The War Dead

‘Their name liveth for evermore’

In 2018 – the centenary of the end of The Great War – we embarked upon a project to learn something about the names on our War Memorial. We wanted to learn about their lives, their families, what they did for a living, and how and where they died. On these pages we will tell – as far as is possible – their stories.

There is also much to learn on the London Borough of Merton’s site ‘Carved in Stone’ which has been produced by Merton Library and Heritage Service, and offers unprecedented access to a unique collection of material charting the history of Merton during the First World War. This includes the amazing life stories of local combatants and war workers, whose courage, determination and sacrifice has helped to shape the borough as we know it today.

You may also find that the ‘London World War 1 Memorial’ can give you useful additional facts.

Of all those who died at least eleven were aged under 19. Henry Mansfield was just 16.

Woodman George Trigg died just after the war began on 22^nd September 1914. He left a wife and six children.

Driver Leonard Walter Ausling died on 11^th November 1918 just before the Armistice came into effect. He was 21 years of age. One of the last acts his mother Mary Ann performed for her eldest son was to request and pay for a simple inscription for the headstone that would replace the wooden cross at Kezelberg cemetery. It reads: –

“AS THE YEARS GO BY WE MISS HIM MORE”

Leonard Ausling’s name does not appear in the official Roll of Honour Wimbledon, Merton and Morden 1914-1918. Nor does his name appear on the Roll of Honour at Haydons Road School. But his family did ensure he was commemorated at All Saints Church, South Wimbledon.

Harold Frederick Patrick survived the war only to die of influenza in March 1919

Please follow the links below to search for individual names and if you have any further information to add, please contact us.

Names of those who died in the 2nd World War 1939 – 1945 can be found here