Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: grey granite
DESCRIPTION: Thurne War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Edmund, Church Road, Thurne, Norfolk. It is prominently situated in the south-east corner of the churchyard, facing the road and revealed by a gap created in the churchyard wall. It comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross on a plinth with two-stepped base. The plinth bears the First World War inscription. The Second World War inscriptions were added to a separate granite slab placed at the foot of the cross.
The inscription reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THESE/ PARISHES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR US IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ 1939 – 45/ (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 Thurne as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Thurne War Memorial, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard and was dedicated by the Dean of Norwich in 1920.The memorial commemorates seven local servicemen who fell in the First World War and three men who fell in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Thurne War Memorial, which is situated in St Edmund’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 this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a simple but well-executed granite cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Edmund.
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.
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