Little Kingshill War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Little Kingshill War Memorial, which stands on Church Road, 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 sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* A modest yet poignant brick monument designed with architectural detail, and in good quality materials.

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Little Kingshill as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 11 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled on 8 February 1920, and the memorial bears the Latin inscription PRO PATRIA, which translates as 'for one's country'. On the opposite side of Windsor Lane 11 trees were planted, one for each of the fallen. Three have been replaced (2017).

After the Second World War the names of the fallen from that conflict were added, including Lieutenant Commander Michael Willmott, Distinguished Service Order (DSO) who was captain of the Royal Navy submarine HMS Talisman. He was awarded the DSO for completing five Mediterranean missions, but he and the crew of Talisman were lost to Italian mines off Sicily, on the 17 September 1942.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920.

MATERIALS: mixed stock brick, stone, black knapped flint, and clay tiles.

DESCRIPTION: Little Kingshill War Memorial is located on the south side of Windsor Lane, Little Missenden. It comprises a decorative brick pillar, topped by a gablet which faces north-east. The brick work is laid in a Sussex bond and on the front face lighter and darker bricks are laid alternatively to create a regular pattern. Within the black knapped flint apex of the gablet there is a decorative terracotta roundel which has the Latin moto PRO PATRIA, in relief. At mid-height level and at the base, there is a chamfered-brick string course which encircle the monument. The top of the monument has a single-pitched tiled roof with rounded tiles on the ridge-line.

On the front face, there are two rectangular stone tablets which are incised with the names of the fallen. The upper reads: IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF LITTLE KINGSHILL/WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR ENGLAND IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/(NAMES).

The lower reads: AND IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945/(NAMES). Beneath this tablet there is a inset cross of black knapped flint.


This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 20 July 2017.

Sources

Websites
Buckinghamshire War Memorial history site, accessed 26 March 2017 from http://buckinghamshireremembers.org.uk/memorials.htm
War Memorials Online, accessed 26 March 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/115209/
War Memorials Register, accessed 20 July 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/8110

Other
Bucks Herald dated Saturday 14 February 1920

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