Summary
First World War memorial, dedicated in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. The memorial is located on concrete paving in the south-east side of Snodland Cemetery, Kent.
Description
First World War memorial, dedicated in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. The memorial is located on concrete paving in the south east side of Snodland Cemetery, Kent.
MATERIALS: limestone cenotaph with bronze wreath.
Description: the memorial comprises a limestone cenotaph with a bronze laurel wreath at the top of the front face. The cenotaph is mounted on a two stepped base. The inscription on the front face reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING MEN OF SNODLAND/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR HUMANITY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919. On the panel below this are listed the names of the fallen from the First World War.
On one side of the cenotaph is the further dedication SNODLAND/ PROUDLY REMEMBERS HER SONS/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE 1939 - 1945/ WORLD WAR/ THAT WE MIGHT LIVE IN PEACE/ (NAMES). The other side is incised THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED/ BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ AND UNVEILED BY/ ADMIRAL SIR F. C. DOVETON STURDEE BT/ K.C.B..K.C.M.G..C.V.O../ ON 13 JUNE 1920.
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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised in Snodland Cemetery. It provides a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 100 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War a dedication to the 34 men who died in that conflict was added to the memorial. The memorial was conserved in 2008 with the help of grant funding from War Memorials Trust.
Snodland War Memorial was dedicated in the cemetery there by Rear Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, in June 1920. The design was inspired by Sir Edwin Lutyens cenotaph in Whitehall.
Reasons for Listing
Snodland War Memorial, of 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* the memorial stands as a bold and dignified cenotaph with fine detailing in the form of the bronze laurel wreath.
External Links
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