TQ0248 : St Martha-on-the-Hill: CWGC grave
taken 7 years ago, near to Chilworth, Surrey, England
St Martha's Church (also known as St Martha-on-the-Hill) is grade II listed Link and sits on the top of the hill and is accessible only by foot. It lies on the Pilgrims' Way. A 12th century church existed on this location before falling into ruin by the 18th century. The church was rebuilt in 1848-1850 by Henry Woodyer who incorporated many of the original 12th century architectural features including norman arches to the main entrance as well as zig zag moulded lancet windows on the tower. The interior is a plain, restrained style with the majority of fittings of a post 1850 date, the main exception being a 12th century font near the front entrance. Due to its location the church may have been built as a landmark or beacon to assist travellers.
Its current dedication to Saint Martha is one of the few in England.
The graveyard of the church includes a memorial to actress and singer Yvonne Arnaud, whose ashes were scattered there. There is also the grave of Bernard Freyberg VC, which is in front of the south door of the church. Freyberg won his medal in 1916 as a Lieutenant-Colonel in The Royal West Surrey Regiment. He was a New Zealander who also won the DSO with three bars, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. In 2007 a memorial service was held for him at the church, attended by the New Zealand High Commissioner.
These gravestones are all of a uniform size- an admiral's is the same as a seaman's. While most are Portland Stone, other materials such as granite are sometimes used. Although the vast majority are for service personnel, civilians killed in the service of their country are also commemorated. At the top of the stone is a crest. Below this are individual details: for example name, rank, decorations, regiment, death date and age at death. A religious icon may be placed beneath these; and below that an approved text of up to 66 letters. Visitors are often puzzled that the number of CWGC graves they can see does not tally with the number shown on the web site - this is because some families chose to have their own size and shape of tombstone.