Eileen P. R. Armitage (nee Day). At the time of his death, his family had a memorial cross placed at All Saints, Challoch, near to where Colonel Armitage had lived . There is also a commemorative plaque to his memory in All Saints Church. However in recent years the original wooden cross had become rotten, and the Vestry were keen to replace if, with the support of Colonel Armitage’s grandchildren.and his descendants.
All Saints therefore commissioned Building Futures Galloway, to make a new oak cross replica and Glen Marsh was put in charge due to his artistic and practical skills. As well as the name, dates and regiment details, there was a detailed military badge to reproduce.
Reverend Dawn Matthew, Priest in Charge at All Saints, said: “Clearly Colonel Armitage was a very brave man and his family are understandably proud and want his memory preserved. We know that the Whithorn ReBuild team are using all sorts of skills in their project work, so we thought it would be a good idea to approach them with this task.
“We are extremely impressed with the work that Glen has carried out and we know that the family are really delighted to have the cross as a tribute to an important member of their family.”
Shaun Thomson, Team Leader for Whithorn ReBuild, said: “It was a great honour for us to be asked to carry out this important carving. Glen, one of our young team, used his artistic eye to lay out the lettering by hand as it was originally, and fit it to the spaces on the arms of the cross; he then carved the intricate badge for the Hampshires in minute detail. We are delighted to have been able to help the family and All Saints Church replace the old cross as closely as possible to the original and to mark the important occasion of its rededication”.
The cross will be re-dedicated at a special family service at All Saints Challoch on Saturday, November 11th.
