Summary

First World War memorial unveiled September 1920.

Description

MATERIALS: limestone.

DESCRIPTION: Holmer War Memorial is located on Widemarsh Common. It consists of a Latin cross on top of a tapering shaft. The shaft rises from an octagonal plinth set upon on a three-stepped base.

The plinth is incised with the dedication: TO HOLMER MEN/ OF GLORIOUS MEMORY/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ 1914 – 1918. The other sides of the plinth are incised with the names of the fallen.

A further dedication runs around the top step and reads: LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND AS WE FOR ENGLAND DIED/ GRANT THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST AND PEACE/ LORD OF HOST, BE WITH US YET/ LEST WE FORGET – LEST WE FORGET.

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 Widemarsh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Unveiled by the Dean of Hereford in September 1920, it commemorates 66 local servicemen who died during the First World War.

The memorial was originally located at the junction of Priory Place and Newtown Road but was moved to its present site in the mid-C20.

Reasons for Listing

Holmer 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 simple yet dignified Latin cross;
* Group value: with Moor House gate piers and walls (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478275

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

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)