Bradninch War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with additions for later conflicts.

Reasons for Designation

Bradninch War Memorial, which stands in front of the Guildhall, 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 made in the conflicts of the C20;
    
Architectural interest: 
*     An imposing granite wheel-head cross in the Celtic style, including well-executed interlace carving;

Group value:
*     With the Guildhall (Grade II) and a number of other Grade II-listed buildings in the environs.

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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Bradninch as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the district who lost their lives in the First World War.

Following public meetings held to determine an appropriate war memorial, the decision was made to erect a monumental cross outside the Guildhall (Grade II-listed). The cross was unveiled by Brigadier-General D’Arcy Thomas on 22 February 1920, during a well-attended ecumenical service led by the Vicar, Reverend W Pryke, and Baptist Minister Reverend B Horlick.

Some 280 men from Hele and Bradninch, including some who had earlier emigrated to Canada, had served, as well as a number of women who served in both an official capacity as well as on the Home Front. The memorial commemorates 52 men who died. Following the Second World War the details of a further 12 men were added, and the name of a soldier who died in the Korean War is also commemorated.

Details

The tall Dartmoor granite memorial stands in the forecourt of the town Guildhall (Grade II-listed). It takes the form of a wheel-head cross in the Celtic style, standing on a plinth and three-stepped octagonal base. The arms of the wheel-head cross are ornamented with interlace knots and a central hemispherical boss. A small shield bearing the town’s heraldic device, a spread eagle, decorates the foot of the cross shaft.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the tapering plinth reads: FAITHFUL TO KING AND COUNTRY./ TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF BRADNINCH/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919./ "BECAUSE YOU LIVE, THOUGH OUT OF SIGHT, AND REACH,/ I WILL, SO HELP ME GOD, GIVE BRAVELY TOO". The commemorated First World War names are listed on the plinth sides.

A later dedication on the front face of the uppermost step reads: ALSO OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WAR 1939 - 1945, with the Second World War names recorded on other faces of this step. Below, on the front face of the middle step, an inscription reads: WAR IN KOREA/ (1 NAME).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25488
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/154432/

Other
“Bradninch War Memorial”, Western Times, 11 April 1919, p10
“Bradninch War Memorial”, Western Times, 31 March 1919, p2
“Keeping Their Memory Green”, Western Times, 27 February 1920, p7

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