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Latitude: 52.4233 / 52°25'23"N
Longitude: -1.5227 / 1°31'21"W
OS Eastings: 432553
OS Northings: 280696
OS Grid: SP325806
Mapcode National: GBR HBG.GB
Mapcode Global: VHBWY.KCC4
Plus Code: 9C4WCFFG+8W
Entry Name: Radford St Nicholas War Memorial
Listing Date: 30 August 2016
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1437712
ID on this website: 101437712
Location: Radford, Coventry, West Midlands, CV6
County: Coventry
Electoral Ward/Division: Radford
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Coventry
Traditional County: Warwickshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): West Midlands
Church of England Parish: Radford St Nicholas
Church of England Diocese: Coventry
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial, designed by I T R J Meakin, unveiled on 20 December 1919.
MATERIALS: Runcorn stone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises an obelisk, some 2.5m tall, set upon a three-stepped base. On each face of the obelisk is a bronze plaque commemorating those who served and died in the First World War.
A rectangular bronze dedication plaque is mounted on the middle step of the base and reads: THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED TO / THE LASTING HONOUR OF THOSE WHO WENT FROM RADFORD TO SERVE THEIR KING AND / COUNTRY IN THE NAVY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919. / THEIR NAMES APPEAR ON THE TABLETS ON THE COLUMN ABOVE / A † INDICATING THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES. / PRESENTED TO RADFORD BY C. VERNON PUGH ESQ. J.P. 1919.
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 Radford St Nicholas as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Radford St Nicholas war memorial was the idea of Rev F G Upton, vicar of St Nicolas Church. He proposed it in a letter to parishioners in June 1918. Following this a committee was formed to set about raising funds for the war memorial. They approached Councillor C Vernon Pugh who sponsored the scheme and provided the funds for the memorial.
The memorial was designed by I T R J Meakin, architect of Coventry, and was unveiled by Councillor C Vernon Pugh on 20 December 1919. The stonework was undertaken by J White and Sons of Yardley, Birmingham and the bronze plaques were the work of Baker and Sons of St Paul's Square, Birmingham. The memorial commemorates 152 local servicemen who fought in the First World War, 17 of whom died and which are denoted on the plaques by a cross next to their name.
The memorial was originally located on the corner of Radford Common but was relocated to its present site in 1984.
In 2014 three of the five plaques were replaced following theft with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust, St Nicholas Church and donations from the community.
Radford St Nicholas War Memorial, unveiled 20 December 1919, 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 simple yet dignified obelisk memorial.
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