Brandon War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 17 October 1920, with additions for later conflicts.

Reasons for Designation

Brandon War Memorial, which is situated in Brandon Cemetery, 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 influenced by Blomfield’s Cross of Sacrifice.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Peter.

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 Brandon as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

A committee was set up in January 1919 to ensure the town would have a suitable memorial to the men who had died in the war. Discussion took place over what form the memorial should take and where in the town it was to be located. The location was much debated with some wanting the memorial to be placed on Market Hill as a suitably public place, however, it was eventually agreed to site the memorial in Brandon Cemetery. Money was raised via public subscription with over £240 raised by the summer of 1919. The war memorial was eventually unveiled on Sunday 17 October 1920 by Lieutenant Colonel B E Spragge and dedicated by the rector, Reverend P J D Johnson. It commemorates the 65 servicemen from the local community who died in the First World War.

The names of 23 parishioners who fell during the Second World War and one who died in the Korean War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920, with additions for later conflicts.

DESCRIPTION: Brandon War Memorial is located at the centre of Brandon cemetery on a small mound at the junction of four paths to the east of the Church of St Peter (Grade I-listed).

The memorial is of a similar style to the Blomfield Cross of Sacrifice. Constructed of Portland stone, it comprises a tall Latin cross with tapering octagonal shaft, which terminates in a moulded foot; an inverted sword of sacrifice is carved in relief to the north face of the cross and shaft. The shaft rises from a three-tiered, square plinth, which is chamfered along the side edges. A wedge-shaped stone tablet has been placed against the lower tier of the plinth to the north and south faces. The whole surmounts a four-stepped octagonal base.

The inscriptions and names are to the plinth and wedge-shaped stone tablets in incised lettering, painted black. To the north face of the upper-tier of the plinth are the words THE WAR/ 1914–1918. The 65 names of the dead are recorded underneath and on the remaining three sides of the upper-tier of the plinth.

To the north face of the middle-tier of the plinth are the dates 1939–1945. The 23 names of the dead from the Second World War are recorded underneath and on the remaining three sides of the middle-tier of the plinth.

An inscription is incised on the wedge-shaped stone tablet placed against the north face of the lower-tier of the plinth, which reads SONS OF THIS PLACE LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD/ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST ERE YOU FALL ASLEEP.

A similar wedge-shaped stone tablet placed against the south face of the lower-tier of the plinth reads KOREAN WAR/ 1950–1953/ (NAME).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 14 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4524
War Memorials Online, accessed 14 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/138367/
‘War Memorial’, Brandon at War: 1939-1945, accessed 14 November 2017 from http://ww2.brandonatwar.co.uk/other/war-memorial/

Other
‘Brandon War Memorial, United Service at Unveiling Ceremony’, Bury Free Press, (23 October 1920), pp3

End of official list entry

Print the official list entry