20 war memorials have been listed across the South East in Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent and here on the Isle of Wight.
The 7 war memorials which have been listed grade II on the Isle of Wight are Totland Bay, Binstead, Lake, Brighstone, Shanklin, East Cowes Air Raid Protection and the war memorial within the churchyard of the parish church of St Lawrence, Ventnor.
These are some of the 132 war memorials that have been added to the National Heritage List for England by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England, in the past year.
East Cowes Air Raid Protection Memorial
The memorial was erected in the St James Churchyard in East Cowes to commemorate the loss of 4 members of the local Air Raids Precautions service people who died on duty during World War II. Senior Warden Edward Kersey (46), Warden Montague B B Brinton (37), Warden William M Cowburn (37), and Mrs. Alice F Hann of the Women’s Voluntary Services (63). It was commissioned by their fellow members of the East Cowes Civil Defence Warden and Ambulance Service.
The base of the cross memorial is carved to represent an ARP wardens helmet, lamp and water bottle among the rubble.
Totland Bay War Memorial
The Totland Bay Memorial was erected by the beginning of 1920 by the West Wight Monumental Company. By May 1920 the area around the memorial had been completed, with iron railings installed and shrubs planted along the path running to the memorial.
Following the end of World War II, the names of 15 local men who died were added. 2 further names from World War II were added after 1998.
4 additional names omitted from World War I have also been added. The memorial was originally located at the southern end of the Broadway but was relocated to its present location at the junction of Church Hill and Weston Road when the road junction became a roundabout.
Binstead War Memorial
The land was given by John Willis Fleming, who had lost a son during World War I. Binstead War Memorial commemorates 27 members of the local community who lost their lives during the war.
2 of the names commemorated belong to a husband and wife, Lt-Cdr Henry Thomas Gartside-Tipping and Mary Gartside-Tipping.
Following the end of World War II, a further inscription and the names of 11 people who lost their lives were added. The memorial was cleaned and the lettering restored in 2008.
Lake War Memorial
Lake Memorial was erected as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 210 members of the local community who served and 56 who died during World War I.
Next to it is a Grade II-listed memorial drinking fountain and trough to animals (dogs and horses) lost during World War I.
The trough was originally situated at the junction of Lake Hill and Sandown Road. By 1992 the trough had been moved to the junction of Lake Hill and The Fairway and in 1998 the memorial cross was also relocated to this site.
Further plaques were added to the memorial cross in 1999, commemorating 22 members of the community who lost their lives in World War II, and in 2012, relating to the Malayan Emergency.
Brighstone War Memorial
Brighstone War Memorial was unveiled in 1920 by the Parish Rector. It commemorates 18 servicemen of the community who gave their lives in World War I.
A further inscription and the names of 5 who died in World War II were added following that conflict and inscribed by Wight Stonemasonry, and a 6th name was added at a later date.
It can be found outside of the boundary wall of the churchyard at the junction of Main Road and New Road.
War Memorial within the churchyard of Parish Church of StLawrence
The war memorial commemorates the 12 local men who died during World War I, 7 in World War II and 1 in the Malaysian Emergency.
Shanklin War Memorial
Shanklin War Memorial is a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 84 members of the local community who lost their lives in World War I.
In 1995, a Second World War memorial, in the form of a curved wall, was erected to the rear of the memorial cross. This commemorates 39 servicemen who died in World War II as well as 13 Fire Service personnel who were killed when Shanklin Fire Station was bombed during an air raid.
The recently listed memorials are among tens of thousands that were erected across England in memory of the many people who lost their lives in both World Wars, never to return home. In place of graves, these memorials became focal points for local communities to mourn and honor their dead. Nationally, The Cenotaph in Whitehall is seen as the country’s main memorial and this year marks the centenary of its erection.
Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said:
“Each year on Remembrance Sunday we come together as a nation in silence to remember and give thanks to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. In our towns, cities and villages, memorials stand to these brave men and women. I am very pleased that this year, as we mark the centenary of the Cenotaph itself, we have protected 132 memorials so that future generations can learn about those who gave so much to our country.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England said:
“Our War Memorials across the country remind us of the huge sacrifices made by generations in the conflicts of the last century, and provide communities with a focal point to express their gratitude and loss.
“We are proud to continue our work in recognising and protecting these important public monuments so future generations can continue to honor and remember the fallen.”
In 2014, Historic England committed to listing 2,500 war memorials by the end of 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War. It achieved this target, listing 2,645, but decided to continue the work as many more cherished memorials worthy of listing status were identified.
You can learn more by viewing our war memorials webinars.
Bloody brilliant news