[3] In January 1854 some 25,000 acres of Aldershot Heath were purchased with the view to setting up a permanent military camp in the area.

The outbreak of the Crimean War later in the same year led to a military mobilisation and in 1855 12,000 huts were constructed in the Aldershot area to house the 20,000 militia who had been called up.

The avenue was opened by Major-General Ronald Bramwell-Davis, General Officer Commanding Aldershot District on 24 August 1958, the 44th anniversary of the Battle of Mons.

The inscription on the cross reads: "In memory of the Officers, SNCO's and Men of 1st Division killed in action near High Wood during September 1916 - RIP".

[11] The 1st Division went into action at High Wood in September 1916 and over the next few days saw some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand fighting during the Battle of the Somme which left the trenches thick with British and German dead.

As after the War there was a permanent stone memorial to the 1st Division at Le Cateau the cross at High Wood had to be removed or left to decay; instead, it was brought back to the UK.

In January 1939, to protect it from the elements, the Somme Cross was moved from Pennefather's Road into the south porch, which then became the 1st Division Porchway and where it has remained ever since.

The carving on the front of the main altar is very fine; it was presented to the Church by the All Saints Branch of the Guild of St Helene.

There are many eminent soldiers commemorated: among them Frederick Arthur Montague Browning, James Yorke Scarlett, James Hope Grant, Henry Renny, Henry Jenner Scobell and Neil Douglas Findlay Scarlett's memorial includes a bronze bust of Scarlett flanked by two full-size bronze cavalry troopers of his former regiments, the 18th Hussars and 5th Dragoon Guards, wearing VCs, four-bar Crimean War medals and Long Service and Good Conduct medals.