Memorial details

Memorial type
Cross
District
Breckland
Town
Thetford
County
Norfolk
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 4th December 1921
    Attended by: Major General Sir Charles V F Townshend KCB CB DSO MP
  • Unveiled
    Date: Beford 20th August 1948
    Attended by: Mr George Neave, a 37 year old Thetford man who served in the Royal Armoured Corps and who lost a leg at Caem, threee weeks after "D" Day.
  • Dedicated
    Date: 4th December 1921
    Attended by: Rev. E. W. Hardy (vicar of St Mary's)
  • Show More (2)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
53385

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Current location

Town Market Place
Market Place
Thetford
Breckland
Norfolk
IP24 2AL
England

OS Grid Ref: TL 87178 83058
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Cross Pomme finial on top of column and octagonal plinth on ornamental three stepped base. Each section of the memorial is alternately either polished or unpolished. the polished sections being the uppermost step, the plinth, the shaft and the Cross. Main front facet of octagonal plinth has the seal of Thetford (castle surrounded by words 'Antiq Burgh de Thetford'). inscription underneath. Seven of the eight sides have names for WW1 and one of the eight sides has the names for WW2. the WW2 names also extend below this face onto the plinth and upper step. the WW2 names have been inscribed on what was the blank, back face of the memorial between the WW1 names.
Inscription
Front of eight sides: ANTIQ BURGH DE THETFORD/ 1914 1918/ IN/ EVER GRATEFUL/ REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN OF/ THIS BOROUGH/ WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ "LEST WE FORGET" Back of eight sides: 1939 - 1945/ (Names) Remaining six sides: (WWI Names) Base: (WWII Names)
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Allatson, W P
Allison, S W
Archer, F
Ashfield, E R
Backlog, E J
Backlog, J E
Baker, A H
Bambridge, W G
Bambridge, W G
Barker, W E
See details for all 115 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 117
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 117
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: initials, surname
    Order of information: surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 45
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 45
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: initials, surname
    Order of information: surname
Components
  • Cross
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite - Balmoral
  • Pillar
    Measurements: height 23½ ft
    Materials: Granite - Balmoral
  • Plinth
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite - Balmoral
  • Base
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite - Balmoral
Listing information
  • Thetford War Memorial
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Reference
  • Bury Free Press - Saturday 10 December 1921 Page 12 THETFORD WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILING. (photograph)
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Diss Express - Friday 20 August 1948 COUNTY EPITOME
  • Market Harborough Advertiser and Midland Mail - Tuesday 13 December 1921 "All my life I have wished to die for my country." — Major-General Sir C. Townshend at the unveiling of a Thetford war memorial.
  • Bury Free Press - Saturday 10 December 1921 Page 11 THETFORD'S MEMORIAL. Unveiling Ceremony by Major-Gen. Sir Chas. Townshend. The Borough's Proud Record.

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-53385

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