The 29th Division Memorial project

In 2019, as part of this project I spent a day with Year 6 at the Knightlow School, planning “mini memorials” to remember the 29th Division V.C winners. They also wrote poems about Gallipoli. The attitude of the pupils were excellent and they were particularly interested in the background to the monument, which was so close to their school. The poems were judged by the Trustees. They chose the following to be printed on the new information board at the memorial. Interestingly the school secretary’s great uncle was killed in the campaign.

Knightlow pupils hard at work

Krithia

By Jessica Scuffle and Sophie Gambling

Krithia, a violent place,
Will we survive the dark and hate?
Too hot, too cold, can never decide,
Our boredom, all feelings are kicked to the side.

With No-Man’s Land flashing red,
Wire, wood, earth and mud all we have left.
Krithia,
Will you let us live?

Dedication of the information boards, Monument Island, Stretton

In 2020, the poem Krithia, written by Jessica Scuffle and Sophie Gambling, was printed on the new information board for the 29th Division Monument. This was dedicated at a special, socially distancing, get together of six people. This included Jessica and Sophie, with their parents watching proudly from afar. Below is an excerpt from the press release.

It was both an honour and pleasure to be involved in the recent event to dedicate the new information board explaining the importance of the 29th Division memorial. It was a small informal ceremony due to Covid 19 restrictions but it was most appropriate to have both Cllr. Bill Lewis, Mayor of Rugby and Mr. Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby, in attendance. The two students from Knightlow Church of England Primary School, who wrote the most poem "Krithia", which is included on the board also joined us.

Our thanks go to Lucy Hawker of Dunsmore Living Landscape for co-ordinating this project so well.

The new information board at the memorial.