Summary

First World War memorial of 1919.

Description

The memorial is located in the south-western part of the churchyard of the Church of St Michael the Archangel. It comprises a painted oak Calvary cross with a painted tall circular oak shaft set on a hexagonal stone plinth. The whole stands on a three-stepped hexagonal stone base. The western face of the plinth bears a carved inscription reading: TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN MEMORY OF/ OUR/ GLORIOUS DEAD/ 1914-1918.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 17 January 2017.

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, 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 Rushall as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled 1 January 1919. Its dedication ceremony was attended by local clergy and dignitaries.

Reasons for Listing

Rushall 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 the local community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a well-executed oak Calvary with a detailed carved figure of Christ;
* Group value: with the Church of St Michael the Archangel listed at Grade II.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677881

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)