Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, by J R Childs of Norwich, with Second World War additions.

Description

War memorial. Probably erected in 1920.

MATERIALS: pink granite

DESCRIPTION: Bawburgh war memorial is located in the churchyard of St Mary and St Walstan Church, Church Street, Bawburgh, South Norfolk. It is prominently situated by the path leading to the church. It comprises a polished wheel-head cross of pink granite on a tapering plinth that is raised on a square-sectioned black base with incised inscriptions on the plinth. The memorial stands 2.3m high.

The inscription reads: TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD AND/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ ECCLUS XLIV.14/ (NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945.

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.

Bawburgh's memorial was sited in the churchyard with the funds being raised by public subscription. The memorial was presumably erected in 1920, and certainly before October 1920, when it was photographed with floral tributes for the Thetford and Watton Times and People’s Weekly Journal.

It was decided that it should take the form of a wheel-headed pink granite cross, and should be placed by the path leading to the church, facing the way the parishioners would enter. It was made by J R Childs of Chapel Field Road, Norwich and was unveiled in October 1920 by Mr Barclay of Colney Hall and dedicated by the vicar and the Dean of Norwich.

The memorial commemorates seven local servicemen who fell in the First World War and two men who fell in the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Bawburgh War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary and St Walstan’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 made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: as a simple but well-executed polished granite cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St Mary and St Walstan (Grade I), Church Farmhouse (Grade II*) and Church Cottage (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478404

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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