Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 25 April 1920, with further names added after the Second World War and for later conflicts.

Description

MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite cross on a York stone base.

DESCRIPTION: Windlesham War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist on Church Road in Windlesham, Surrey.

It consists of a wheel-head cross on a three-stepped plinth. The whole is set upon a square base. The inscription is formed in lead lettering. The main dedication is located on the W (front) face of the top step of the plinth and reads TO THE MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919. The other steps below carry the names of the fallen.

The S face of the top step of the plinth reads ALSO THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAME). The Second World War names continue on the lower steps of that face.

The N face of the top step later had the following dedication added for subsequent conflicts ALSO THOSE/ WHO DIED SERVING/ THEIR COUNTRY/ IN CONFLICTS AFTER 1945. The step below this reads AFGHANISTAN 2001 – 2014/ (NAME).

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 Windlesham 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 dedicated on 25 April 1920 by Dr Randolph, Bishop Suffragan of Guildford, and unveiled by Lady Hermione Ellenborough of Windlesham Court. The masons were W Wheeler Ltd, London. The memorial commemorates 48 local servicemen who fell during the First World War. 

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 20 fallen of that conflict.

In 2015 the memorial was conserved and one name was added for a post-1945 conflict with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Windlesham 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 and C21;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified granite wheel-head cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478321

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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