Mervyn Hull, of St. Mary's Church, reveals the stories of First World War soldiers from Allithwaite whose names are on the parish war memorial

Estimates tell us that in the region of 20 million people died in the First World War.

A generation was affected and almost every town and village lost one or more of its young men. Allithwaite was one such village.

To mark the centenary of the start of the war, St Mary’s Church, the village school and community have worked with members of the Cartmel Peninsula Local History Society to find out more about the 11 young men whose names are recorded on the parish war memorial.

Researchers have discovered stories of courage, pride, sadness and loss.

Infantrymen Joseph Martin, Thomas Akister, Joseph Hibbert, George Sedgwick and John Lambert all lost their lives on ‘Flanders Fields’. Captain Alfred Huntriss Arnold, from Kents Bank, was seriously injured when the machine gun team which he was leading was hit by a shell; paralysed, he was evacuated to London where he died and is buried.

Frank Wood Chadwick transferred to the flying corps, becoming one of the many RAF casualties – he was shot down over France.

James Dickinson and William Drinkall grew up as next door neighbours at Yew Tree Farm. They served and died in Greece and Mesopotamia respectively.

Conversation with living relatives has provided much information about Isaac Brockbank and Robert Thompson. The children at Allithwaite School have focused on these as part of their centenary project.

Isaac Brockbank took part in the Battle of Ypres in March 1916. His wife was informed that he was wounded.

Two months later, however, she was informed that he actually died on March 2.

While details are sketchy, it seems that following treatment for his injuries, he was hit by a shell when attempting to return to his platoon. In 1922, Isaac’s wife travelled to Belgium to visit the battlefield area. She brought back the wooden cross which marked his burial place. This now hangs in St Mary’s Church.

Robert Thompson’s name was only added to the memorial in recent years. His parents had found it hard to accept his death and could not see it acknowledged on the memorial at the time.

After training, Robert was sent to France in April 1918. He was wounded three times before eventually receiving fatal wounds in August 1918, after just four months active service. He was 19 years old.

The mementoes kept by Robert’s family include the watch he wore in the trenches where he fell.

There will be a special presentation of the stories of ‘The Allithwaite Boys’ in St Mary’s Church on Tuesday, November 4 at 6.30pm, together with an exhibition of photographs, information and documents as well as the school children’s work. All are welcome.

The exhibition is also open between 1.30pm and 4.30 on November 5, 6 and 7.

Further information is available by telephone on 015395 33770.