Lifton War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Lifton War 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 simple yet imposing war memorial cross in granite, based on a noted wayside cross on Dartmoor (the Meavy Cross, Grade II-listed).

Group value:

* With the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed).

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 Lifton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 15 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The parishioners had decided in July 1919 that a granite memorial cross be erected in the churchyard. This was produced by JT Miller, monumental sculptor of Okehampton, in the manner of the Meavy cross (c25km to the south-east), and unveiled on 5 February 1920. During a well-attended ecumenical service, the cross was dedicated by Reverend J French. Following the Second World War six further names were added.

Details

The c5m tall granite memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed), overlooking Parsonage Court. It takes the form of a plain Latin cross, octagonal in plan, standing on a four-stepped octagonal base.

The principal dedicatory inscription begins on the front face of the upper step of the base, reading TO/ THE/ GLORY/ OF/ GOD and continuing on the step below AND IN HONOURED/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ LIFTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The commemorated names are listed on faces of the step below this, whilst the Second World War inscription is on the front face of the lowest step, reading 1939 – 1945/ (6 NAMES). All the inscriptions are in applied metal lettering.

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, 22 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 4 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/192927/
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/45886

Other
“Lifton’s War Memorial”, Western Morning News, 4 July 1919, p8
“Lifton’s Memorial”, Western Times, 6 February 1920, p10

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