"SWAFFHAM PRIOR WAR MEMORIALS"
To the eternal memory of the men of SWAFFHAM PRIOR who died in the service of their country
Thirty six in the Great War of 1914-1919 and nine in 1939-1945
| There were three separate memorials in different buildings, the twin churches of St Mary and of St.Cyriac and St Julitta, the Zion Church in Swaffham Prior and the Methodist Chapel in the Fen, which is actually closer to Upware. Since conversion to a dwelling of the Zion Church, the tablet there was lost, but has recently been discovered and restored ready to be installed in the church. The magnificent stained glass windows in the north aisle of St Mary's Church deserve a separate page of their own |
| The squire and also church warden, Charles Allix, was determined to honour these men one of whom was his nephew. The many Non-Conformists in the village were strongly opposed to the idea of a War Memorial in the church and refused to contribute towards its cost, so the Squire simply commissioned and paid for the Memorial himself. It cost £170 and was designed by Thomas Curtis and eventually dedicated by the vicar on 21 December 1919. The three stained glass windows were placed in the North Aisle and the 23 names were inscribed on a separate tablet near the chancel. The Non-Conformists meanwhile showed their annoyance by installing their own War Memorial in the Methodist chapel. The memorial windows were executed by artist Messrs G.Maile and Sons, from designs by Mr Charles Allix, Miss Cecily Allix and Thomas Curtis. The unveiling and dedication took place on 21st December 1919 |
WARR.I.P.
CYRIL RONALD PAMMENTER.PTE.EAST YORKS REGTEDWIN PRESTON.LIEUT.HOME GUARDERNEST JAMES SARGEANT.A/B ROYAL NAVYGEORGE HERBERT TAYLOR.PTE.SUFFOLK REGT
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THE CROSS - A more conventional memorial in the form of a vertical stone slab on which is a Celtic cross in relief on a two stepped base. This was deemed
to be by some more suitable for outside the church, but again squire Allix prevailed and the Cross now stands under the central window. Inscribed on the
face of the upper step is:- LIVETH FOR EVERMORE...ECCLESIASTICUS XLIV 14 |
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The memorial is a shallow nowy headed board with a rectangular part painted blue and bearing the dedication and gilded names of the fallen.
The plaque was unveiled on 7th August 1921. The Chapel which was Baptist and Wesleyan, at Great Drove, Swaffham Prior, is used just once each year now,
for Harvest Festival. The farmer kindly permits the use of his electricity supply and access over his property. 1914 OF1918CPL CHARLES CREEK PTE ERNEST OAKMANPTE WILLIAM HENRY SENNITT " FREDERICK JAMES HATLEY" FRED LONG " ERNEST THORBY" DAVID OAKMAN " CHARLES CAMPSWHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR |
photo: Paul Saban
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The Zion Chapel (now a private dwelling) and the memorial plaque The plaque was re-discovered in St Mary's Church and renovated. After discussion, it was fastened to the outside wall of the old Zion Chapel, (now a private dwelling) so please ask before wandering into the garden. Unfortunately it looks as if the wrong type of red paint was used for the restoration as the capital letters should all be in red. The Baptist Chapel stands in the High Street, Swaffham Prior. The tablet is of white marble and was originally unveiled on 20th November 1919. IN LOVING AND GRATEFUL MEMORY OF OLD SCHOLARS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE OF KING AND COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 LIEUT.OWEN C.BUTLER....NORFOLKS " F.DANBYP.HAWKES...C.RY.HIGHANDERS SERGT.MANNING A.BAREFORD....ESSEX REGT CORPL. EDWARD HAWKES...C.INFANTRY PTE. ARTHUR JOHNSON...SHERWOOD FORESTERS " BERT FORDHAM....SUFFOLKS " DICK P.HAWKES....SUFFOLKS " GEORGE CHAS.HEFFER....WEST SURREYS " PERCY BENSTEAD....R.H.ARTILLERY " WALTER BADCOCK...STH STAFFS "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH" THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED BY THE TEACHERS, SCHOLARS, MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF ZION UNION CHAPEL, SWAFFHAM PRIOR NOV 18 1919 go BACK to Swaffham Prior home page They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old, |