Over the course of the war, 5,7 million men from the British Isles served in the forces and 705,000 of these died. Of these 71 are recorded on the Alderley Edge War Memorial. A further 6 are remembered in the annual Remembrance Day service and the War Memorial also commemorates one member of the British Red Cross, bringing the total to 78.
In Alderley Edge, as in every town and village across the country, men volunteered for the forces, It is now known whether any men from Alderley Edge were among the early recruits to Kitchener's New Army, but in 1919 the Vicar estimated that over 400 men from the district had served in the forces during the course of the war.
The first Alderley Edge soldier to die was Lance Corporal John Gibbons, killed in Flanders in February 1915. He will be commemorated in the St Philip and St James Church news sheet next February.
Every month Michael Scaife will produce articles with some notes about the war and the War Memorial and to remember those who died in that month 100 years ago.
Rev Jane Parry said "We thought it would be a good idea to familiarise the community with who it is we are remembering and where they are from in Alderley Edge."
Of the other men from Alderley Edge who paid the ultimate price, 7 died in 1915, 21 in 1916, 17 in 1917, 18 in 1918, 5 in 1919 and 2 in 1920.
If you have any information about the Alderley Edge men who died, or who served in the war, please email Michael Scaife. Any additional information will enrich the commemoration.
