Brockenhurst
is justifiably proud of its Churchyard. Located in a delightful spot
overlooking the village and adjacent to St Nicholas Church. The church is
reputed to be the oldest church in the New Forest and one of only two in the
Forest mentioned in the Doomsday Book.
The Churchyard has a special
relationship with the Commonwealth troops of World War I and particularly New
Zealand.
The New Zealand Cemetery
In 1915
due to its proximity to south coast ports and its railway connections the War
Office chose Brockenhurst as a World War 1 hospital centre. This consisted of
the main section known as the Lady Hardinge Hospital, a 500 bed tented and
galvanized hospital complex built on Church Hill, known to the locals as
"Tin Town", and two minor sections at the commandeered Balmer Lawn
and Forest Park Hotels, known as the Meerut General Hospital. The hospitals
treated soldiers of the 3rd (Lahore) and 7th (Meerut) Divisions from the Indian
Army Corps, sent to help the British Expeditionary Force fighting in France and
Flanders. Almost 300 Indian wounded were treated before the Corps was posted to
Egypt that November.
In
January 1916, the hospitals were taken over to become the No.1 New Zealand
General Hospital, and hutted accommodation was erected in Church Lane. Over
21,000 New Zealand casualties were treated, but sadly more than a hundred New
Zealand, Indian and other soldiers died in these hospitals. There are 93 New
Zealand graves, plus those of three Indian and three unidentified Belgian civilians.
The No.1 New Zealand Hospital remained at Brockenhurst until it closed early in
1919. The impressive engraved head-stones, were erected 1924 on the order of
the Imperial War Graves Commission, replacing the original white wooden
crosses. The impressive memorial cross was erected in 1927. To this day an
annual service is held here on the Sunday next to Anzac Day, attended by
representatives of the New Zealand High Commission and of the New Zealand
Forces, Many of today’s villagers also attend.
The
churchyard today is in two parts. The smaller area immediately around the
Church is under the auspices of the Church Authorities. The lower section below
the steps is operated by the Parish Council.
Further information
If you would like to make enquires about our churchyard please
contact our Parish Clerk on 01590 622829, or e-mail.
More information about the New
Zealand hospital can be found at www.southernlife.org.uk/nzindex.htm and www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.pic-vn3312596&referercode=cat
Interment
|
Conditions and Fees for interment in the Churchyard
The
fees shown apply when interment is made between the hours of 9am and 4pm, or
one hour before sunset, whichever is earlier, on a week-day, or when
interment is required to be carried out immediately under the authority of a certificate
issued by a Coroner or Registered Medical Practitioner.
For
non-residents the fees will be double the standard rate, except for former
parishioners with addresses in Homes for the Elderly. The decision is at the
discretion of the Parish Council.
Fees
|
Interment
|
£
|
|
|
|
|
The
body of a child not exceeding 12 years of age
|
150
|
|
The
body of a person over 12 years of age for interment in :
|
|
|
a
single grave
|
800
|
|
a
double grave
|
800
|
|
second
burial in a double grave
|
530
|
|
Interment
of cremated remains (ashes)
|
245
|
|
Charge
for digging an ashes interment plot
|
115
|
|
|
|
|
Right
of Burial
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exclusive
right of burial/s in an earthen grave for a period of 100 years
|
670
|
|
An
area 2 ft by 2 ft in the section of the churchyard set aside for cremated
remains
|
245
|
|
|
|
|
Monuments
and Gravestones
|
|
|
|
|
|
A
headstone not exceeding 2ft 6ins
|
185
|
|
A
name plaque
|
185
|
|
Flower
vase, book or Bible
|
185
|
|
Cremation
tablet 1ft 6ins by 1ft 6ins
|
185
|
|
Additional
inscription on an existing memorial
|
95
|
Services
of a minister of religion are organised and charged by the Funeral Director.
The
charge for digging a grave (not ashes plot) is not included and dealt with by
the Funeral Director.
The
construction of a Wall Grave is not permitted in the Churchyard.
Valid
from 1st April 2013
|
1757 13042013