"LITTLE WRATTING MEMORIALS"

To the eternal memory of the men of LITTLE WRATTING who died in the service of their country
Six in the Great War of 1914-1918 and four from 1939-1945




For much of the information regarding the memorial I am indebted to John Buckell. His book "Little Wratting and the Great War" published in 2010 is now out of print, but John has kindly sent me much information to fill in the gaps in my own research.

Inside St Mary's Church, Little Wratting, opposite the door, is a wall mounted Plaque. A grey Hopton Wood stone tablet, 43 inches high by 26 inches wide honours six men of the village.
Facing that, on the door side of the church, is a similar plaque commemorating the 4 men who died in World War Two

On Saturday 18th September 1920, Canon J.R.M. Vacher, Vicar of Clare, dedicated the memorial. Commissioned and paid for by public subscription it was commissioned at the same time and from the same company, The Cambridge Wood and Stone Carving Works, Rattee and Kett, Ecclesiastical and General Builders, Carvers, Sculptors and Monumental Masons of Cambridge (the same firm that rebuilt the church in 1916). The cost was £43.15s. plus 1 guinea for fixing and 4 pence for stamps.
There was a shortfall of 13s 1d, but this was made up by the Chairman of the Parish Council, Frank Sainsbury, from his own pocket.

There exists a list of the subscribers. Nearly 1 in 5 of the villagers served in the Armed Forces, six of them failing to return home.

Headed by a painted St George's cross within a green painted wreath and the incised dedication reads:-

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY
OF THE MEN OF THIS VILLAGE
WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR OF
1914-1919
The names then follow, Forenames and surnames painted red and two lines giving date and details of death and burial





The Church of St.Mary, Little Wratting



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They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.