Club falls silent in act of Remembrance

Sunday was a poignant day for Stratford upon Avon BC, with Club members taking time out from rowing to remember those who died in World Wars and other conflicts, past and present

On Remembrance Sunday, the whole of Stratford upon Avon BC stopped to meet around the Club’s memorial. As is Club tradition, wreaths were laid by the Club’s oldest member, Donald Imrie, and the youngest member, Hattie McGurk, to remember Club members who gave their lives in wars and conflicts. 73 years separate Donald’s and Hattie’s rowing and life experience.

“Whilst the Club is a forward looking organisation with its sights set firmly on the future, we take this time to look back, pause, reflect and give thanks for those who served and died for their country.”

The Club was honoured to have Louise Beardmore (née Hitchman) lay a wreath to commemorate Francis Percival ‘Frank’ Hitchman, a Club member, who died in World War One. Louise and the Hitchman family first noticed the memorial to Frank during their marquee wedding celebrations at the Club in August. Mark Dewdney, the Club’s Archivist, researched Frank and found that he was born in Stratford in early 1895 and grew up in the town.

Frank started working for the local railway company, Stratford and Midland Junction Railway, as a clerk. He was also known to have played for Stratford Rugby Football Club as a forward in the 2nd XV. He started at the Boat Club as a cox and was known to have won in a large fours event at Ross in 1908. He was the third member of that crew to perish in WW1.

Not destined to remain a cox, he grew to over six feet tall and weighed around fifteen stone! Frank joined up in November 1915 and served with the 15th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (2nd Birmingham Pals) and went to France in February 1916, where he served during the infamous 1916 Battle of the Somme. Wounded in Sept 1916 and again in May 1917, Frank’s end came in the third Battle of Ypres – Passchendaele. On 6th October 1917, Frank was wounded close to Menin Road.

He was evacuated from the front to a casualty clearing station, where he died without regaining consciousness. Frank lies in Godewaersvelde British War Cemetery near the Belgian border with 1,000 other soldiers. During his brief resume of Frank’s life, Mark commented, “It is now 80 years since the end of World War Two, and we should take this time to remember the sacrifice that Club members and local Stratford people made in the two World Wars and other conflicts.”

Reflecting further on Sunday’s Act of Remembrance, Paul Stanton, Stratford Boat Club’s President said, “Whilst the Club is a forward looking organisation with its sights set firmly on the future, we take this time to look back, pause, reflect and give thanks for those who served and died for their country and colleagues so that we may live in peace and pursue our sport with happiness and joy.

“We were also pleased to have members of the public join our act of remembrance and be part of our community: we were especially happy to have Louise and the Hitchman family with us, as it emphasises the connection between the past and the present.”