Elsing War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 11 August 1921, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Elsing War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary’s Churchyard, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:
* as 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.

Architectural interest:
* an elegant and finely carved stone wheel-head cross.

Group value: for its relationship with the Grade I-listed Church of St Mary.

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 Elsing as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Like many Norfolk war memorials, Elsing's is situated within the village churchyard. The memorial was unveiled on 11 August 1921 and commemorates 12 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and two men who fell in the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Elsing War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed). It is prominently situated by the main porch entrance to the church, standing beside the path that leads from the churchyard entrance.

It comprises a York stone wheel-head cross on a small shaft, surmounting a tapering, four-sided plinth upon a two-stepped base. To the cross and shaft face is an incised carving of a cross with Celtic motifs at the end of each arm and down the shaft to the midpoint. The monogram IHS is carved at the centre of the cross. The plinth bears the dedications in incised lettering.

The principal inscription is to the north face of the plinth and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH WHO SACRIFICED/ THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919/ (12 NAMES). Below this, on the uppermost step of the base is the inscription: WHEN THE SUN SETS AND IN THE/ MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

To the west face of the plinth is the inscription: 1939 – 1945/ (2 NAMES).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 24 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 18 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19783
Flickr, accessed 18 May 2017 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/13910003481/in/photostream/
War Memorials Online, accessed 24 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/253533

Other
‘Elsing War Memorial. Unveiling Ceremony’, Thetford & Watton Times and People's Weekly Journal, (13 August 1921).

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