Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent location at the entrance to the recreation ground, directly opposite the Church of St Mary (Grade II*). The memorial comprises a tapering stone obelisk on a two-stepped square base.
The main inscription on the west face of the obelisk reads: TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF BAWDSEY/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (14 NAMES).
An additional inscription on the south face of the obelisk reads: THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF TWO BAWDSEY MEN/ WHO GLORIFIED GOD IN/ HIS PROVIDENTIAL DESIGNS/ FOR THE OVERTHROW OF/ EVIL BY PLAYING THEIR/ PART AND GIVING THEIR LIVES/ (2 NAMES).
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 Bawdsey 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 erected by Messrs W Wright and Sons (builders). The site was given by Sir Cuthbert Quilter who also sponsored the memorial. He was the owner of Bawdsey Manor, and his son John had been killed in the war.
The memorial was unveiled on Saturday 4 December 1920. The names of the two parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
The memorial was cleaned and repaired in 2018.
Reasons for Listing
Bawdsey War Memorial, which stands at the entrance to the recreation ground, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a well-executed example of an obelisk memorial.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary (Grade II*).
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
ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)