Didcot GeoCache Series
After our recent GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) in Didcot (cache #1-11), we decided to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something when you are caching, thank you!
Didcot #12 - War Memorial Garden (officially known as War Memorial #2393 ~ Didcot)
The Didcot War Memorial is located at the Memorial Garden just behind the Didcot Civic Hall. It has a small grey marble column on brick stepped base with pitched top. The column bears bronze plaques with inscriptions and names. There is a Royal British Legion Badge on one side and that of the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal operation on the other.
The memorial originally formed part of the Edmonds Park memorial garden in Didcot (WMO/302157) which was created in 1950. It was subsequently moved to outside the council offices on Broadway in Didcot in 1960. Following vandalism it was subsequently relocated to the Civic Hall in the 1970s and finally to its current site within Smallbones Recreation Park in the 1990s. Smallbones Rec was designated as a Centenary Field as part of a programme arranged by Fields in Trust and the Royal British Legion to mark the centenary of WW1.
Information Sources:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/31411
https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/136583
About this multi-cache:
This is our second multi-cache, and it is placed in remembrance of the brave men and women who sadly lost their lives when serving at World War I and II.
At the published coordinates, you will see the marble memorial. On one side the bronze plaque begins with "IN REMEMBRANCE OF ...", and the number of letters in the last word of the bottom line equals A.
Below this plaque there is another smaller plaque on the brick surface, which honours the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) & Search Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps in Didcot. The EOD number (in Roman numeral) is equivalent to two digits, which are B and C.
Then please move to another side of the memorial, where you will find a plaque about the Second World War. The number of letters in the only word on the 5th line equals D.
Then move to another side of the memorial, where you will find a plaque about the First World War. The number of letters in the only word on the last line equals E.
The total number of fallen soldiers and officers during the First World War, as commemorated by the memorial, equals FG.
The total number of fallen soldiers and officers during the Second World War, as commemorated by the memorial, equals HJ.
The final coordinates are a short walk away at:
N51 36. (A - 4) (B + 4) (C + 6)
W001 14. (D + E) (G - F - E - B - C) (H - J - B)
The checksum of all the digits in the final coordinates is 48.
Please also note:
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully and properly so the cache can survive longer. Also please seal the log book bag properly so the log paper will remain dry. The container has enough space for some items and swaps.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns, stinging nettles, and overhead tree branches! Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
You do not need to cross any fence or enter any private land.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to wendykmj for their FTF on 28 July 2025!
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Just-Us-Two know first at justustwo1013@gmail.com so they can keep track of the memorial numbers and names to avoid any duplication.