This year we mark the 110th anniversary of the start of World War 1, or the Great War as it was also called. It was always hoped that it would be the “War to end all Wars” though sadly we know this was not the case. Around the Church are various memorials to those who served in the two World Wars. Beside the lift upstairs is a memorial plaque to those from Clayport Church who served in World War I. St James’s has our own Roll of Honour as a framed scroll, listing 71 names. The scroll is something very special as, apparently, few survive in good condition. The wealth of information on this document is remarkable with regiments, ranks and dates of deaths all identified. Of the seventy one names on the list, 9 were killed in action, one died at sea and one died in a Prisoner of War camp. 
Our Font has a small plaque remembering those from our church who perished in the Second World War. As with so many such plaques, there is much less information on this about those that died. Lastly, we have the three dais chairs. One, presently on the dais at the front of the Church, shows the plaque common to all three which gives thanks for the safe return of so many who served during World War II. These are many familiar family Alnwick names on these memorials, including members of our present congregation. Today, with wars still being fought and men, women and children being killed in different countries we should still say, as we pray for peace, “We will remember them.”
Madeline Russell – Elder
