To honour before God and Man all who gave their lives in both World Wars and they loved not their lives unto death. (Revelation chapter 12 verse 11)

Mrs Biss, wife of the Scarcliffe Vicar, is in the centre with Cuthbert, their son.  Mr. Yeomans, the Head teacher Scarcliffe school is at the front right with his son Ernest.  This photograph was taken at the unveiling of the Palterton War Memorial in 1926. The following soldiers, who gave their lives during the two world wars, are commemorated at this location. George Thomas Nuttall.  1st. Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. & Derbys. Regiment:) Palterton is mourning the death of a gallant soldier Private George Thomas Nuttall, who fell on Tuesday, 31 July 1917 aged 42 years.  Private Nuttall was formerly a well-known figure in local sporting circles and will be mourned throughout a wide district.  In his younger days, he played football for the now defunct Bolsover White Rose F.C. but he was also a capable cricketer and at various times was connected with clubs in the neighbourhood of his home. George Thomas Nuttall and his wife ???, appear on the 1911 census, where he stated he was aged 36 years and born at Heath, Derbyshire. He was married with 5 children,all of whom were born in Palterton.  Two other children having died. Private Nuttall lived at Palterton for 27 years and for 16 years worked as a miner at Glapwell Colliery.  He donned khaki on 28 October 1914 and in February 1915 was sent to France.  He leaves a widow and five children, who live at Crow Hill, Palterton. Derbyshire Times, dated 15 September 1917.  page 8.  Col. 2. Private G.T.Nuttall is remembered with honours on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ieper, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. For many years relatives of George Thomas Nuttall have placed a wreath on ther Cenotaph at Palterton with a card reading:  From: Grandson, Victor Thomas Nuttall, Brodsworth, Doncater and his family. Recent casualty lists contain the names of Private J. Pembleton and A. Heald of Palterton, both of whom have been wounded in action.  Private Pembleton has been injured in the hand with a piece of shrapnel, but fortunately is making favourable progress and again expects to take his place in the trenches in the near future. In pre-war days he worked at Glapwell Colliery and his wife lives in Sprays Cottages, Palterton.  He joined up on 2 November 1914. Derbyshire Times, (1 September 1917.  page 8.  Col.1.) Private A. Heald is in hospital in France suffering from wounds in the hand and knee.  With several of his comrades, one of whom has since "gone west", he was injured by a shell, which fell in the trench and exploded with terrifying effect. In a letter to his mother Mrs Harrison, Palterton, he writes:  "I was lucky to escape as I did.  I shall never forget the experience as long as I live.  We were holding a piece of advanced trench when old "Fritz" shelled us off and on throughout the night.  I and several of my pals were hit about 4.a.m. but I remember little except that I moved about and shouted for help.  I thought at first I should get to "Blighty", but I fear I shall have to remain in France, though I shall be out of the line for some time". Private Heald's trying experiences in the firing line have been overshadowed by a domestic bereavement.  He has lost his wife and eldest child since he went to France two years ago and three of his surviving children are now in Dr. Barnardo's Homes awaiting the return of their father from the war.  Private Heald was one of the first Palterton men to respond to the call of arms. Private A. Heald of the 9th. Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Dderbys. Regt.) died on Monday, 4 November 1918, aged 36 years.  He was the son of Mrs Harriet Harrison of Palterton. He is remembered with honour in the Sebourg British Cemetery, Nord, France. N.B. On the 1891 census at Palterton, an Arthur Heald aged 2 years was living with his grandparents, John and Ann Heald.  There was also a William Heald, son of John and Ann Heald there too, aged 32 years.  Arthur Heald would be born in 1889 and would have been 28 in 1917. Corporal Hugh Machin of the 17th. Bn., Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derbys. Regt.) who died aged 23 years on Tuesday, 1 August 1916. Corporal Machin was the son of William and Celina Machin of Nags Head Yard, Palterton and husband of Ann Machin of Scotland Yard, Palterton. He is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Palterton Man Killed. Private Harry Townsend of the 26th. Bn. Royal Fusiliers, a well known Palterton resident died of wounds received in action in France on 23 September.  He was only 24 years of age.  His wife Mrs Elsie Townsend lives at 1, Transvaal Terrace, Palterton. (Derbyshire Times Saturday, 13 October 1917, page 8). The Primitive Methodist Chapel, Palterton, has lost an esteemed official by the death of Private Harry Townsend, Royal Fusiliers who, as briefly announced in the Derbyshire Times last week, died on Sunday, 23 September from wounds received in action.  The gallant soldier, 24 years of age, married shortly before he joined the colours in March last and his wife lives at Transvaal Terrace, Palterton. He was deeply attached to his Church.  At one time he was Church Secretary, but eventually relinquished this office for the less responsible one of assistant Secretary.  He was also in the choir and with his wife took a prominent part in the musical services which for so long have been a feature of the Church life in the village. Private Townsend who, before he donned khaki worked at Glapwell Colliery, joined the Staffordshire Regiment, but was transferred to the Royal Fusiliers on reaching France in June.  Death took place in the No.2. Casualty Clearing Station.  When admitted he was in a most collapsed condition and despite the most devoted efforts of surgeons and nurses "passed peacefully away after an operation." The sister in charge of the station, in a letter to Mrs. Townsend wrote, "He did not leave any message, but I have saved you a lock of his hair, which I enclose."  Mrs Townsend has also received a letter from the Rev. E. Sayer Ellis, C.F. Two of Private Townsend's brothers are with the Colours, one being in France and the other in training at Brocton, Staffordshire. A memorial service for the gallant soldier was conducted by the circuit Minister, the Rev. W.T.Cole at the Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday evening. (Derbyshire Times Saturday 20 Oct. 1917. Page 4.) Private Townsend is remembered with honour at the Outtersteene Communal Cemetary Extension, Bailleul, Nord, France. Private J. Edwards. News has reached Palterton that Private J. Edwards, Sherwood Foresters has arrived in hospital at Keighley from France, where he was wounded in the right arm on 21 September (1917).   Private Edwards was formerly employed as a serviceman at the Glapwell Colliery and his home is at Thirteen Row, Palterton.  His wife is at present saying with friends in the neighbourhood of Keighley in order to be near her husband during his convalescence. Derbyshire Times.  Saturday, 20 October 1917.  p4) Private Ernest Wilcockson A wide circle of sportsmen will learn with the utmost regret of the death of Private Ernest Wilcockson of the 2nd/7th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers Regiment, who died in hospital in Cairo on Sunday, 24 October 1918 from a gastric ulcer.   The deceased who was 40 years of age, joined the Colours in August 1916 and was drafted to Egypt in January of this year. He is remembered with honour on the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. The CWCG certificate states his date of death being 24 October 1915 but I believe the year is an error.  I believe the year to be 1917. Private Clarence Middleton Private Clarence Middleton of the 1st. Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts. and Derbys. Regt) who died on Tuesday, 26 March 1918.   He is remembered with honour on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France.  Grave Ref: Panel 52 to 54. Private George Richards We have this week to record the sacrifice of another Bolsover soldier, Private George Richards, of the North Staffordshire Regiment, who fell in action in France on 29 August 1918, aged 43. Private Richards joined up at the beginning of the war.  He was discharged, however, and returned to civil life but in November 1915, he re enlisted and went to France in June of the following year.  Deceased who formerly worked at the Glapwell Colliery, has one son in the army.  His wife and younger child live at 51 Shuttlewood Road, Bolsover. Derbyshire Times.  Saturday, 19 October 1918.  page 4. Private William Shaw Private William Shaw of the 9th. Batallion of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts.and Derbys. Regiment), army number 18234 who died on the 9 August 1915. He is Remebered with Honour on the Helles Memorial.  His grave/memorial reference is Panel 150 to 152. There is a short article in the Derbyshire Times newspaper around the time of his death (date of entry mislaid) which records: "Palterton soldier missing" and mentions that he had been in lodgings in Palterton for about 6 years and mentions him being a rugby player with a Welsh Glamorgan connection. Gunner Roland Dennis Parkes Gunner 1503161 Roland Dennis Parkes of 248 Bty., 79 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) H.A.A.Regt., Royal Artillery who died aged 23 years on Thursday, 20 February 1941, at Swansea.  He was the son of Robert and Annie Parkes of Palterton. He is remembered with honour at Scarcliffe (St. Leonard) Churchyard, Derbyshire. Private Alfred Clayworth Private 13069486 Alfred Clayworth of the Pioneer Corps who died aged 26 years on Friday, 9 May 1941.  He was the son of George and Helen Clayworth, husband of Beatrix Clayworth of Mansfield, Notts.   He is remembered with honour at Damerham (St. George) Church yard, Hampshire. This page is still being constructed.  Still to record : C. Wilson, B. Hallett, W.Shaw, C. Hallett, Arthur Chappell and Stanley Richards, died 1940. EPITAPH"For when the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he mentions not who won or lost but how well you played the game". Source: Grantland Rice.  "Allumunus Football"  Only the brave and other poems. page 144.  1944.

Village War Memorial

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Created 2 December 2001
Last updated: 22 November 2011