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The impact of The First World War
Memorials
In the yard of Mill Hill Chapel, the memory of the individuals who were sacrificed during World War is etched in stone. Their names, ordered by rank, serve as a reminder of the bravery of those who served, including members from the Second World War. Among the honoured names, the Lupton family stands out, having lost four of its members. The inscription from the book of Lamentations, "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?" echoes the collective grief experienced by those left behind. The Chapel's Cenotaph also honours Jogendra Nath Sen, believed to be Yorkshire's sole non-white combatant lost in the War.
(Image via Wikimedia Commons)
The Mill Hill Chapel memorial
Jogendra Nath Sen
Born in 1887 in Chandernagore, Jogendra Nath Sen of the University of Leeds graduated with a BSc in electrical engineering in 1913, becoming part of a significant wave of Indians pursuing education in Britain during the early 20th century.
Nicknamed "Jon" by his comrades, Sen joined the Leeds Pals at the outbreak of World War I. The Leeds Pals, formed in 1914, witnessed a massive send-off from Leeds as enthusiastic crowds bid farewell to its first recruits. Sen found himself in the 15th Battalion, known as the 1st Leeds Pals, after training in North Yorkshire and Salisbury Plain. Stationed in Egypt before moving to France in March 1916, Sen and his comrades faced the war at Bus-Les-Artois in May. Tragically, Sen fell victim to enemy bombardment while on a wiring mission on the night of May 22. His death left behind a grieving family in India and a company that deeply admired his dedication and character. In the obituary published in The Times in September 1916, his superior officer stated, ‘His loss is felt very much throughout the whole of the company. He always showed himself to be a keen and upright soldier, and myself and the officers of this company thought a great deal of him’ (Stowe, 2014).
Despite being far from home, Sen’s memory found a place within the annals of Leeds history. His name resonates within the Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel, where Sen was a part of the Chapel choir. His connection to the Chapel can be seen in his personal effects, including a photograph and tokens from a mysterious ‘Cis’. Research later revealed “Cis” to be Mary Cicely Wicksteed, another figure connected to Mill Hill Chapel (Stowe, 2015).
Cicely Wicksteed
Despite the Chapel's significance in local history, Cicely's story, much like many other women's narratives, has been obscured. As a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse, her tireless efforts alongside her sisters earned her the esteemed Royal Red Cross for her devoted care of the wounded amid the chaos of war (Alison, 2015). Cicely's life intersects with that of Jogendra Nath Sen. Their bond, developed through their connection with Mill Hill Chapel, transcended barriers of race and nationality—a friendship that endured despite the turbulent times of war. While Jogendra met a tragic fate as the first Bengali casualty in World War I, Cicely continued her noble work, serving in France and gaining recognition for her exceptional dedication in nursing wounded soldiers (Alison, 2015). Following the war, Cicely's life took a new course when she married Australian surgeon Alan Newton, continuing her commitment to nursing and medical care (www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, n.d.).
David Phillip Hirsch
A poignant tribute to the mortal sacrifices made during the war came in the form of captain Davis Phillip Hirsch, a distinguished alumnus of Willaston School near Nantwich and congregant of Mill Hill Chapel. Hirsch died in 1917 and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross ‘for most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in attack’ (London Gazette, 14 June 1917, p. 5865). After the war a swimming pool was erected at his old school in remembrance of the values he held, values that can be so closely linked with those upheld within Mill Hill Chapel. (Memorials to Valour, 2014).
In the aftermath of the First World War, it was vital for the survival of Mill Hill Chapel to undertake a journey of recovery, during the interwar period with both the building itself, and the congregation. This echoed the resilience that characterised the entire community during those hard times. The Chapel continued to act as a symbolic beacon of hope during the interwar period. With twenty-nine members of the congregation dying during the first world war, it remained important to reflect a collective commitment to rebuilding and rejuvenating both its physical structure, its congregation, and its spiritual essence as a whole (Mill Hill Chapel, 2021).
Bibliography
- Alison, Ruth (2015). ‘Mary Cicely Wicksteed and Jogendra Nath Sen – Leeds Pals’, . Accessed 27 March 2024.
- London Gazette, 14 June 1917.
- 'Memorials to Valour', Accessed 27 March 2024.
- Steers, D. (2015). ‘Mill Hill Chapel Cenotaph, Leeds.’ [online] velvethummingbee.
- Stowe, Dave (2014), ‘Pte. Jogandra Nath Sen: A Leeds Pal and Son of Leeds’, Accessed 27 March 2024.
- www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk. (n.d.). Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel - WWI. [online]
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