GRID REF: NY39626 62420 Postcode CA6 4ES
Just Off the A7 at Blackford Church
The Tribute to the Fallen of the small parish of Blackford stands prominently just within the entrance to the Churchyard of St John the Baptist Parish Church, on the A7, some five miles north of Carlisle. The Memorial is a simple pillar of Shap Granite crowned by a traditional Celtic cross.
The memorial bears the names of those of the parish who were lost in the two World Wars.
They are;
Pte David Allison, who served with 8/10th Gordon Highlanders, was Killed in Action on 25th March 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing, on Bay 8/9. He was born at Rockcliffe.
Leading Seaman William Armstrong who served with Howe Battalion of the Royal Naval Division, died on 13th November 1916 as the Battle of the Somme was drawing to a close. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, on Pier/Face 1A. His parents lived at Westlinton.
LCpl David Baxter died of wounds on 28th August 1916 while serving with 8th Bn Border Regt. He is interred in Warloy-Ballion Communal Cemetery, in the Somme Region. He was 26 years old and the son of John and Mary Baxter, of Hethersgill.
Pte William Waugh died of wounds on 19th April 1918 at the age of 22 while serving with 1st Bn Border Regiment and is interred in Eblington British Cemetery, Hazebrook, St Omer. He was the son of Isaac and Jane Waugh, of The Mount, Blackford. His name also appears on the family grave in the churchyard.
The three Fallen of the Second World War are;
Petty Officer Edward C. Carlton DSM. He was Lost at Sea on 2nd Aug 1940 while serving on HM Submarine Spearfish. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. He was 24 years old and the son of Mark and Alice Carlton, of Westlinton.
Sgt John Fawkes RAFVR died on 29th August 1944 while serving with 50 Squadron Bomber Command. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial to the Fallen of the RAF, on Panel 229. He was the son of Robert and Thomasina Fawkes, of Westlinton.
LCpl George Halliday, who served with the King’s Dragoon Guards. There is no other detail available.
In the churchyard are two references on family graves to Great War casualties who are not named on the Memorial.
Pte William Graham, of Todhills, died from wounds on 3rd August 1916 and is interred in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. However he is named on the War Memorial at Rockcliffe. He was 26 years old and had been serving with 2nd Bn Border Regiment on his death. The grave at Blackford may be that of his grandparents.
Pte John Jefferson Thomlinson is named on the grave of his grandparents, in Blackford churchyard. He had been serving as a driver with the Army Service Corps when he was killed at the age of 22 on 6th November 1918. He is interred in Fremont British Cemetery, Cambria. He was the son of William and Jane Thomlinson, of Quarry Gate Cottage, Carleton.
