Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 25 July 1920, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: Bredfield War Memorial is located in the churchyard to the north of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*-listed).
It is of Portland stone and takes the form of a tall Latin cross rising from a tapering, four-sided plinth surmounting a two-stepped base. The whole stands on a square, concrete platform.
The main inscription is on the south face of the plinth and reads IN/ GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF/ BREDFIELD/ WHO GAVE UP THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914–1919. The names of the 13 men who died are recorded on the west and east faces of the plinth.
A further inscription is on the south face of the upper-step of the base and reads 1939–1945/ (5 NAMES).
All lettering is incised, painted black.
History
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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Bredfield 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 was built by Messrs Stephenson of Woodbridge, Stone Masons, and unveiled on Sunday 25 July 1920 by Brigadier General S E Massy Lloyd. The memorial originally commemorated 12 men who died in the First World War; however an additional name was included in 2013 during the refurbishment of the memorial.
The names of five parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Bredfield War Memorial, which is situated in St Andrew’s churchyard, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a well-executed Latin cross type of war memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Andrew.
External Links
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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