Holme Hale War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Holme Hale War Memorial, which is situated in St Andrew’s 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 wheel-head cross memorial.

Group value:

* With the Grade I-listed Church of St Andrew.

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 Holme Hale 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 Holme Hale, is situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the end of the First World War, and was in situ by the Ordnance Survey County Series 25in map published in 1928. It commemorates 11 local servicemen who died in the First World War.

Following the Second World War, a dedication and the names of the two casualties from that conflict were added to the memorial.

The memorial was restored in 2014 - 2015.

Details

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Holme Hale war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew (Grade I-listed) to the north-west of the entrance porch.

It takes the form of a Portland stone, wheel-head cross on a tall shaft with moulded foot. The cross and shaft are inset to the east face; the monogram IHS is carved in relief within a circle at the centre of the cross-head with four floral relief roundels to each arm of the cross. The shaft rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth atop a single-step base. The whole surmounts a wider, square stone platform. The plinth carries the inscriptions in incised lettering, painted black.

The principal inscription is to the east face of the plinth and reads IN PROUD/ AND GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THOSE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918./ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE". The 11 names of those who died (including their regiment) are listed on the north and south faces of the plinth. To the west face is the dedication, IN/ GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ (2 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: affixed to the upper surface of the stone platform, and enclosing the memorial, are eight small, decorative iron posts with a chain hung between.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 September 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/56558
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 September 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/160178/

Other
OS Map 25” (1928 edn)

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