Thurmaston War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1929, with later additions.

Reasons for Designation

Thurmaston War Memorial, unveiled in 1929, 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:

* as a modest but well-executed memorial.

Group value:

* with the nearby Church of St Michael (listed at 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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Thurmaston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 45 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Thurmaston Urban District Council established a war memorial committee to oversee the construction of a war memorial hall and monument, for which the sum of £1,000 was agreed upon at a meeting in October 1923. By 1929 £1,116 had been raised through donations, garden fetes, whist drives and dances. Committee accounts record that the land on which the hall and monument were built cost £100, the construction of the hall cost £1265, and the ‘Cenotaph’ £90. The foundation stone of the memorial hall was laid by Mrs A Checkland of Thurmaston Hall in February 1929, and the obelisk was unveiled in July 1929. Following the Second World War, the names of 21 members of the local community who lost their lives were added to the war memorial. The metal fence bounding the memorial was added by the Parish Council in 1995.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1929, with later additions.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is square in plan, constructed of limestone, and takes the form of an obelisk on a tapered plinth and two-stepped base. The front (east) elevation of the obelisk bears a wreath carved in high relief, and the plinth has inscribed lettering painted gold on each elevation. The front elevation of the plinth reads: ‘TO / THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF / THURMASTON / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WARS / 1914-18 ---- 1939-45 / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS / THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS / FRIENDS’. The north and south elevations of the plinth are inscribed with the dates of the First World War, and 20 and 25 names of the fallen respectively. The rear (west) elevation bears the dates of the Second World War, and 21 names of the fallen (2 of which were added later). The memorial is bounded by a painted metal fence, having pointed finials on alternate balusters. The fence has a gate on the west side, and metal lettering to the front to Melton Road reading: ‘1995 / Thurmaston / Parish Council’.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums, 'Thurmaston Obelisk', accessed 22 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37826
Leicestershire County Council, War Memorials Project, Thurmaston, accessed 19 February 2018 from http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials/view/1162

Other
Leicester Mercury, 25 February 1929
Thurmaston War Memorial Committee Minute Book
Thurmaston Times, December 2017

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