Summary
First World War Memorial, dedicated in 1920, with names added after the Second World War.
Description
First World War Memorial, dedicated in 1920, with names added after the Second World War.
Orford War Memorial is located within the churchyard of the Grade I listed St Bartholomew’s, approximately seven metres south of the south porch of the church.
It consists of a rough hewn granite wheel-headed cross with a reversed sword carved in relief on its front face running down the shaft. The shaft rises from a tapering square plinth on a single stepped square base. There is raised enamelled lettering on two sides of the plinth.
The dedication begins on the base of the shaft with TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND, the front face of the plinth continues IN LOVING GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE ORFORD MEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1919 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”. On a second face of the plinth is a later inserted plaque inscribed REMEMBER BEFORE GOD/ THOSE WHOSE LIVES/ HAVE BEEN SACRIFICD IN/ THE WAR 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY/ 1 COR.15.
History
The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Previously, memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers. However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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.
Orford War Memorial was designed by Mr BA Hatcher and built by G Maile & Son of Euston Road, London. The engraving was undertaken by the firm of Albert C Stephenson.
It was unveiled on 31 October 1920 by Colonel Eaton White to commemorate the 29 local servicemen who fell in the First World War. It was rededicated on 2 July 1950 after the 11 names of the fallen from the Second World War had been added.
In September 2005 conservation work was carried out on the memorial with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Reasons for Listing
Orford War Memorial, which is situated in the Churchyard of St Bartholomew and was unveiled in 1920, 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 simple but well-executed granite wheeled cross.
Group value:
* for its relationship with the Grade I listed Church of St Bartholomew (List entry: 1377119) and numerous Grade II listed buildings in Church Street and Market Hill. It makes a positive contribution to the Orford Conservation Area.
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
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)