The Tomb Of Betty Jellicoe St Johns Churchyard

The Tomb of Betty Jellicoe is located in St John's Churchyard and dates from 1911. Made of Carrara marble, the tomb features a design inspired by the Athenian stela, or grave-marker. It has a scallop-headed upright with a high relief carving of an angelic girl holding a posy of flowers and appearing to soar upwards. The inscription reads, "Gracious Saviour Gentle Shepherd / Little Ones are dear to Thee / Gathered with thine Arms and carried / In thy Bosom may she be / Sweetly fondly safely tended / From all want and Danger free."

Betty Jellicoe was the five-year-old daughter of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe and his wife Florence. At the time of her death, Earl Jellicoe was serving as Commander of the Atlantic Fleet and later commanded the Royal Navy at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. This memorial is notable for its emotional sentimentality and likely includes a portrait of the young girl. It also holds significant group value with the nearby tomb of W.S. Gilbert and the surrounding churchyard.