Lakenheath War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial with additions for later conflicts.

Reasons for Designation

Lakenheath War Memorial, which is situated on the village green facing the High Street in Lakenheath, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an elegant and well-proportioned tall Portland stone obelisk.

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

One such memorial was unveiled at Lakenheath on 27 March 1921 by Captain Owen A Clark as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. 

The memorial was built by Mr J Cracknell to commemorate 65 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 11 fallen of that conflict and one from Aden 1964.

In 2008 the memorial was repaired with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust. In 2015 a further grant was awarded for cleaning.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921, with additions for later conflicts.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: Lakenheath War Memorial is located on the village green near the pond facing the High Street in Lakenheath, Suffolk.

The memorial is a 6m high Portland limestone obelisk with inset band which stands on a square pedimented stone plinth supported by three tiered stone steps.

The incised inscription is located on the plinth with a later Second World War addition on the two steps. It is painted black and reads THIS MONUMENT/ HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF/ LAKENHEATH/ IN HONOUR OF/ 65 GALLANT MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR OF/ 1914 – 1919/ AS A LASTING RECORD OF THEIR SACRIFICE/ AND IN GRATITUDE TO GOD/ FOR THE VICTORY ACHIEVED/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVER MORE”/ ALSO IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”. The other faces of the plinth and top step are incised with the names of the fallen including the name of one fallen serviceman from Aden 1964.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 24 March 2017 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=464
War Memorials Online, accessed 24 March 2017 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/118137
War Memorial Register, accessed 24 March 2017 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4559

Other
‘Lakenheath War Memorial’, Bury Free Press, (2 April 1921), 12

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