Millbrook War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Millbrook War Memorial 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified granite wheel-head cross;
* Group value: with the Church of All Saints (Grade II).

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 the country, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Millbrook as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. It commemorates 50 local servicemen who died during the First World War.

The exact date that the war memorial was erected is unknown but records show there was a parish council meeting which discussed the building of it in 1919. The cross was originally positioned on the quayside and had railings around it, but was subsequently relocated to the E of the church.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to the memorial commemorate the 36 fallen of that conflict.

The memorial is now set on an area of paving stones which came from the beach at Barn Pool where they were originally placed onto the sand so vehicles could be loaded from there for the D-Day landings.

The memorial was conserved in 2009 with the help of grant aid from the War Memorials Trust.

Details

War memorial, located to the E of the Church of All Saints, Milbrook.

MATERIALS: rough-hewn Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: Millbrook War Memorial is in the form of a wheel-head cross with a tapering shaft. It stands on a two-stepped plinth; the top plinth is trapezoid in shape and the lower is square. The plinth stands on a square two-stepped base.

The inscription of lead lettering on recessed polished panels on the top step of the plinth reads: ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF/ MILLBROOK TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO FELL OR DIED THROUGH THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ NAVY/ (NAMES). The other faces are inscribed with the names grouped by the branch of the forces served in. The bottom tier of the plinth is inscribed with: 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES). The other faces are inscribed with further names.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=737
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/114054
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/9311

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