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Memorial details

Memorial type
Cross
District
North Hertfordshire
Town
Hitchin
County
Hertfordshire
Country
England
Commemoration
Second World War (1939-1945), First World War (1914-1918), Second World War - civilians, VC or GC Recipients
Ceremony
  • Dedicated
    Date: 6th August 1922
    Attended by: Local Clergy/Dignitaries
  • Unveiled
    Date: 6th August 1922
    Attended by: VISCOUNT HAMPDEN
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
1126

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Current location

St Marys Church
Churchyard Walk
Hitchin
North Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
SG5 1HR
England

OS Grid Ref: TL 18465 29100
Denomination: Church of England

View location on Google Maps
Description
Octagonal base surmounted by octagonal plinth, tapering shaft and wheel cross. Inscription panels are mounted on the sides of the plinth. Behind the cross is a curved wall with 11 panels of names mounted on it. The front of the memorial is enclosed by a low metal railing fence with a gate in the centre.
Inscription
Cross, front face: TO THE / UNCONQUERED / 1914 DEAD 1919 / WE WILL REMEMBER THEM/ 1939-1945 IN LOYAL MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN / OF HITCHIN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY AND IN WHOSE HONOUR / THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE RECORDING THEIR NAMES WAS DEDICATED / AND IS KEPT IN THE PARISH CHURCH Cross, 3 o'clock face: (Names)/ AND ALL OTHER SERVICEMENT/ KILLED IN ACTION Cross, other faces: (Names) Wall: (Names)
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Abbiss, A J
Adcock, K W
Albon, W
Albone, A H
Allison, A
Anderson, F
Appleby, A H
Ayto, W H
Baker, F
Baker, W
See details for all 357 names
Commemorations
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 157
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 157
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Initial and surname
    Order of information: Surname
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 356
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 356
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname,decorations
    Order of information: Surname
  • Second World War - civilians
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Initials of forenames and surname
    Order of information: Undefined
  • VC or GC Recipients
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Cross
    Measurements: depth 5000MM, height 5000MM, width 8000MM
    Materials: Stone
Listing information
  • Hitchin 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
History
c 1988: Stonework was cleaned Date unknown: A plaque with additional inscription for WW2 was removed from the front face of the plinth and placed at the front face of the base of the cross. A new dedicatory inscription was inscribed on the stone.
Costs

Comments: Cross costs £650 and architects fees were £80
Memorial: £1675 5s 10d

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: YES FOR SWW ONLY
Sponsorship
Public
Details: N
Responsibility
North Hertfordshire District Council
Reference
  • Roll of Honour www.roll-of-honour.com/Hertfordshire/Hitchin.html
  • Local Publication/Booklet 310-312 Lawson-Thompson scrapbook. (Location unknown)
  • Photos of the memorial
  • Herts Express 7 / 22 January 1922; 18 June 1921; 6 / 19 August 1922
  • Local Publication/Booklet 15 Douglas, P and Humphries, P 'Discovering HItchin' Egon Publishers Ltd, (1995)
  • Local Publication/Booklet 31 / Vol 22 No 1 'The Weaver'
  • Carter Postcard Collection

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-1126

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