This Sunday, 11th November 2018, members of the Balham community will come together to observe the centenary of the Armistice that ended the First World War.

Jim Sutton, Associate Pastor at Balham Baptist Church, is part of the team that’s organised an event to honour the memory of those who served during this conflict. The event has a particular focus on certain Balham men who gave their lives between 1914-18 and Jim has also set up an Instagram account, Balham Remembers, to run alongside it.

Jim told us, “The stories of these individuals will help us to remember the many personal and family connections that have shaped Balham over the course of the last century. Groups will gather at the home addresses of these men and then process to Bedford Hill Place, where we will participate in a shared ceremony. We invite the local community to join us as we give thanks for the sacrifice of those who came before us, while at the same time renewing our commitment to working for peace in a world still pulled apart by conflict.”

The schedule for 11th November 2018:

• 10.30am – Groups gather at mustering points
• 10.40am – Processions arrive at Bedford Hill Place
• 10.45am – Observance at Bedford Hill Place
• 11am – Two-minute silence
• 11.05am – Observance ends

(Followed by tea/coffee at Bedford Hill Place kiosk)

Mustering Points:

1. 32 Kate Street (now on the grounds of Chestnut Grove Academy) – the home of George William Dunham (1892–1916).
2. 10 Rowfant Road – the home of John Hamilton Beale (1886–1918) & Stephen Spencer Beale (1893–1918).
3. 29 Elmfield Road – the home of Harry Bailey (1894–1915).
4. 38 Sistova Road – the home of Geoffrey Tolhurst Cruttenden (1899–1918).
5. 28 Dinsmore Road – the home of Bertram Douglas Laughton (1894–1917).

Jim continued, “In the week following the ceremony, there will be an opportunity to informally interact with an installation/memorial as we collectively process our thoughts and feelings around remembrance. This will stay in place in Bedford Hill Place for the week following the event for people to continue to interact with.”

 

 

 

 

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WWI Balham Street Stories - Dinsmore Road . Bertram Laughton (1894-1917) Born the son of Thomas Laughton. a piano tuner and Elizabeth Laughton, who ran a boarding house, Bertram lived with his parents and 4 siblings in Dinsmore Road until he joined the Royal Navy, and gained the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in August 1915. He joined up with the 189th Brigade ‘Hawke Division’ and was deployed to the Western Front. . He died on 1 October 1917, aged 23, and is buried in Poeringe, Belgium. . . . . . . Whose story is on your street? . #balham #remembrance #hope #peace #centenary #therebutnotthere #dinsmore #navy #wwi #london #1918 #rememberinglondon

A post shared by Balham Remembers (@balhamremembers) on Oct 15, 2018 at 9:14am PDT