I had company walking today. I was joined by long-time friend and former colleague Charles Stobo (see image). This was a much shorter walk (only 4 miles) but especially interesting for me because of the company. My friend Charles is an absolute fount of knowledge on all things historical, particularly military history. Over the years he has helped me so much, to ‘fill in the gaps’ that my own education (or lack of early application!) has left me.
The second section of the Capital Ring takes the walker from Falconwood through Eltham, birthplace of the great comedian Bob Hope, to Grove Park. On the way is the lovely 14th century, English Heritage-managed Eltham Palace and gardens.
The highlight of this walk for me was the moving and poignant story of the Gallipoli chapel in Holy Trinity Church, in Eltham. Charles filled in my history gaps as to the whereabouts and the whyfors of the Gallipoli Campaign against the Ottoman Empire (now in modern Turkey) during World War One.
The church literature told us about the former vicar, Revd. Harry Hall, who had volunteered to serve in this campaign as Chaplain to the Territorials. He was an extremely brave man, staying with his men in the height of battle, to give Holy Communion to the dying soldiers. When he survived and returned to his parish, he set up a memorial to the men of the 29th Division who did not return to Britain. This was the St Agnes Chapel (or Gallipoli chapel) we saw, with wonderful stained glass and a memorial to every man who died there.
I am so grateful to Charles for making this story come alive, even showing me on maps where the action was.
Ceesay Nursery School 