Holsworthy War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Holsworthy Memorial, which stands in the 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 this local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
    
Architectural interest:

*     A tall and elaborately decorated wheel-head cross incorporating intricate interlace patterns in the Celtic style, in Cornish granite.

Group value:

* With the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II*-listed) and a number of Grade II-listed structures nearby including 1, North Road and a K6 Telephone Kiosk to south east of the Library.

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

A public meeting held in October 1919 debated the type of war memorial that Holsworthy should have, resolving to erect a cenotaph and leaving the choice of location to the War Memorial Committee. The cross that was raised outside the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II*-listed) was unveiled during an ecumenical service on 4 August 1921 by Admiral Stuart Nicholson CB MVO. One of the flags used in the unveiling process was the White Ensign from HMS Carnarvon that had served in the Battle of the Falklands (8 December 1918).

The memorial commemorates 36 local servicemen who died in the First World War and was dedicated by the Rural Dean, Reverend EA Donaldson. It cost £385, raised by public subscription. Following the Second World War a dedication was added to mark those 27 men who died in that conflict.

Details

The memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II*-listed), to the south of the church tower and in close proximity to a number of other Grade II-listed structures. It takes the form of a tall wheel-head cross in Cornish granite enclosed by a chained area demarcated by granite posts.

The wheel-head cross is decorated with elaborate carved interlace patterns, both to the cross head and the shaft. The shaft rises from a tapering pedestal, which stands on a two-stepped granite base. The 11 pyramidal granite posts carry a pair of chains enclosing the cross, with an entrance on the east side.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914-1918,/ BY THE PARISHIONERS OF HOLSWORTHY/ (NAMES). Below, on the front face of the upper step, is GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

The pedestal’s rear face carried the later dedication, reading IN/ MEMORY OF/ (NAMES) WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING THE 1939 – 45 WAR/ GIVE UNTO THY SERVANTS THAT PEACE WHICH THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE.

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, 30 January 2018.

Sources

Websites
Devon Heritage, Holsworthy, accessed 3 August 2017 from http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Holsworthy/HolsworthyWarMem1939to1945.htm
War Memorials Register, accessed 3 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2881
War Memorials Online, accessed 30 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/150767

Other
“Holsworthy War Memorial”, Western Times, 30 October 1919, p3
“Holsworthy War Memorial”, Western Morning News, 4 August 1921, p8

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