Barcombe War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, erected 1920, with added commemoration for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Barcombe War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a well-executed and dignified commemorative structure which displays crisp carving.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (Grade II*), the Grade II listed churchyard walls and funerary monuments and scheduled medieval cross.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Barcombe, in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the men of the parish who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by Lewes-based stonemasons C F Bridgman Ltd and was unveiled on 14 November 1920 by Brigadier-General Borrodaile to commemorate 34 servicemen who died during the First World War.

Within the church is a further memorial which commemorates members of the Barcombe Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters who lost their lives in the First World War.

Further inscriptions were added to the churchyard memorial following the Second World War in memory of the 14 local men, including Lt Claude Raymond VC, who lost their lives in the conflict.

Details

First World War memorial, erected 1920, with added commemoration for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: constructed of Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands close to the north porch of the Church of St Mary (Grade II*). It takes the form of a fully-enclosed wheel cross with a central boss and incised decoration to each quadrant on its front face and a tall shaft. It is set into a tapered plinth which stands on a square, three-stepped base. The front (east) face of the plinth is inscribed THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ 1914-19/ (NAMES).


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
Barcombe War Memorial, accessed 18 December 2017 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/Barcombe.html
Imperial War Museum, Ref. 17108, Barcombe, accessed 18 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17108
War Memorials Online, accessed 27 February 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/220389

Other
Barcombe’s Tribute: War Memorial Unveiled, Sussex Agricultural Press, 19 November 1920

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