Preshute War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 2 November 1919, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Preshute War Memorial, which is situated in St George’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 has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed Latin cross memorial.

Group value:

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St George.

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 Preshute as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 16 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled on Sunday 2 November 1919 at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries and clergy. The memorial was paid for by subscription at a cost of £70, and designed by architect G H Shackle who also designed the Grade II-listed Headbourne Worthy War Memorial.

The names of the eight parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, 1919, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Preshute War Memorial stands on a raised mound in the churchyard of the Church of St George (Grade II*-listed), to the south-east of the chancel.

It is of granite and takes the form of a tall, tapering Latin cross rising from a rough-hewn, four-sided, tapering plinth. The inscriptions and names are in incised lettering to the plinth and cross shaft respectively.

The main inscription is incised into a recessed panel cut into the east face of the plinth and reads, IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF PRESHUTE/ WHO FELL IN THE WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The 16 names of those who died in the First World War are recorded above on the east face of the shaft, below a carved cross pattée symbol in a circle.

The dates 1939 – 1945 are incised into a recessed panel cut into the north face of the plinth. The 8 names of those who died in the Second World War are recorded above on the north face of the shaft.


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, 27 February 2018.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/43569
War Memorials Online, accessed 27 February 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/242158

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