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Latitude: 51.6475 / 51°38'51"N
Longitude: -0.8045 / 0°48'16"W
OS Eastings: 482812
OS Northings: 194980
OS Grid: SU828949
Mapcode National: GBR D4W.MFL
Mapcode Global: VHDVY.0VKC
Plus Code: 9C3XJ5XW+26
Entry Name: West Wycombe War Memorial
Listing Date: 30 August 2016
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1437427
ID on this website: 101437427
Location: West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14
County: Buckinghamshire
Civil Parish: West Wycombe
Traditional County: Buckinghamshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Buckinghamshire
Church of England Parish: West Wycombe
Church of England Diocese: Oxford
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial of 1927 with Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: limestone.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial takes the form of a Calvary cross which is mounted on top of a tall hexagonal shaft topped with a carved collar. The shaft is set on an octagonal plinth and a two-stepped base.
The inscription reads: TO THE MEMORY OF WEST WYCOMBE MEN WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 / AND WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED IN THE PARISH CHURCH / LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND, WE FOR ENGLAND DIED / ALSO / IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN WORLD WAR II / 1939 – 1945.
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 West Wycombe 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 constructed in 1927 and bears no names. Inside the church is an associated marble plaque which has the names of 75 men who died in the First World War.
In 2012 repairs were made to the concrete hardstanding around the memorial with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
West Wycombe War Memorial 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 well-carved example of a Calvary cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St Lawrence (Grade I), the mausoleum (Grade I), and the scheduled monument of Camp on Church Hill.
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.
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