Cusop Commonwealth Graves

Cusop History Group member Kate Hainge writes.... "Recent visitors to Cusop churchyard may have noticed that there is now a green Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) plaque on the fence, drawing attention to a war grave in the grounds.

Private George Hassall of the Herefordshire Regiment is buried below one of the yew trees in the churchyard; he is commemorated on a marble cross headstone erected by his parents, Samuel and Eliza Hassall of Craswall Court. George was 20 when he joined the Herefordshire Regiment (a small Territorial Force Regiment) in January 1917 and was sent to Oswestry for training. Tragically, he died in Kinmel Park military hospital (near Abergele) just three weeks later[1]. He had contracted pneumonia.

[1] National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 457001-458500; Reference: 257

George Hassell's body was returned to Cusop for burial and the Brecon County Times records that,

The body of Pte G Hassell, Hereford Regt., youngest son of Mr and Mrs Hassell, Craswell Court, was on Monday last conveyed to its last resting place at Cusop church amid tokens of great respect and sympathy. The Rector of Cusop officiated. Mr C G Portman, organist of Hardwicke Parish Church, presided at the organ and two hymns “Rock of ages” and “Jesu lover of my soul” were very feelingly sung and the “Dead March”| in “Saul” was very effectively played by the organist. The regimental buglers also sounded “The Last Post” at the graveside. The deceased only joined his regiment three weeks ago and succumbed to an attack of pneumonia.[1]

During the Cusop Church August 2022 Caring for God’s Acre session, a working group tidied up the area around the grave, which has been repaired by the CWGC, and some of the youngest volunteers did a splendid job of clearing the ivy away to reveal the grave of George’s older brother, Frank, who farmed in Walterstone.

Private Hassall was connected to Cusop because his mother was one of the Wellings family who farmed at Nantyglasdwr [2]. His grandfather, William Wellings, had been the churchwarden at Cusop Church [3]. In 1901 his parents farmed at Wernwilk House but by the 1911 census they had moved away from Cusop to settle in Craswall, where their three sons worked on the farm [4] [5]. Despite the move, Cusop church obviously remained very dear to their hearts. George was buried in the Wellings plot, surrounded by members of his family.

[1] The Brecon County Times, 22 February 1917

[2] 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 5593; Folio: 11; Page: 11; GSU roll: 850876

[3] Hereford Times, 5 June 1858

[4] 1901 Census. Class: RG13; Piece: 5178; Folio: 7; Page: 6

[5] 1911 Census