Memorials and Monuments on the Isle of Wight - Totland Christ Church Archibald Bruce Aitken Memorial

Location

At Christ Church, Totland, Isle of Wight

See map on www.streetmap.co.uk

National Inventory of War Memorials Record

Link : NIWM Reference 40900

English Heritage Listing Status

Christ Church, Totland does not appear to be Listed by English Heritage.

Description

Pale brown and dark brown marble plaque, with blue and green inlays. Cross crosslet with motto "IN CRUCE SALUE".

Memorial

Totland Christ Church Archibald Bruce Aitken Memorial

Inscription

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MAJOR ARCHIBALD BRUCE AITKEN M.C., R.E.
BORN AT TOTLAND BAY
KILLED NEAR BAGHDAD AUGUST 4TH 1919
AND BURIED THERE AGED 26 YEARS
"Greatly gifted and beloved.
Faithful unto death"

Further Information

Son of Charles Aitken and Bethia Edmonstone Aitken (née Edmonstone-Montgomerie), of Inglefield, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight.

Born 1893, Totland Bay.

Census Details :

1901 : Charles and Bertha [sic] Aitken, with their children including Archibald, aged 8, are at Inglefield, Totland Bay. Charles Aitken is a Retired Stockbroker.

1911 : Archibald Bruce Aitken, aged 18, is a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Kent.

Service Details :

Major Archibald Bruce Aitken, Royal Engineers, attd. 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Sappers and Miners

Appointed 2nd Lt, Royal Engineers, 19th July 1912 (London Gazette Issue 28634 published on the 9 August 1912.)

Awarded Military Cross (London Gazette Issue 29550 published on the 14 April 1916.)

2nd Sappers and Miners. Capt. A. B. Aitken, M.C., R.E., to be actg. Major while employed as Superintendent of Park. 26th Oct. 1918. (London Gazette Issue 31332 published on the 9 May 1919.)

Died : 4 August 1919, aged 26.

Buried at : Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.

CWGC record ...

Commemorated on these Memorials :

Totland War Memorial
Christ Church, Totland, War Memorial
County War Memorial, Carisbrooke Castle

Archibald Aitken's name is listed in the Isle of Wight Football Association Roll of Honour.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, April 14, 1916 Page 5

Several Isle of Wight men were mentioned in General Sir John Nixon's despatch on the operations in Mesopotamia. They include Major H.G. Thomson, the popular commanding officer of the 1/5th Hants (Howitzer) Battery, R.F.A. (T.), who was twice mentioned; Lieut. R.L. Flux (son of Capt. F.G. Flux, J.P., of Ryde), and Sergt. W. Medway, of Freshwater, all belonging to the same battery; and Lieut. A.B. Aitken, R.E., son of Mr. C. Aitken, of Totland Bay. Major Thomson, who was slightly wounded some time ago, is now assumed to have been ill, for Mrs. Thomson has received a telegram stating that he is out of danger and progressing well.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, July 7, 1916 Page 4

The engagement is announced of Lieut. Archibald Bruce Aitken, R.E., youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Aitken, Totland Bay, and Frances Dorothea, only daughter of Engineer Captain Tompkins, R.N., and Mrs. Tompkins, Broomhouse, Helensburgh, N.B.

It is not known whether Archibald Aitken and Frances Tompkins married

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Page last updated : 9th April 2012 (added newspaper report)

Memorials & Monumentson the Isle of Wight- Totland - - Totland Christ Church - - Archibald Bruce Aitken Memorial -

Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Totland -
- Totland Christ Church -
- Archibald Bruce Aitken Memorial -