Cheveley War Memorial, Cheveley, Cambridgeshire

Summary

First World War memorial with names added after the Second World War.

Description

First World War memorial with names added after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: stone and bronze.

PLAN: the memorial is situated to the north of the Grade I listed Church of St Mary and the Holy Host of Heaven, at the junction of the High Street and Church Lane.

EXTERIOR: the memorial is tall and imposing, and takes the form of a Latin budded cross atop an octagonal pillar. It is mounted on an octagonal plinth which rests upon a large two-stepped, square base. The lower step of the base is incised with THEIR NAME LIVETH EVERMORE. On the upper step of the plinth are mounted four bronze plates with raised lettering. The front face bears the dedication REMEMBER/ THE CHEVELEY MEN WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR/ COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The other three plates bear the names of the fallen, providing their forename, surname, battalion, regiment and date of death. The octagonal plinth bears a matching bronze panel with the dates 1939-1946, along with the names and regiment of the two men who fell in that war. Another engraved plate on the plinth, in black and gold, depicting a soldier resting on his arms, appears to have been a more recent addition.

History

The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Before this, 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, which was the first major war following reforms to the British Army, leading 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.

One such memorial was raised at Cheveley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The names of the two parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Cheveley 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.

Architectural interest:

* it is an imposing and well-made monument sited prominently in the centre of the village.

External Links

Historic England Listing

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