Debach War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial Portland stone cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Debach 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:

* a simple yet poignant war memorial cross.

Group value:

* with All Saints' House (Grade II).

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 Debach, in the churchyard, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by six members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by Major Benton Fletcher and built by Mr AC Stephenson. The memorial was unveiled on 25 September 1921 by Lord Cranworth.

The names of two local men who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial, which also serves as a general memorial to members of 493rd Bombardment Group ('Helton's Hellcats') who died in that conflict. The Group, of 8th United States Army Air Force, was based at Debach airfield from 1944 to 1945. Some 246 names appear on the Group's Roll of Honour.

The church (All Saints) was made redundant and converted into a domestic dwelling (All Saints' House, Grade II) in the 1970s. The war memorial and other churchyard monuments now stand in a grassed area separated from the private property by a hedge, and accessed by a path from the Woodbridge Road.

Details

The Portland stone memorial stands in the churchyard of the former Church of All Saints, now known as All Saints’ House (Grade II). It comprises a simple cross patonce on a small pedestal with a two-stepped rectangular base.

The main inscription in incised lettering on the north face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF/ ALMIGHTY GOD/ THE ONLY GIVER OF VICTORY/ IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF DEBACH/ WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR/ THAT WE MIGHT LIVE IN PEACE/ THIS CROSS IS RAISED/ 1914. LEST WE FORGET. 1918 with, on the upper step of base, GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.

The names of six men are inscribed on the east and west faces of the plinth. An additional inscription on the south face of the plinth reads 1939 – 1945/ (2 NAMES)/ AND THOSE WHO LOST/ THEIR LIVES SERVING/ WITH THE/ 493RD BOMB GROUP U.S.A.F.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 10 July 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5479
Suffolk Churches - Debach, accessed 10 July 2017 from http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/debach.html
493 Bomb Group Museum, Debach, accessed 21 November 2017 from http://www.493bgdebach.co.uk/index.php

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