Ludgershall War Memorial, surrounding wall and railings

Summary

First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War and the war in Afghanistan.

Reasons for Designation

Ludgershall War Memorial is listed 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 imposing memorial with clear architectural design intent.

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.

The memorial at Ludgershall stands 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 decision to install a war memorial was first made in November of 1918. It was constructed for Ludgershall Town Council and unveiled by Lady Moyne Elizabeth Guinness, a prominent local figure and second wife of the British Lawyer, poet, novelist and socialite Bryan Walter Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne.

The memorial was later altered to include the names of those lost in the Second World War and again more recently to mark the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in the war in Afghanistan. It now remembers the names of 32 individuals that died in the First World War, 20 that died in the Second World War and 1 that died in the war in Afghanistan. All are alphabetised by surname.

The memorial includes Lt Col Hon Guy Baring M P D S O in its commemoration. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament and is one of 22 members killed in action during the Second World War. He is also commemorated at Winchester Cathedral.

Permission was granted in 2023 by Wiltshire Council for the erection of a flagpole at the northern end of the railed enclosure surrounding the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War and War in Afghanistan.

MATERIALS: the memorial is made of Bath stone on a limestone base. The railings are made of iron set on a flint low boundary wall.

DESCRIPTION: Ludgershall War Memorial stands on a hexagonal stepped plinth within a railed enclosure at the junction between Andover Road (A342) and the High Street in the heart of Ludgershall.

The memorial is a four-sided stone pillar with a raised plinth set on a shallow octagonal stone base. The pillar itself has raised corners and recessed side panels with carved incised inscriptions. The memorial is topped with a pyramid with drop cap finial at its apex.

The memorial is inscribed on its southern side with the words TO HONOUR/ THE MEMORY/ OF THOSE/ MEN OF/ LUDGERSHALL/ WHO FELL/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/1939-1945 below a wreath.

The eastern side is inscribed with the names of those lost in the First World War. The western side is inscribed with the names of those lost in the First World War and the war in Afghanistan. The northern side is inscribed with the names of those lost in the Second World War.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is set within a small triangular garden surrounded by low flint wall with plain iron railings.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, a project part funded by Historic England, accessed 22 March 2024 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/176189/

Other
‘When did the war end? Wiltshire Village with three contradictory memorials’, The Kington Times, 12 June 1920, p.8

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