Memorial details

Memorial type
Cross
District
Bury
Town
Bury
County
Greater Manchester
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 11 Nov 1924
    Attended by: Mrs Peachment (Mother of the town's VC), Earl of Derby.
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
2137

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Current location

St Mary's Churchyard
The Rock
Bury
Bury
Greater Manchester
BL9 0BW
England

OS Grid Ref: SD 80409 10842
Denomination: Church of England

View location on Google Maps
Description
Cornish granite Cross of Sacrifice on a stepped octagonal plinth, with curving flanking walls bearing cast bronze reliefs. The dedication is incised on the three front faces of the base, with the years of WW2 incised on the upper step, above a bronze laurel wreath, below which are incised the years of WW1. The walls terminate in columns which carry the town and County arms and Latin inscriptions on their ends. The subjects of the reliefs are divided between the military on the left panel, and the civilian on the right panel. Both are unusual in depicting the varied roles of women in wartime - as nurse to the military, and in various roles - on the land, in munitions factories, and in the home - as civilians. Children are also prominent among the civilians. There are no names on the memorial. The town's War Memorial was to be the funding of a new Children's Ward attached to the Infirmary (see WMR 105176), however, it was later decided that this Memorial should also be erected in the town centre.
Inscription
1939/ 1945/ To the Memory of the Men/ of Bury who Gave their/ Lives in the Great War/ 1914/ 1918 On the end of the pillars on the flanking walls: Pro Rege (For King)/ Pro Patria (For Country)
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: Undefined
    Died: Undefined
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: Undefined
    Died: Undefined
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Cross
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
Listing information
  • Bury 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
Sponsorship
Private
Details: The original scheme for a Memorial for the town was the addition of a Children's Ward to the town's Infirmary, for which £50,000 was collected by public subscription. There was, however, still a movement to have a Cenotaph memorial in the town centre. After an anonymous donation of £1000 was made specifically for this, it was agreed that such a memorial be erected. (ref: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1444845).
Responsibility
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Reference
  • Departments WM 823, WM 2485
  • 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.

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© WMR-2137

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