Summary
A First World War memorial, erected in around 1920; altered after the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial, erected in around 1920; altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Granite.
DESCRIPTION: West Somerton War Memorial is located at a road junction on the corner on a rise of ground. It comprises a chamfered octagonal pillar supporting a sculpted, sleeping lion. The pillar stands on an octagonal plinth with a moulded top lip and a rough-hewn octagonal tier base. The front (north-east) face of the pillar carries the inscription: IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF / EAST AND WEST SOMERTON / WHO FOUGHT IN THE GREAT / WAR FOR LIBERTY 1914 1919 / THE FOLLOWING GAVE THEIR LIVES with the names of the 15 fallen below. Below this is inscribed “WHO WOULD TRUE VALOUR SEE / LET HIM COME HITHER".
On the north-west face of the memorial is the inscription IN THE / 1939 - 1945 / WAR followed by one name, and below MADE THE / SUPREME / SACRIFICE followed by the name of the second parishioner who fell in that conflict.
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 750,000 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 West Somerton, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 15 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
West Somerton War Memorial was erected in around 1920. The memorial commemorates the fallen from both East and West Somerton and as such is located between the two settlements. Part of the First World War inscription is adapted from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the two men who fell in that conflict, one of which was presumably added at a later date.
Reasons for Listing
West Somerton War Memorial 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:
* as a striking granite monument with a sculpted lion at the top.
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
Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)