Memorial to Southam’s Light Brigade survivor is rebuilt and restored

And now the memory of Southam solder, Sgt Seth Bond - who was one of a small number to survive the Charge of the Light Brigade - can be once again properly preserved for posterity, thanks to the efforts of a voluntary group.

A memorial erected to commemorate Sgt Bond, who died in the town in 1902 and was buried at St James’ church, was shattered by vandals around ten years ago with several other gravestones.

Members of the Southam Civic Ideas Forum set about gathering the pieces of the memorial and arranged for them to be reassembled by professional stone masons, but Sgt Bond’s gravestone, at the bottom of which is an inscription about him, had sunk into the ground so that no one was able to read what was written.

Forum treasurer Leonard Gale said: “This is something of a tourist attraction as there are not too many gravestones like this in the country.

“It was brought to our attention that there have been complaints from people about not being able to read the inscription since 1973.

“We thought somebody has got to stand up and do something about it.”

The group requested funding from Stratford District Council, which awarded it £1,116 from the fund provided to Southam by Tesco when the supermarket opened a store in the town two years ago. The money was used to pay for the gravestone and memorial to be raised on a plinth by Hornton Stone Company.

Mr Gale said: “They have done a remarkably good job. I am very pleased with the results.”

Sgt Bond was in the 11th Hussars at the time of the charge and was aged 31. His life was saved by Private Robert Briggs and he was discharged from the army ten years later, having served for 25 years. A booklet about him is available at Southam library.

The Southam Civic Ideas Forum is open to anyone who would like to contribute to the improvement of Southam. To find out more, call 813873.