Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The tall memorial stands in the churchyard, outside the west wall of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed). It is carved from white Sicilian marble. The memorial comprises a Latin cross rising from the moulded collar of a tapering octagonal shaft. The cross head is ornamented with a small cross floretty carved in low relief. The cross shaft stands on a five-stepped base.

The main inscription in applied metal lettering on the west face of the stepped base reads

(top step) THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919
(second step) IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF OUR FALLEN/ HEROES
(third step) (5 NAMES)
(fourth step) (11 NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.”

A further inscription in raised leaded lettering on the south face of the stepped base reads

(second step) THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945/ IN MEMORY OF
(third step) (4 NAMES)/ “THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.”

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 Darsham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 16 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. A parish meeting held in June 1919 decided on a cross, which was built a year later. Designed by Mr Calver of Halesworth, it was erected by Mr Fred Barber (builder). The memorial was dedicated on Sunday 27 June 1920, unveiled by Mrs Parry-Crooke and Mrs Hambling. The names of four parishioners who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Darsham War Memorial, which stands outside the parish church, 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:

* a slender memorial cross on a substantial base, the finely dressed white marble is a strong visual contrast to the rubble walling in local materials of the church wall behind.

Group value:

* with the Church of All Saints (Grade I) and a number of Grade II-listed buildings in close proximity.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479309

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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