Memorial details

Memorial type
Board / Plaque / Tablet
District
South Kesteven
Town
Grantham
County
Lincolnshire
Country
England
Commemoration
Military Service, 18th Century Conflict (1700-1799)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
59749

Support IWM

Donate with Just Giving

Any gift we receive makes a vital contribution to our ongoing work, from conserving our collection to supporting our public programme.

Make a Donation
Current location

South wall of nave.
St Wulframs Church
Church Street
Grantham
South Kesteven
Lincolnshire
NG31 6RR
England

OS Grid Ref: SK 914 361
Denomination: Church of England

View location on Google Maps
Description
Highly elaborate wall tablet in the form of a sarcophagus mounted onto an obelisk shaped backboard. Below the backboard is a flat plinth. Dedicatory inscription is in black lettering on the face of the sarcophagus and in white lettering at the base of the backboard. Naval items including sails, ropes, cannons and flags are carved in relief on the top of the sarcophagus with a bust of Wiliam Cust placed above them. Coat of arms carved in relief at the top of the backboard. Sailing ship under full sail is carved in bas relief on the front of plinth with decorative flower panels each side.
Inscription
To the memory of William Cust Esq a brave and judicious sea officer/ who after having signalized himself in a series of dangerous and successful enterprises/ was unfortunately killed by a cannon ball Mar 8 1747./ While commander of a small sloop he was remarkably active in destroying the enemy's/ privateers and after chasing into Cherbourgh (sic) a French ship of superior force he cut out/ from that harbour under a continual fire from the batteries. For this action he was advanced/ to the command of the Boston Man of War stationed in New England but before/ he could take posession of that ship was engaged at the request of Admiral Knowles/ in the expedition against Port Louis on board the Elizabeth which began the attack. He/ behaved with uncommon presence of mind in the heat of battle where his family/ and country were at once deprived of a great honour and ornament to both./ He was in every relation of private life most amiable,/ to all that concerned his country truly great/ and completed his course of life and glory/ in the 28th year of his age./ He was the second son of Sir Richard Cust Baronet by Anne Brownlowe/ Sister to the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Tyrconnel/ who places this as a testimony/ of his great affection for his nephew/ and concern for so public a loss. On plinth: "Reader thy life how blest forever it be is but a voyage on a dangerous sea. Woudst thou securely make the port of bliss see this brave youth. Be thy great aim like him to live with general love by virtues laws or die with honour in thy country's cause' upon it" (Line breaks unknown)
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • Military Service
    Total names on memorial: Undefined
    Served and returned: Undefined
    Died: Undefined
    Exact count: no
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • 18th Century Conflict (1700-1799)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname,year died,regiment,place of death,forename,manner of death,age of death,relationships,additional
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Tablet
    Measurements: height 5000mm, width 2450mm
    Materials: Stone
Listing information
  • CHURCH OF ST WULFRAM
  • Grade I
  • 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

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-59749

For queries, please contact [email protected].