Building record 727/1/1 - Towcester War Memorial

{1} First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
Towcester’s War Memorial, which stands in the town’s Brackley Road cemetery, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason:
* 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.
History
Towcester War Memorial commemorates the 62 servicemen who died during the First World War. It was presumably erected in or soon after 1920, like the majority of those across the country. Inscriptions were added to commemorate the 12 servicemen who died during the Second World War.
Details
The memorial stands alongside the chapel in the town’s Brackley Road cemetery. Of flecked granite, it takes the form of an octagonal base surmounted by a square plinth from which rises a Latin cross. The cross shaft and arms are octagonal in section. Each corner of the plinth is ornamented with a blind lancet.
Inscribed in black lettering on the front face of the plinth is 1914 THE GREAT WAR 1918./ GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS./ REMEMBER WITH
THANKSGIVING THE/ TRUE AND FAITHFUL MEN, WHO IN/ THESE YEARS OF WAR, WENT FORTH/
FROM THIS PLACE FOR GOD AND THE RIGHT/ THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO RETURNED/ NOT
AGAIN ARE HERE INSCRIBED TO/ BE HONOURED FOR EVERMORE.
The ranks and names are recorded on the remaining three sides of the plinth.
On the chamfered top of the plinth is inscribed TO THE MEMORY OF/ THOSE OF THIS PARISH/ WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR FREEDOM IN/ THE WAR 1939-1945. On the opposite side is THEIR NAMES
SHALL/ NOT BE FORGOTTEN. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the other sides of the chamfer.

<1> Historic England, 2015, Towcester War Memorial, (part checked) (Designation Advice Report). SNN109986.

Record last edited

May 18 2015 4:04PM