War Memorial & Remembrance
Remembering the Fallen
The Grandborough War Memorial stands on land at the edge of the churchyard of St Peter's Church and commemorates those from Grandborough and the surrounding area who lost their lives during the First World War.
The memorial takes the form of a freestanding cross carved from grey Cornish granite. A Crusader's sword is carved in relief on the shaft and the names of the fallen are recorded in lead lettering on the stepped octagonal base. Positioned beside the roadside, the memorial occupies a prominent position within the village and remains one of Grandborough's most significant historic monuments.
Grandborough War Memorial, standing beside St Peter's Church.
The memorial was erected following the First World War using funds raised through public subscription. It was built at a cost of £200 and the land on which it stands was donated by Mrs Bunter Williams on behalf of the church. The memorial was unveiled on 30 October 1920 by Major Sir John Baird CMG DSO MP, who represented Rugby in Parliament during and immediately after the War.
For more than a century the memorial has served as a focus for remembrance within the local community. It remains the centre of annual Remembrance Day commemorations and continues to honour those who gave their lives in military service. Although situated in Grandborough, the memorial also serves the neighbouring parishes of Flecknoe and Willoughby, neither of which has its own war memorial. Each year a joint Act of Remembrance is held here on behalf of all three parishes.
Restoring the War Memorial
In 2026, with financial support from a Councillor’s Grant from Warwickshire County Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with donations from the local community, the war memorial underwent conservation and restoration works. These included careful cleaning of the stonework, repairs to the lead lettering and conservation of the surrounding setting, ensuring that the memorial remains a fitting focus for remembrance and can continue to honour the fallen for future generations.
Before conservation
Following restoration in 2026
The First World War and the Local Community
The First World War had a profound impact on Grandborough and the neighbouring communities of Flecknoe, Willoughby and Woolscott. Men from these rural parishes served in all branches of the armed forces across Europe, the Middle East and beyond.
For a small agricultural community, the loss of even a handful of young men was deeply felt. The names recorded on the memorial represent sons, brothers, husbands, farm workers and friends whose absence affected village life for generations.
The Fallen
Select a name below to discover more about their life, service and death.
Arthur Coling MM (1889–1918)
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Christopher "Chrissie" Coling (1895–1917)
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John Thomas Coling (1892–1916)
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Philip Coling (1893–1918)
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William Thomas Fevers (1893–1917)
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Leonard William Gilks (1895–1918)
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Charles Green (1887–1917)
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Alex John "Alick" Tabor (1899–1918)
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Thomas East Worrall (1876–1915)
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The biographies on this page have been compiled from military records, parish records, census returns, local newspapers, family recollections and community research by the Grandborough Historical Society.
Our thanks to Tracy Pawsey, Robin and Joy Coling, Leonard Coling, Joanne Harris, Mike and Pat Taylour, Colin and Barbara Whittaker, Margaret Webster and Jackie Westwood who undertook the research to create this unique historical record. We also remember the late Gill Bullen who was the inspiration for this project.