Newbury GeoCache Series 

After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19, 30-32, 35, 38, 60-61, 80-81, 84, 104-106), Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-25, 29, 33-34, 41-42, 44-45, 47-48, 53, 59, 62-63, 66-67, 69-79, 82-83, 90-103, 107-112, 117-119, 121-129, 137-141, 146, 163-164), Harwell (cache #26, 36-37, 43, 46, 54-55, 58, 68), Chilton (cache #27-28, 85), Sutton Courtenay (cache #39, 64-65), Milton (cache #40, 49-52, 56-57, 151-153), Upton (cache #86-87), Long Wittenham (cache #88-89), Hagbournes (cache #114-116), Kingsgrove (cache #120, 130-132), Compton (cache #133-134), Appleford (cache #135-136), Newbury (cache #142-145, 147-150, 159-161), Drayton (cache #154-158), and Richmond (cache #162), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot and surrounding villages, 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 new when you are caching, thank you!

Newbury #165 - Thatcham War Memorial (Officially Known as War Memorial # 2626 ~ Thatcham)

The Thatcham War Memorial is a 17-foot-high Doulting stone wayside cross located in a memorial garden at the junction of Brownsfield Road and Bath Road (A4) in Thatcham, West Berkshire. It serves as a tribute to local men who fell during the First World War (1914–1918) and the Second World War (1939–1945). 

1. History and Design

• Design & Unveiling: Designed by Sir Charles Nicholson, the memorial features a hexagonal plinth on a three-stepped base. It was unveiled on 11th November 1920 by Major-General E. T. Dickson.

• Original Location: The cross was originally situated in Thatcham Broadway but was moved to its current location on Bath Road in 1966.
• German Howitzer: At its original dedication, a captured German howitzer gun was placed behind the cross as a tribute to 2nd Lieut Alexander Buller Turner, a local Victoria Cross recipient. The gun was later scrapped for metal in 1940.

• Recent Restoration: In October 2024, the memorial underwent a significant restoration to remove decades of grime, and the engraved names were repainted in black gloss. 

2. Commemorated Names

The memorial lists over 105 names from the First World War. Notable names include: 

• Alexander Buller Turner (VC): Awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery at Fosse 8 in 1915.
• William John House (VC): A local recipient from the Boer War (1900) who is often remembered alongside the town's fallen.
• Lt Col Vernon Watkins Urquhart: Though originally omitted, efforts have been made by the Thatcham Memorial Foundation to officially add his name to the memorial.

3. Events and Maintenance

• Remembrance Services: The site is the focal point for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day services, typically featuring parades that start from the Kingsland Centre and conclude at the Memorial Gardens.

• Custodian: The garden and monument are maintained by the Thatcham Memorial Hall & Playing Fields Foundation, a charity established in 1945.
• Support: The community can support the upkeep of the site through the Thatcham War Memorial Friends and Guardians group.

About this Multi-cache:

Today (14 April 2026) is my 1st anniversary of joining Geocaching, which was on 14 April 2025, so this is also a special cache celebrating this anniversary.

At the published coordinates, you will be standing in front of the Thatcham War Memorial. Firstly please find a panel showing some years. The year in which the memorial was erected is 19AB.

Secondly, please find another panel with "ROYAL NAVY" on the top. The total number of soldiers from Royal Navy commemorated on this panel is C.

Thirdly, please walk around to find a panel, where several soldiers have the same surname "HEADLONG". How many soldiers share this surname? Let it be D.

Finally, please find two panels with "1939 - 1945" on the top. First look at the panel which has "ROYAL AIR FORCE" on it. The total number of soldiers from Royal Air Force commemorated on this panel is E.

Then look at the other "1939 - 1945" panel, which lists the soldiers from Army. The total number of soldiers from Army commemorated on this panel is FG.

The final coordinates are some distance away at:

N51 ( D - A )  ( E - C )  .  ( D * F )  ( B - E - F )  ( F - G + A )

W001 ( D - F )  ( D + F )  .  ( C / F )  ( E - D )  ( B - E - A )

The checksum of all the digits in the final coordinates is 33.

Please also note: 

Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer. You might need a tweezer to help retrieve the log paper.

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.

Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!

FTF: Congratulations to wendykmj for their FTF on 12 April 2026.