The Ceremony
The ceremony was held on Sunday evening. The central figures were the Right Rev. Dr Burton, R.C. Bishop of Clifton, the Rev. Hugh Pope, and other priests who entered the field from the monastery promptly on the stroke of 6.30. They were preceded by children and men carrying ornate banners. Members of the Stroud and Nailsworth Companies of the 4th Gloucesters attended under the command of Major C.A.Hope, 3 captains and 3 lieutenants. I think the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Gloucesters had already been decimated by this time. The Boy Scouts of Stroud and district formed a cordon around the Cross outside the Volunteers who acted as guard of honour.
“They knew when they went to the terrible Front they were likely to meet death for the sake of England….but they were going to fight for the cause of honour, freedom, and truth and the Valley of Stroud. If those whom they had lost could come back they would stand at
the foot of the Cross and pointing to the Crucifix would say, “Men of The Valley of Stroud, there lies your salvation!”(from the sermon)
This enlargement shows that the names were painted on in black and later inscribed.
Roll of Honour
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THIS WAYSIDE CROSS
WAS ERECTED ON JUNE 3, 1917 BY THE
DOMINICAN FATHERS
OF WOODCHESTER
WITH THE GENEROUS ASSISTANCE OF
ALL CLASSES AND CREEDS FROM THE
DISTRICT AND ALL PARTS OF THE
EMPIRE IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE
THEIR LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM IN
THE GREAT WAR
1914-1918
The Foundation Stone, which gives the date of the opening rather than the erection