Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 15 November 1923, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

Skegness War Memorial is located on the S side of the Church of St Matthew on a small raised circular area. It consists of a stone Latin cross bearing a Sword of Sacrifice on the front face. It is set upon a tapering shaft with moulded base set upon an octagonal plinth. The plinth is set upon a three-stepped octagonal base.

The faces of the plinth bear the names of the fallen in lead lettering and carry carved shield details on alternating faces. The front face carries the inscription 1914 1919/ TO HONOUR/ BEFORE GOD AND MAN,/ ALL WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR,/ SPECIALLY THE MEN OF/ SKEGNESS,/ WHOSE NAMES ARE/ INSCRIBED/ ON THIS MEMORIAL/ AND/ 1939 1945. Below this on the top step is the additional dedication AND THESE CIVILIANS. The names of the civilians are recorded below this dedication and on two further sides of the step.

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 unveiled at Skegness on 15 November 1923 by the Earl of Yarborough, the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and dedicated by Bishop J Taylor Smith CB CVO DD, Chaplain-General to the Forces 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 71 local servicemen who fell during the First World War. 

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 57 fallen servicemen of that conflict and a further 11 civilians. 

Reasons for Listing

Skegness 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an ornate and striking Latin cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St Matthew (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478306

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

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  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
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  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
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  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
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  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
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  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)