Summary
War memorial, erected in 1919.
Reasons for Designation
Smeeth War Memorial, erected in 1919, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
History
The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. 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.
Details
Smeeth War Memorial, unveiled in 1919 and completed to the designs of the sculptor F J Russell.
End of official list entry
