Willenhall War Memorial, including obelisk and associated First World War stone panels and plaques, Second World War stone panels and plaques, and plaques dedicated to the Boer War., Willenhall, Walsall

Summary

First World War memorial, 30 September 1920, with later additions for other conflicts.

Description

First World War memorial with later additions for other conflicts.

MATERIALS: Portland stone, bronze plaques.

DESCRIPTION: Willenhall War Memorial stands within a small garden on the corner of Stafford Street and Field Street.

Constructed from Portland stone, it takes the form of a tall, central obelisk with a moulded foot, which rises from a scotia surmounting a square plinth with moulded foot. The whole is upon a five-stepped, square base. To the front (north face) of the plinth is a wreath carved in relief with the dates 1914/ 1919 at its centre.

Flanking the obelisk to either side are two sets of stone panels with bronze plaques affixed to the front face. The two closest to the obelisk commemorate the Second World War and are set at an angle to the rear corners of the base of the obelisk. Both panels have a moulded cap and foot and are atop a rectangular block upon a single-step base. Each bronze plaque reads WILLENHALL/ 1939 – 1945 with the names beneath. In front of each panel, adjoining the base, is a small wedge-shaped stone with a granite plaque with the incised inscription CIVILIANS KILLED/ BY ENEMY ACTION and the names beneath. The east panel has an additional bronze plaque affixed to the base, which commemorates the fallen of the Northern Ireland conflict, and reads ACTIVE SERVICE BELFAST/ (NAME)

The remaining two panels flanking the obelisk commemorate the fallen from the First World War. They take the same form as their neighbours, with moulded cap and foot atop a rectangular block upon a single-step base, but are larger in size. Each bronze plaque reads WILLENHALL/ 1914 – 1918 with the names beneath. There are inscriptions carved in relief in the stone block below the plaques; that to the east reads HONOUR TO THE MORTAL DEAD and that to the west reads THEIR NAMES LIVE FOR EVERMORE.

To the rear of the obelisk is a section of regular, coursed stone wall which projects forward at either end. Affixed to the wall are two bronze plaques commemorating the fallen from the Boer War. That to the east has an inset, fielded panel with a shield design to the top corners and the inscription in raised lettering. The inscription reads THESE PIERS & GATES/ ARE ERECTED BY/ PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ IN HONOUR OF/ THE MEN OF THIS TOWN/ WHO SERVED IN THE/ SOUTH AFRICAN WAR/ 1899 – 1902/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN/ WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED/ ON THE OPPOSITE PIER/ WHO DIED DURING/ THE CAMPAIGN. To the frame above the panel are the words THESE TABLETS WERE UNVEILED with the date to the bottom of the frame SEPTEMBER 1965. The western plaque has an inset panel with the inscription WILLENHALL MEN WHO DIED IN THE/ SOUTH AFRICAN WAR 1899 – 1902, followed by the names of those who died grouped by regiment. To the frame above the panel are the words THESE TABLETS WERE UNVEILED. Between the two plaques is a smaller plaque which explains that the bronze plaques were removed from Wood Street Cemetery and re-erected on this site in 1964.

The whole is within a small garden with walkways and planting to the rear. The garden is enclosed by decorative metal railings to the north and east boundary, with a pair of entrance gates to the east. Within the garden are benches* and modern litter bins*.

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Willenhall as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 450 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Proposals for a war memorial in Willenhall were put forward with a scheme that included the creation of a memorial park and a separate small corner site ‘to be laid out round a suitable memorial in statue form’ (Birmingham Daily Gazette, 1918). The memorial obelisk was unveiled by Lord Dartmouth on 30 September 1920 and the tablets were added later and dedicated by the Reverend T H P Hyatt on 3 June 1922.

The names of the 96 local servicemen and 17 civilians who died during the Second World War were added later, as was the name of a serviceman who died in the Northern Ireland conflict.

In 1964 two plaques were relocated to the rear of the war memorial obelisk commemorating those who had served and died during the Boer War. The plaques were originally situated on the Boer War memorial piers and gates at Wood Street Cemetery.

Reasons for Listing

Willenhall war memorial, which is situated within a small garden on the corner of Stafford Street and Field Street, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

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.

Architectural interest:
* A well-executed obelisk type war memorial with associated stone panels and bronze plaques. It forms part of an ensemble with the Second World War and Boer War memorial plaques within a memorial garden.

External Links

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