Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, and altered after the Second World War.

Description

A war memorial erected after the First World War to commemorate 21 local men who died whilst serving their country during that war, and subsequently it also commemorates a further 6 men who died whilst serving their country during the Second World War.

The memorial is constructed in stone and comprises a tall shaft, set on an octagonal stepped base, topped with an elaborately carved Gothic-style finial depicting St George and the Dragon. Each face of the base is inscribed, reading:

1914 - 1918 / LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND / WE FOR ENGLAND DIED / (NAMES) / 1939 - 1945 / GREAT WAR / ROLL OF HONOUR/ (NAMES)

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Derry Hill 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 by Lady Lansdowne on 14 May 1920 and commemorates 21 local men who died whilst serving their country in the First World War. Following the Second World War the original inscription was re-cut and a further inscription added to commemorate 6 men who died whilst serving their country in that conflict.

The war memorial was again repaired and cleaned in 2015.

Reasons for Listing

Derry Hill War Memorial, unveiled in 1920 to commemorate 21 local men who died in the First World War, and later altered to commemorate a further 6 men who died in the Second World War, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of the First- and Second World War on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in those conflicts;

* Architectural interest: as an accomplished and well-realised stone war memorial, which takes the form of a tall shaft topped with a Gothic style carved finial depicting St George and the Dragon;

* Group value: with the adjacent Village Hall, listed Grade II and in forming part of the setting of Bowood, a Grade I registered landscape park.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478580

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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