FIELDS WE PROTECT

Coronation Gardens is an attractive open space with grassed areas, seating and shrubberies. The gardens are fronted by rose beds and contain mature trees and were completed to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The gardens are home to the Victoria Cross paving stone of Frederick Birks VC MM who was born close to the space. Birks was awarded the VC for his actions at Glencorse Wood in Ypres on 20th September 1917 when, alongside a corporal, he forced a garrison to surrender and later captured 16 men in another attack. He was killed by a shell the following day attempting to save some of his men who had been buried by enemy shelling. Birks attempted to dig out these men, "standing exposed", but another shell killed him and four others before he could save them.