There are four WWI memorials in Ampthill:
- In Ampthill Park the Duke of Bedford Memorial Cross remembers the 2,235 local volunteers who trained in Ampthill Park (1914-16) and the 707 who were killed;
- At the end of the Alameda the Cenotaph remembers the 65 Ampthill men who were killed;
- In St.Andrew’s Church Yard a Memorial Cross remembers the parishioners who were killed;
- Inside Ampthill Methodist Church a large, brass wall plate remembers the men connected with the Church and Sunday School who were killed.
On Monday 4, August 2014 to commemorate the outbreak of WWI I photographed three of the memorials.
Duke of Bedford Memorial Cross, Ampthill Park
Cenotaph, The Alameda
Memorial Cross, St.Andrew’s Church
On 24, February 2016 Ampthill Methodist Church kindly allowed me to photograph the fourth memorial – a large brass plate Inside the Nave on the East wall.The Memorial Plate is inlaid with enamel and measures about a yard square. It was unveiled on 5, December 1920 and remembers 22 chaps.
Memorial Wall Plate, Ampthill Methodist Church
Six of the men are brothers of the Ansell, Cox and Money families. Christopher and Frank Cox were killed a few days apart in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. John Hele’s book ‘Ampthill’s Fallen‘ tells the fate of all twenty-two men. Five of the men are also remembered on the Duke of Bedford War Memorial in Ampthill Park where they trained (1914-16). The five men are:
- Arthur Gillett
- Thomas Money
- George Money
- Richard William Putman
- George Thompson
The Memorial Plate was removed in 2019 for restoration work, and a copy of the Order of Service was found secreted behind.
Sources
Ampthill’s Fallen (John Hele, 2014)
Content & photographs copyright Stephen Hartley (2015-)
Tommy's Footprints..... 
With reference to John Hele’s book, I gave him information about my late husband’s grandfather, Sergeant George Money. Sadly he is mentioned as having no issue, in fact he had a daughter, Iris White and a son, Thomas Money, my late father-in-law. There are six grandchildren of Tom’s two are my sons David and Andrew Money who live locally. I have the World War 1 medals but I regret, no photos.
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Hello Susan, thank you for sharing and setting the record straight. I know of a number of families who are hunting for lost medals. I am pleased to hear that George’s medals are where they belong. Kind regards, Stephen
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