Walpole St Peter War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Walpole St Peter 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 striking design with an impressive composition of fine carved figurative sculpture;
* Group value: with the Church of St Peter (Grade I) and Grade-II listed tombs in the churchyard.

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, 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 Walpole St Peter as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 22 local servicemen who died during the First World War. The original design for the memorial is displayed in the Parish Hall and lists two saints, St Michael and St George, depicted on the memorial but no date or designer’s signature can be seen.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the ten fallen of that conflict. There is also one name added for the Northern Ireland conflict.

In 2015 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

MATERIALS: sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located within St Peter’s Churchyard. It has a three-stepped base and octagonal plinth topped by a tapering octagonal shaft with a pinnacle of a Calvary cross within a stone canopy shelter. The base of the Calvary is carved with a standing figure either side of Christ on the front face. The rear and sides are carved with further figures including St Michael and St George.

The memorial plinth is inscribed with a dedication for the fallen of the First World War which reads IN MEMORIAM 1914 – 1918. The other faces of the plinth are incised with the names of the fallen. The top step of the base has an inscription repeating around it and this reads THINK/ AND/ THANK. The second step is simply inscribed 1939 – 1945 on one face with the names of the fallen on two of the other faces with a further face being inscribed (NAME)/ KILLED IN NORTHERN IRELAND/ 1972.

Sources

Websites
Details of the memorial from Roll of Honour, accessed 7 September 2016 from www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/WalpoleStPeterMemorial.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 September 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/189591
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 September 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1258

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