Tilshead War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Tilshead 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* an elegant memorial cross incorporating symbols of sacrifice including a reversed sword, wreaths and angels carved in low relief.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Thomas a Becket (Grade I) and a number of Grade II-listed structures including Church House, Old Vicarage, and churchyard monuments.

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 Tilshead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Plans for the memorial cross were drawn up in 1920 and it was erected at some time before 1923. The name of one man who died during the Second World War was subsequently added to the memorial. In around 2014 the memorial was restored at the behest of Tilshead Parish Council.

Details

The memorial stands in the southern corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Thomas a Becket (Grade I), and in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed buildings and churchyard monuments.

The tall stone memorial comprises a Maltese cross on a cross shaft, rectangular in plan, with a simply moulded foot standing on a substantial plinth and two-stepped base. The base incorporates tapering cornerstones. The face of the cross is ornamented with a reversed sword carved in low relief; a wreath encircles the hilt and guard carved on the cross-head. At the top of the front face of the plinth two carved angels hold a wreath over the dedicatory inscription.

The main inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOUR/ OF THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH WHO/ FELL IN THE GREAT/ WAR OF 1914 - 1918 / (12 NAMES). The names are listed with rank and regiment. A further inscription on the south face of the upper step of the base reads THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ 1939 - 1945/ (1 NAME).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 23 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/43577
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/133891/

Other
Faculty application. Tilshead: for a War Memorial Cross. Plans. Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre (catalogue reference D/1/61/60/11).
‘Tilshead Remembrance Day’, Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 17 November 1923, p10

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