Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 26 September 1920.

Description

First World War memorial, 1920.

DESCRIPTION: Little Snoring War Memorial is located in the churchyard, to the south of the Grade I-listed buildings the Church of St Andrew and the Detached Tower.

It takes the form of a small, limestone cross fleurée rising from a four-sided, tapering plinth with a cavetto cornice, surmounting a two-stepped, moulded base. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering, painted black.

The principal inscription is to the east face and reads, IN/ GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. A further inscription is to the west face, THEY WERE A WALL/ UNTO US BOTH/ BY NIGHT AND DAY. The names are recorded on the south face and include the regiment, how they died, the date and where they are buried.

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 Little Snoring 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, this example at Little Snoring is situated within the churchyard. It was unveiled on 26 September 1920 by Lord Hastings and commemorates three local servicemen who died in the First World War.

In 2012, the memorial received grant funding from the War Memorials Trust for its repair and conservation.

Reasons for Listing

Little Snoring war memorial, which is situated in St Andrews 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 First World War.

Architectural interest:

* A well-executed cross fleurée memorial.

Group value:

* With the Grade I-listed buildings the Church of St Andrew and the Detached Tower.