Theberton War Memorial, Theberton, Suffolk

Entry Name: Theberton War Memorial

Listing Date: 29 May 2020

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1469928

ID on this website: 101469928

Location: St Peter's Church, Theberton, East Suffolk, IP16

County: Suffolk

District: East Suffolk

Civil Parish: Theberton

Traditional County: Suffolk

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Suffolk

Tagged with: War memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921, with names added after the Second World War.

Description

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1921, with names added after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: Sicilian marble.

PLAN: the memorial stands in the churchyard of the Grade I listed Church of St Peter, to the south-east of the church.

EXTERIOR: it is in the form of a plain Latin cross on a gently tapering pedestal with a three-stepped base mounted on a substantial concrete foundation. The main inscription on the south face of the memorial reads:
(on plinth) IN MEMORY OF THEBERTON MEN/ WHO/ LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ (17 NAMES). On the upper step of the base is inscribed THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE, and on the middle step 1939-1945/ (2 NAMES).

The inscription on an additional rectangular plaque placed in front of the base of the memorial reads: CAPTURED GERMAN GUN/ GRANTED TO THIS PARISH IN RECOGNITION/ IN THE AWARD OF THE/ VICTORIA CROSS TO A THEBERTON MAN/ (NAME)/OF THE ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS FOR VALOUR/ WHILE SERVING ON THE HEAD QUARTERS STAFF IN GALLIPOLI/ AT THE LANDING ON THE BEACH SEDD EL BAHR ON 26 APRIL 1915/ ON WHICH OCCASION HE WAS KILLED.

History

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.

One such memorial was raised at Theberton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by Mr Fred Barber who built war memorials in several other nearby parishes. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 31 July 1921.

The names of two parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Theberton War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* it is 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.

Group value:

* it has group value with the Grade I listed Church of St Peter.

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.