Centenary Events: Wokingham remembers the Great War

Firemen burst from the Town Hall to attend another fire, circa 1900.  They were relocated in 1969

Wokingham Town Hall opened in 1860.

This year Wokingham Town Council recognises the centenary of the First World War with a range of themed activities and will launch a borough-wide ‘Heritage Memorial Trail’. There will also be a programme of events available in Wokingham Town from late July (see the online leaflet). This website provides a broad range of background information about Wokingham, the men who gave their lives during the war and also provides an insight into a way of life long since passed.

St Paul's Church, Wokingham (Reading Road)

St Paul’s Church, Wokingham (Reading Road)

On Monday 4th August, exactly 100 years since the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, there will be a commemorative service, in line with the national recognition at St Paul’s Church in Wokingham. A Service of Compline, beginning at 9pm, will lead into a time of quiet reflection. During the evening of silence, prayers, readings and music, the congregation will see the light of candles disappear one by one until a final remaining candle is extinguished at 11pm. Other opportunities to mark this anniversary on 4th August will be held at the following memorials:

Each will be a twenty minute service at the memorial followed by an opportunity for reflective prayer in the churches. Hurst will follow its service with ‘Songs from the Trenches’ at 8 pm at the Castle public house.

On Wednesday 6th August, Wokingham Town Council would like you to bring any items you have related to WWI. These could be a simple as letters or old photographs or they could be medals or items from conflict. They could be from relatives that went to war or from those who stayed behind. They will be appraised and selected items will be invited back to the Heritage Day on 14th September 2014 and loaded onto the Wokingham Virtual Museum. Wokingham Town Hall will be open for items between 10am and 12pm and 2pm and 4pm. Please talk to your family – what is in your attic, hidden away in drawers or files? Uncover those family treasures and share them with your local community.

Here is a map of the roads which are associated with the Wokingham men who who were killed during the First World War:

View Where they lived to see the streets in detail alongside each fallen serviceman’s biography. Then use the zoom function on the left hand side of the map. Your road might have even more history than you thought.

2 Responses to Centenary Events: Wokingham remembers the Great War

  1. Just noticed the link to St Mary’s Twyford goes to the wrong one (in Hampshire!). The Berkshire one has the address http://THRU-christ.org.uk/.

    • admin says:

      Hi Nikki. Thanks for that and I’ve made the change. Can’t believe there’s a St Mary’s Twyford in Hampshire and a different St Mary’s Twyford in Berkshire !
      Thanks again,
      Mike Churcher

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