Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: Guist war memorial is located in the churchyard to the south-east of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*-listed) close to the churchyard wall facing onto Norwich Road.
It takes the form of a stone obelisk rising from a square plinth with moulded foot, upon a two-stepped base. The plinth is surmounted by a gabled cap above a cornice with cavetto.
The faces of the plinth carry the inscriptions and names in raised, leaded lettering. The principal inscription is to the south face and reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR US IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919./ "THEY WERE A WALL UNTO US/ BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY." The names of the 12 men who died are listed on the east and west faces.
The north face carries the Second World War inscription ALSO/ FOR THOSE WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ 1939 - 1945 / (5 NAMES)
The memorial stands within a square, gravelled area bordered by stone kerbs.
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 Guist as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Like many Norfolk war memorials, the example at Guist was placed within the parish churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the end of the First World War and commemorates 12 local servicemen who died in that conflict.
A dedication and the names of five men who died in service during the Second World War were added later.
A First World War Roll of Honour is situated inside the Church of St Andrew.
Reasons for Listing
Guist war memorial, which is situated in St Andrew’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:
* A well-executed obelisk war memorial;
Group value:
* With the Grade II*-listed Church of St Andrew.
External Links
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
Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)