Hockwold cum Wilton War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Hockwold cum Wilton war memorial, which is situated in St James’ 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:

* A well-executed obelisk memorial.

Group value:

* With the Grade I-listed Church of St James and several Grade II-listed memorials and monuments within the churchyard.

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 Hockwold cum Wilton 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, the example at Hockwold Cum Wilton, is situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the end of the First World War and commemorates the 23 local servicemen who died in the conflict.

Following the Second World War, the names of the three casualties from that conflict were added to the memorial. They were unveiled in November 1947 by Brigadier-General H G J de Lotbiniere and Reverend N R M Hawthorn (Rector of Garboldisham and a former Army chaplain).

Details

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Hockwold cum Wilton war memorial is located in the churchyard to the south-west of the entrance to the Church of St James (Grade I-listed); there are also several Grade II-listed memorials and monuments within the churchyard.

The war memorial is of polished, grey granite and takes the form of an obelisk rising from a two-tiered, chamfered, square plinth upon a single-stepped, chamfered, square base. The whole surmounts a narrow, square platform.

The north face of the obelisk carries the dates 1914/ 1919 within a wreath. The principal inscription is directly below to the upper tier of the plinth and reads THIS MONUMENT/ IS ERECTED/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO SERVED/ IN HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES/ AND DIED/ IN THE GREAT WAR. Underneath, to the lower tier of the plinth are the words "THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIFE/ EVEN UNTO DEATH" REV. XII 4.

Twenty-two names of the dead from the First World War are on the east and west faces of the upper tier of the plinth. The 23rd name is on the south face, below which is the Second World War dedication, the dates 1939/ 1945 within a wreath. The names of the three dead from this conflict are listed below on the lower tier of the plinth.

All lettering and wreath designs are incised and painted gold.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 20 September 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53472
War Memorials Online, accessed 20 September 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/150871/

Other
Thetford & Watton Times and People's Weekly Journal, (29 November 1947), pp1

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