Summary
First World War memorial, 1921.
Reasons for Designation
Keresley War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Thomas, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Degree of survival: unusually the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent;
* Group value: with the church of St Thomas (Grade II).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. One such memorial was raised at St Thomas’ church, Keresley, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial cross, dedicated to the 22 men of Kersley and Coundon who lost their lives in the First World War, was unveiled by Lieutenant-General Sir John Keir in August 1921.
Details
Keresley War Memorial stands in the churchyard of the church of St Thomas (Grade II), to the west of the church tower and overlooking the main road. It comprises a tall, rough-hewn, grey granite Celtic cross rising from a tapering plinth, square on plan, standing on a three-stepped base. The front face of the cross bears a reversed sword carved in low relief.
The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The inscription on the rear face of the plinth reads THESE DIED IN WAR THAT WE AT PEACE MIGHT LIVE,/ THESE GAVE THEIR BEST, SO WE OUR BEST SHOULD GIVE,/ NOT FOR THEMSELVES - FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM, RIGHT,/ THEY FOUGHT, AND BID US FORWARD TO THE FIGHT. The commemorated names are inscribed to either side of the plinth.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 25 July 2017.
