Heybridge War Memorial

Summary

First World War Memorial unveiled in 1921.

Reasons for Designation

Heybridge War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason:

* Historic interest: it is 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.

History

The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the 19th century. Prior to then memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, which was the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers.

However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, 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 Heybridge, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The war memorial in Heybridge commemorates the fallen from the First World War. It was built by Messrs Wray and Fuller and was unveiled by Brigadier-General R C de Crespigny, on 10th July 1921.

The ceremony and unveiling was recorded in the Essex Chronicle, Friday 15th July 1921, in an article entitled 'Hopes for England'. General De Crespigny was quoted in the article as saying: "those men has answered their country's call and made the greatest sacrifice a man could make". He went onto say: "In 1914 there were under 500 of military age in the parish and of these over 350 served during the war, and 35 of their names appeared on the cross. This was a grand record, and Heybridge might be justly proud of it."

Details

First World War Memorial unveiled in 1921.

MATERIALS: Portland limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on Goldhanger road inside the front entrance of the cemetery. It is approximately 3m high and is in the form of a cross with a tapering shaft and chamfered edges. A stone relief sword is on the front. It is supported by a two-tier octagonal base upon which rests an octagonal plinth, the front face of which is inscribed: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOUR OF THE / MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL DURING THE / GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the other faces of the plinth. There are three stone tablets affixed to the base. The central one is inscribed: ‘AND THOSE KILLED/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945’, and the flanking tablets bear the names of the fallen.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 2 March 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22536
War Memorials Online, accessed 19 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/135538/

Other
Heybridge War Memorial Conservation Treatment Report, Inspire Conseration Ltd, November 2013
The Essex Chronicle. Friday July 15, 1921. Heybridge Memorial. Unveiled by General de Crespigny. Hopes for England. p2

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