Thame Remembers project inspires delivery of cross in Bahrain

Joseph Castle

A plaque on the wall in St Mary’s Church, Thame, commemorates Warrant Officer Joseph Arthur Castle, who died in 1957 whilst serving in the Cyprus Conflict, and on Sunday morning (December 20) a cross was placed at his grave on behalf of the Thame Remembers project, by Ann & Adrian Dite from Thame.

The original plan had been to deliver a wreath at the Cyprus Memorial in Kyrenia but, with a little more research, Thame Remembers found Joe’s grave is in the Old Christian Cemetery in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.

News spread through the ex-pat community in Bahrain when Gulf Weekly magazine ran a superb two page spread about Thame Remembers and the impending cross delivery, perhaps partly inspired by the editor’s early career as a reporter in Thame. Local media also featured the story which was somehow seen by Joe’s nephew, currently living in Australia, who made contact with the project and has helped with more background information and a photograph.