Linslade War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, erected 1920, with Second World War additions. It was re-erected in its current location in Linslade Memorial Gardens in 1948.

Reasons for Designation

Linslade War Memorial, erected in 1920 and moved to its current location in 1948, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events of this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a Latin 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. 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 erected at Linslade as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 41 local servicemen whom lost their lives during the conflict. It was unveiled by Dr Johnson Harris, Chairman of the Urban District Council, on 11 November 1920.

The memorial originally stood at the junction of Old Road, Leighton Road and Wing Road. However, in 1947 it was removed to the premises of Messrs Geere and Company, monumental masons of Luton, for cleaning and repair. At the same time the names of the 20 local men who died in the Second World War were also added. Following the restoration work the memorial was re-erected in Linslade Memorial Gardens, Mentmore Road, in 1948.

Details

First World War memorial, erected 1920, with Second World War additions. It was re-erected in its current location in Linslade Memorial Gardens in 1948.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial takes the form of a Latin cross mounted on a tall shaft which tapers in octagonal section from an octagonal plinth placed upon a three-stepped octagonal base. The whole stands on a deep, single-stepped, octagonal sub-base which was probably designed to be used as bench seating.

The dedications are inscribed on the plinth and the risers of the three-stepped base. The top step bears the inscription 'TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF LINSLADE WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR' while the plinth above contains the date '1914 / 1918' along with the names of the 41 local servicemen who died during the First Wold War. The middle step is inscribed with the date '1939 - 1945' and, with the bottom step, bears the names of the 20 local servicemen who died during the Second World War. The rear of the memorial bears the inscription 'MAY THEY REST / IN PEACE / AND AWAKE TO / A JOYFUL / RESURRECTION'.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, Imperial War Museum - Linslade War Memorial, accessed 01 November 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/7739
Roll of Honour website - Linslade War Memorial, accessed 01 November 2019 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Buckinghamshire/Linslade.html
Linsdale Memorial Gardens website, accessed 01 November 1919 from http://www.linsladememorialgardens.uk/sample-page/background/
War Memorials Online - Linslade War Memorial, accessed 31 March 2020 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/267917/

End of official list entry

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