Rockingham St Leonard’s Church WWI & WWII
​War Memorials

Within the grounds of Rockingham Castle (in the Corby area of Rutland) is situated St Leonard’s Church. Situated on the West Wall of the interior of the Church (opposite the Altar) are two “Rolls of Honour” recording the local men who fought and died during WWI (1914-1918) – together with those men who fought and survived. There is one Memorial pertaining to WWII (1939-1945) – which like Duddington – contains a single name. This fits-in with the general trend we have noticed in the nearby Northants area – where the general opinion was that “The Great War” was far more important than WWII. Not only this, but it would appear that so many local men were killed (nearly one million across the nation) and wounded (over two million across the nation) – that the populations of young men in these rural areas barely had time to recover between the two World Wars (leading to much smaller numbers serving). A similar situation can be seen in various populations of colonial troops recruited from the British Empire. We think it is important to remember the bravery and sacrifice of all the local men who were not known outside their villages and towns. Gathering photographs and video-footage of the War Memorials (many of them unofficial and not nationally known) and carefully reading the details as each man’s name and details are digitalised – allows a far greater audience (via the internet) to learn of their sacrifice and the contributions these men made toward the freedoms we now enjoy as a nation and as individuals. Number “1” Roll of Honour (WWI) contains the names of “8” men. Number “2” Roll of Honour (WWI) contains the names of “38” men. Number “3” Roll of Honour (WWII) contains the name of “1” man.

1) Roll of Honour – WWI Casualties

Upper Inscription: Remember Ye with All Honour These Men of Rockingham Who Died in the Service of Their Country The Great War 1914-1918

Names:

Frank White                      Alfred Kirby                       George Baines                Alfred Inchley
George Bradshaw          George Glover                 William Freestone          James Deveney

Lower Inscription: Grant them Eternal Rest O Lord

2) Roll of Honour – Rockingham Roll

Upper Inscription: Men Who Served in the Great War 1914-1918

Private George Baines                18th Div Army Cyclist Corps                      1914
Private George Bradshaw           1st Bn Northants Reg                                 1914
Lance Corporal A Kirby                6th Bn Northants Reg                                1914
Private Frank White                     5th Bn Northants Reg                                 1914
Private George Glover                 1st Bn Northants Reg                                 1915
Private Alfred Inchley                   2nd Bn Northants Reg                                1915
Private William Jones                   Worcestershire Reg                                   1915
Private Thomas W Freestone       3rd Bn Bedfordshire Reg                           1916
Private James Deveney               Royal Army Service Corps                         1918
Major Robert Brown                     Royal West Kent Reg                                 1900
Captain F Sutherland                   2nd Dragoon Guards                                  1901
Private George Brown                  Sherwood Rangers                                     1914
CPO Walter Collins                       Royal Navy                                                 1914
Private Levy Goodman                 North Devon Reg                                        1914
CPO Samuel Jones                      Royal Navy                                                  1914
Sergeant Sidney Masters             5th Bn Norfolk Reg                                       1914
Private Mark Seabrook                15th The King’s Hussars                               1914
Sergeant John Thomas West       Royal Engineers                                           1914
Private leonard West                    5th Bn Leicestershire Reg                            1914
Private John Castleman               7th Bn Northants Reg                                    1915
Private George William Miles       2nd Bn Northants Reg                                   1915
Private John Woolley                    Royal Engineers                                            1915
Private Edward Bass                    15th Bn Essex Reg                                        1916
Private Gilbert Biggs                    1st Bn Cambridgeshire Reg                           1916
Private Harry Brewster                 4th Northants Reg                                          1916
Private William Alfred Higgott       6th Bn Royal Sussex Reg                              1916
Private John Henry Noble            Royal Garrison Artillery                                  1916
Private Percy Peak                       Royal Garrison Artillery                                  1916
L/Corporal Herbert Turner            Gordon Highlanders                                       1916
Private John Upchurch                 6th Bn South Staffordshire Reg                     1916
Private David West                       Royal Army Service Corps                             1916
Able Seaman George White         Royal Navy                                                     1916
Private George Castleman           2nd Bn Northants Reg                                    1917
AB Thomas Levy Goodman         Royal Navy                                                      1917
Private Horace Minns                   Middlesex Reg                                                1917
Private Arthor Perren                   10 Bn Northants Reg                                       1917
Private Henry Shillacker               Royal Army Service Corps                              1917
L/Corporal Baden West                Rifle Brigade                                                    1918

Lower Inscription: To Serve Is Honour

3) Roll of Honour WWI Casualties

Inscription: 1939-1945
​
James Warrington