Summary

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions. Wheel-head grey granite cross on a wide plinth surrounded by eight matching low granite posts.

Description

MATERIALS: Grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Gillingham war memorial is located at the northern end of Church Road. The memorial comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross on a wide, tapering, plinth with single-stepped base. This is set into a concrete base with eight grey granite obelisk posts at the edges, once joined by chains. The plinth bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering.

To the front face of the plinth the inscription reads IN MEMORY OF/ (18 NAMES). To one side of the plinth the King’s inspection is recorded, reading ERECTED/ NEAR THE SPOT ON WHICH/ KING GEORGE. V./ STOOD TO REVIEW TROOPS/ OF THE NORTHERN ARMY/ JULY 26TH 1916. On another side the inscription continues HIS FAITHFUL SUBJECTS/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ 1939 – 1945/ (2 NAMES).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 25 July 2017.

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Gillingham 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 was decided that the most appropriate location would be near to where King George V inspected troops in 1916. The memorial commemorates 18 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the details of two men who died in that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

Gillingham War Memorial, which stands on Church Road, 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: a simple yet poignant granite memorial cross in the Celtic style;
* Historic association: marking the location where King George V inspected troops in 1916.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478617

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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  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]