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Latitude: 50.7213 / 50°43'16"N
Longitude: -1.8603 / 1°51'37"W
OS Eastings: 409957
OS Northings: 91303
OS Grid: SZ099913
Mapcode National: GBR X9K.JB
Mapcode Global: FRA 67Z5.K38
Plus Code: 9C2WP4CQ+GV
Entry Name: St Swithun's, Bournemouth War Memorial
Listing Date: 7 December 2016
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1440045
ID on this website: 101440045
Location: St Swithun's Church, East Cliff, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset, BH1
County: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Bournemouth
Traditional County: Hampshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Dorset
Church of England Parish: Bournemouth Town Centre
Church of England Diocese: Winchester
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial with further names added after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: limestone.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located within the grounds of St Swithun’s Church. It consists of a hooded Calvary cross on a tapering square shaft. Above the figure of Christ in the cross arms in raised lettering is carved INR. The shaft rises from an octagonal plinth on a single-stepped base.
The plinth is incised with the dedication which reads 1914/ WE THANK/ THEE/ O GOD/ 1919. One side is inscribed 1939/ (NAMES)/ 1945. The other faces are inscribed with the names of the fallen from the First World War.
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at St Swithun’s as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 28 local servicemen who died during the First World War.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the seven fallen of that conflict and the seven who served and returned.
St Swithun’s, Bournemouth War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a well-carved example of a hooded Calvary cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St Swithuns (Grade II) and St Swithuns Church Hall (Grade II).
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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