Summary
A regimental war memorial, unveiled in 1921 by Major General Sir Robert Fanshawe, KCB, DSO.
Reasons for Designation
The monument to the 8th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment in the Churchyard of the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Aston is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial, which takes the form of a cenotaph;
* Group Value: the cross now forms a group with the Church of St Peter & St Paul, Aston.
History
The memorial to the 8th Battalion, The Warwickshire Regiment, was dedicated on 4 September 1921 by Major General Sir Robert Fanshawe, KCB, DSO.
The battalion had close local ties. The recruiting station was at the Aston Villa football ground, towards which the monument faces. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme 870 men died who had lived in a mile radius of Aston parish church. Of these 588 were men of the 8th Battalion.
Details
A regimental war memorial, unveiled in 1921 by Major General Sir Robert Fanshawe, KCB, DSO.
MATERIALS & PLAN: the memorial is set in the churchyard of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Aston. It is of limestone and takes the form of a pylon with gently tapered sides, which is rectangular on plan and stands on a platform of two steps.
DETAILS: the principal front faces south west and has a square plaque to its upper body, in which is an inset roundel which bears the regimental crest of a chained deer with crown collar. Above and at either side of this are inscribed the words ‘ITALY / FRANCE BELGIUM’. Below is the following inscription: ‘TO THE / GLORIOUS MEMORY / OF THE / OFFICERS / NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS / AND MEN OF THE / 8TH BATTALION / THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE / REGIMENT / WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919’. Immediately below which is the inscription ‘AND / THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945’. The deep plinth has a moulded upper edge. To the top, the monument is stepped back. A projecting, central block shows a Latin cross in relief and above this is a cornice with two blocking courses forming the apex of the memorial.
The sides and rear are inscribed with battles in which the battalion fought.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 25 July 2017.
