Summary
A First World War memorial, dedicated in 1920, with further names added after the Second World War.
Description
MATERIALS: Portland stone and granite with metal chains.
DESCRIPTION: The memorial is situated in the middle of King Street, at the Junction with Kingsway, a prominent position on a major route through the centre of Mildenhall. It consists of a figure of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle facing north on a square column raised on three stages set on a square, stepped base. This is surrounded by eight short stone pillars linked by chains. Polished granite panels are set on all four sides of the column. These feature a dedication on the north side of the column reading TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN AND WOMEN/ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE/ TWO WORLD WARS/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. The names of the fallen of the First World War are inscribed on the east and west sides and those of the Second World War on the south.
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.
This memorial was constructed at a cost of £350 and dedicated on 24 October 1920. The architect and sculptor responsible are not known. It commemorates 122 individuals from the parish of Mildenhall; 86 names from the First World War and 36 from the Second World War. The panels containing the inscriptions were replaced after 1945.
Reasons for Listing
Mildenhall 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 good example of memorial design incorporating a figure sculpture of a soldier of the First World War.
External Links
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Recommended Books
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
For the Record
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)