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This book has been producec to celebrate the restoration, in 2007, of the War Memorial at Beaulieu. It has been written at the initiative of Robert Gayner and Ralph Montagu. Its production has involved the Beaulieu History Society, the Beaulieu Branch of the Royal British Legion, Beaulieu Estate, individual researchers and relatives of those who died.
It provides details of the 9 men who died in the Great War and 10 service people who died as a result of service in the Second World War. The book aims to establish the link between the name on the Memorial and their life in Beaulieu. It then provides facets of the individual's service career before attempting to explain the circumstances of death.
The names so recorded, however, do not express the full extent of Beaulieu's loss. Another 10 men, born in the village, died in the first War - as did a further resident. Men also died who lived at Beaulieu Rails, as well as those early aviators who died in flying accidents at Beaulieu Airfield. These, with the addition of those villagers who happily returned, are currently being further researched.
As the centenary of the start of the Great War approaches, so interest is increasing in the 'War to end all Wars'.
It was, after all, the precursor of the Second World War and of modern history to the present day. It is therefore only right that those villagers on the War Memorial, from both conflicts, are remembered as members of a community and not just as names carved in stone. |
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