Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
DESCRIPTION: Aldringham memorial stands at the south side of the churchyard at the end of an avenue of clipped yew trees, close to the Church of St Andrew (Grade II) and the Ogilvie Almshouses (Grade II).
The memorial comprises an elaborately carved stone calvary cross with a tapering octagonal shaft and octagonal foot on an octagonal plinth and two-stepped octagonal base.
The main inscription in incised and black-painted lettering on the plinth reads: (north-east face) “YEA THOU I WALK/ THROUGH THE VALLEY/ OF THE SHADOW/ OF DEATH/ I WILL FEAR NO EVIL/ FOR/ THOU ART WITH ME” (north face) IN/ PROUD AND LOVING/ MEMORY/ OF/ LIEUTENANT/ ALEXANDER WALTER/ OGILVIE/ (MT ATTACHED/ 65TH SIEGE BATTERY)/ WHO GAVE HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS COUNTRY/ OCTOBER 30TH 1918 (north-west face) AND/ IN LASTING/ REMEMBRANCE/ OF/ THAT GREAT HOST/ OF/ HEROES/ WHO MADE/ THE/ SUPREME SACRIFICE/ 1914 –1918 (west face) AND/ ALSO TO THE/ SUCCEEDING/ GENERATION/ WHO MADE/ THE/ LIKE SACRIFICE/ 1939 – 1945.
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 Aldringham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by one member of the local community who lost his life in the First World War. This memorial also commemorates others who died in the First and Second World Wars.
Reasons for Listing
Aldringham War Memorial, which stands at the south side of the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew, 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:
* as an elaborate and well-executed example of a calvary cross.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Andrew (Grade II) and the Ogilvie Almshouses (Grade II).
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
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)