Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War addition.
Description
First World War memorial with Second World War addition.
DESCRIPTION: Desford War Memorial is located on a roadside corner at the junction of Main Street with Church Lane. It is in close proximity to the Church of St Martin (Grade II*-listed).
The memorial is of rough-hewn, grey granite and takes the form of a tall Latin cross, with an inverted metal sword attached to the south face. The cross shaft terminates in a tapering foot and rises from a four-sided tapering plinth, which in turn surmounts a two-stepped base.
The principal inscription and First World War names are to the south face of the plinth within a smooth, recessed panel. The inscription includes the phrase THEY DIED THAT/ WE MIGHT LIVE written between the dates 1914 and 1919. Recorded below are the 15 names of those who died.
Positioned on the bottom step of the base, against the south face of the upper step, is a later wedge-shaped granite tablet with the Second World War dedication, 1939 – 1945/ (9 NAMES).
All lettering is incised, painted black.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial stands on a small, semi-circular platform of regular-coursed stone with rough-hewn stone kerbs. It is enclosed to the rear by decorative metal railings, painted black, with gold painted urn finials.
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 Desford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 15 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was probably erected not long after the end of the conflict, and was in situ by the time the Ordnance Survey County Series 25in map was published in 1930.
Following the Second World War, a wedge-shaped tablet was added to the base of the memorial recording the names of the nine servicemen who died in the conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Desford War Memorial, which is situated at the junction of Main Street with Church Lane, 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 well-executed Latin cross memorial with a Sword of Sacrifice to the front face.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Martin (Grade II*-listed).
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.
Recommended Books
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)