MEMORIALS

There are several memorials to the officers and crew lost with the airship N.S.11 around the UK – from the sole grave of the crew, that of Sergeant Charles Lewry, to a commemorative drinking fountain in Earlestown, Lancashire.

Panel at the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton. Image: Helen Wallbridge

Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton

All members of the crew (other than Charles Henry Lewry as he is the only crew member whose body was found) are commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton. 

This photo was kindly provided by Helen Wallbridge when she was at the Maritime Archaeology Trust.

The Hollybrook Memorial commemorates by name almost 1,900 servicemen and women of the Commonwealth land and air forces whose graves are not known, many of whom were lost in transports or other vessels torpedoed or mined in home waters. The memorial also bears the names of those who were lost or buried at sea, or who died at home but whose bodies could not be recovered for burial.

Also commemorated at Hollybrook are the four crew of Coastal Airship C.25 lost 6o miles off of Aberdeen on 31st July 1918.

 

Earlestown, Lancashire

There is a memorial drinking fountain in the grounds of the Viaduct Sports & Social Club, Earlestown, Lancashire. Until at least 2002 the memorial had a bronze plaque with an impressive family crest and inscription: ‘Presented to the Viaduct Institute by Walter and Mary Warneford in memory of their son, Capt. WKFC Warneford AFC RAF and the gallant crew of HM Airship NS 11 which was lost off Sheringham on the night of July 14, 1919.’ Walter Wyndham Hayden Warneford, to whose son it was dedicated, had been a Works Manager of the old LMS railway coach and wagon works at Earlestown. Now rather the worse for wear and a target of vandals, it was once an impressive and treasured feature (although there are now moves to restore it). W. K Warneford was their only son.

The whereabouts of the bronze plaque is unknown, but an anonymous email some years ago said it was “in safe hands”.

The memorial drinking fountain in the grounds of the Viaduct Sports and Social Club, Earlestown, Lancashire. Photo: NS11.org

Great War commemorative plaque, St Andrew’s, Boynton, East Riding of Yorshire. Photo: Elaine Toft-Reed

Boynton, Yorkshire

Captain A. S. Elliott is commemorated at St Andrew’s Church, Boynton, near Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire.

Thanks to Clive Watts for spotting this and Elaine Toft-Reed for the photograph.

St Andrew’s, Boynton, East Riding of Yorkshire. Photo: Julian P Guffogg / Wikimedia Commons

Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire

Captain Arthur Stanley Elliott DSC is also commemorated on his grandmother’s grave in Section F, Sewerby Road Cemetery, Bridlington.  Jane Hughes lived in Bridlington until her death in 1914. He is also commemorated on the Bridlington Cenotaph, and on the memorial plaques in the priory Church and Bridlington School.

Thanks to Andy Pare for information on Arthur and the photograph of Arthur’s grandmother’s grave. If you would like to find out more about Bridlington’s lost mariners 1914-1919, search for Andy’s excellent book Call the Hands (ISBN 10: 1326409298 ISBN 13: 9781326409296)

Gosport, Hampshire

Sergeant Charles Henry Lewry is buried in Anne’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport. His was the only body recovered. As well as a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone there is an original gravestone with the inscription:

SACRED IN THE MEMORY OF
MY DEAREST HUSBAND

CHARLES H. LEWRY
SGT. R.A.F. A.F.M.

WHO WAS KILLED THROUGH
THE LOSS OF H. M. AIRSHIP
N.S.11 AT SEA JULY 15TH 1919
AGED 26 YEARS

UNTIL THE DAY DAWNS

Marking the centenary of the start of The Great War on 4 August 2014, a candlelit vigil was held around the N.S.11 memorial in the grounds of the Earlestown Viaduct Sports & Social Club, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire. John Allan, Chairman of the club, says that interest and support is growing in the local community and there are plans to raise funds to restore the memorial at long last.