Summary

First World War memorial unveiled on 19 June 1920, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: Sandstone sculpture, granite column.

DESCRIPTION: Alsager War Memorial comprises a sandstone carved figure of a First World War serviceman in full uniform carrying a rifle with bayonet. The statue rises from a granite column standing on a three-stepped base. The column carries a band of carved foliate design, below which, on three faces, are the incised and painted black lettering of the names of those who lost their lives in the First World War.

The inscription on the north-west face reads: IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THE ALSAGER MEN / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919 / (NAMES) / THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES / UNTO THE DEATH REV XII XI.

On the south-east face is the inscription: ALSO IN GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THE ALSAGER MEN / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / FOR THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945 / (NAMES). Also on this face is a casted representation of the Town Arms.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Alsager 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 sits in a small area of green in front of a garden.

The funds to erect the Alsager War Memorial were raised by public subscription. It cost over £1000 with the land on which it stands being donated by Dr Crutchley in memory of Henry Percy Harpur MD Capt RAMC. The memorial was unveiled by T F Owen, chairman of the war memorial committee, and dedicated on 19 June 1920 to commemorate the 41 fallen from the First World War. A further plaque was added to the rear of the memorial following the Second World War to commemorate the 11 local servicemen who fell in that conflict.

In 2013 a project was undertaken to repair the memorial, including the reinstatement of a stone bayonet which had previously been lost. This work was completed with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Alsager War Memorial, unveiled on 19 June 1920, 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a striking and evocative stone-carved sculpture comprising the figure of a First World War serviceman.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678151

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
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