Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: The memorial stands near the entrance to the churchyard of the Church of All Saints (Grade II*-listed); the churchyard also contains the Tomkins and Newbery monuments (both Grade II-listed).
The memorial is of granite and takes the form of a tall, wheel-head cross rising from a tapering, rectangular plinth. This surmounts a two-stepped, rectangular base. The names and inscriptions are all in leaded lettering.
Towards the base of the east face of the cross shaft is the inscription,TO OUR/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD. The names of those who died in the First World War are recorded on the east and west faces of the plinth; seven names to each face, including their rank and regiment, with the dates 1914 – 1918 underneath. On the south face of the plinth is the inscription IN/ THANKFULNESS/ FOR THE/ SAFE RETURN/ OF ALL/ SURVIVORS/ "LAUS DEO!".
On the north face of the plinth is the Second World War dedication, in the same format as the First World War names (5 NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945./ (1 NAME).
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 three quarters of a million 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 Froxfield as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 14 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict.
Following the Second World War the names of the five parishioners who died in that conflict were added to the memorial; a sixth name was added at a later date.
Reasons for Listing
Froxfield War Memorial, which is situated in All Saints’ churchyard, 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 well-executed granite wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of All Saints and the Grade II-listed Tomkins and Newbery monuments.
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.
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