The War Memorials Maintenance Association

The War Memorials Maintenance Association (WMMA) was formed in 2018 by a group of Ashfield residents, whose aim is to raise money to help in the upkeep of existing memorials and to recover orphan memorials.

Every pound raised will be spent on this work, as there are none of the overheads associated with so many charitable organisations.

The Association works closely with every other charity and organisation concerned with the solemn and binding duty of remembrance, whether they be a cash-strapped local authority, a military support charity, or bodies such as the War Memorial Trust. Funds will be raised by any and every means.

The WMMA has researched the heroic efforts made by the Royal Engineers tunnellers of WW1. Many of them were miners from the well known coalfields of this country, and we began with Nottinghamshire.

Our research has been fruitful, and we have found the details of several brave local souls whose names are listed below. We are keen to find any descendants of the tunnellers so we can expand our knowledge and appreciation of these notable men and their unique endeavours beneath the battlefields of the Great War.

To honour these men we will undertake a Sponsored Walk on Friday 7th June, with all the money raised being put towards war memorial maintenance. The starting point is at the RAF memorial on the A608, Annesley, at 9.30am.

We welcome anyone who wishes to join in this fundraising effort. Please private message us and we will send a sponsor sheet.

There is a War Memorials Maintenance Association page on Facebook, and on the charitable donation website ‘Just Giving’ or email: wmma1918@yahoo.com

Names of Tunnellers

George Dixon. Worked in the Eastwood mines, killed in action 6/8/1915.

William Turgoose. from Beeston Nottinghamshire killed in action 27/1/1916.

Albert Edward Robinson. From Newark Nottinghamshire, killed accidentally 29/10/1915.

Willian S Shaw. From Underwood, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 30/6/1916.

George Phillips. From Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 16/11/1915.

Horace Cowell. From Eastwood Nottinghamshire, killed in action 16/7/1916.

Edwin Cook. From Mansfield Woodhouse Nottinghamshire, killed in action 21/8/1916.

George Arthur Wooley. From Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 22/7/1917.

John Gent. From Bullwell, Nottinghamshire, died of wounds 4/8/1916.

Albert Owen Clowes. From Nottingham, died of wounds 29/3/1917.

George William Columbine. From Nottingham, killed in action 19/7/1916.

John Thomas Cutts. From Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 28/4/1916.

Daniel Staley. From Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, died of wounds 14/11/1918.

Bernard Wright. From Worksop, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 1/10/1916.

James Willian Randall. From Stanton Hill, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 18/11/1916.

Henry Parry. From Awsworth, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 4/2/1916.

Fredrick Lawrence Simpson. From Bullwell, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 4/2/1916.

Frank Sissons. From Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 23/12/1915.

Joseph Newberry. From Nottingham, died of illness 26/12/1917.

Harry Colley. From Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, killed in action 25/11/1917.

Joseph Grainger. From Old Bamford, Nottinghamshire, died of wounds 21/6/1917.

Frank Chambers. From Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, died of wounds 16/7/1917.

E.J. Amatt. From Nottingham, killed in action 15/4/1916.

Frank Armstrong. From Mansfield, killed in action 20/5/1917.

William Hackett VC. From Nottingham, died rescuing comrades 27/6/1916.

Uploaded March 2019