Summary

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

Description

Birlingham War Memorial stands on the village green outside the Church of St James. It comprises a Latin cross with a Celtic-style knotwork cross carved on its front face. The cross is set upon a square shaft which rises from a plinth on a two-stepped base.

The face of the shaft is inscribed in ornate incised lettering: LIVE THOU/ FOR/ ENGLAND/ THEY FOR/ ENGLAND/ DIED. The front face of the plinth is also inscribed and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN THE/ WAR 1914 – 1918.

On the step below this is 1939 – 45.

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 Birlingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates nine local servicemen who fell during the First World War. 

In 1948 a dedication was added to commemorate the two fallen of the Second World War.

In 2005 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Birlingham 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: an ornate and striking Latin cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St James and the churchyard entrance archway, both Grade II.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478249

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

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)