Isle Of Wight War Memorials Recognised Ahead Of Armistice Day

Seven war memorials have received listed status ahead of Armistice Day tomorrow (Wednesday).

The recently listed memorials are among tens of thousands that were erected across England in memory of the many people who lost their lives in both World Wars, never to return home.

In place of graves, these memorials became focal points for local communities to mourn and honour their dead. Nationally, The Cenotaph in Whitehall is seen as the country’s main memorial and this year marks the centenary of its erection.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the public have been asked to mark Armistice Day at home, making the listings an important part of national commemorations.

Heritage Minister, Nigel Huddleston, said: 

"Each year on Remembrance Sunday we come together as a nation in silence to remember and give thanks to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

"In our towns, cities and villages, memorials stand to these brave men and women.  I am very pleased that this year, as we mark the centenary of the Cenotaph itself, we have protected 132 memorials so that future generations can learn about those who gave so much to our country."

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: 

“Our War Memorials across the country remind us of the huge sacrifices made by generations in the conflicts of the last century, and provide communities with a focal point to express their gratitude and loss. We are proud to continue our work in recognising and protecting these important public monuments so future generations can continue to honour and remember the fallen.”

East Cowes Air Raid Protection Memorial

This memorial was erected in the churchyard of the St James Church in East Cowes to commemorate the loss of four members of the local Air Raid Precautions (ARP) service people who died while on duty during the Second World War – Senior Warden Edward Kersey (46), Warden Montague B B Brinton (37), Warden William M Cowburn (37), and Mrs Alice F Hann of the Women's Voluntary Services (63). It was commissioned by their fellow members of the East Cowes Civil Defence Warden and Ambulance Service. The Isle of Wight was subject to frequent German air raids during the Second World War. Several bombs fell on the area of Cowes and East Cowes, with some of the worst raids occurring on 4 and 5 May 1942, in which two of the East Cowes Civil-Defence service people named on this memorial died. The base of the cross memorial is carved to represent an ARP wardens helmet, lamp and water bottle amongst rubble.

Totland Bay War Memorial

The memorial takes the form of a short obelisk on a square pedestal with a molded cap, recessed panels and chamfered plinth, set on a three-stepped base. The north panel of the pedestal is inscribed ‘1914-1919/ REMEMBER/ THOSE WHO DIED/ FOR US’ with the names inscribed on the remaining faces. The inscription ‘1939-1945’ has been added below the recessed north-facing panel, with 15 names on the chamfer and foot of the pedestal. A further name has been added below the list of names at a later stage. The memorial, which is enclosed by cast-iron bar railings, stands on paving set within a grassed area. A path leads from the memorial to the pavement and four dwarf stone bollards stand to the front of the memorial at the edge of the grassed area.

Binstead War Memorial

The war memorial stands at the corner of Church Road and Binstead Hill. It comprises a tall elongated Latin stone cross with a tapering octagonal shaft and crossarm. A longsword is carved in raised relief on the cross; the crossguard of the sword matching where the cross’ shaft and crossarm meet. The shaft stands on an octagonal plinth, itself resting on a three-stepped octagonal base. On the front of the plinth is inscribed: IN/ MEMORY OF/ THOSE OF BINSTEAD/ WHO MADE/ THE GREAT SACRIFICE/ 1914-1919/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE” while the rear face reads IN/ UNDYING MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO MADE THE/ SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945. The other sides carry the names of those that lost their lives in the conflicts.

Lake War Memorial

The war memorial stands at the junction of Lake Hill and The Fairway. It comprises a rough-hewn granite wheel cross with a tapering shaft, set upon a tapering plinth and a square base. A longsword is carved in raised relief on the cross; the crossguard of the sword matching where the cross’ shaft and crossarm meet. The south face of the plinth bears the inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ WHO GIVETH US THE VICTORY/ AND IN MEMORY OF OUR HEROIC DEAD/ (NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. The west face reads: THE PEOPLE OF LAKE/ HAVE ERECTED THIS MEMORIAL/ IN HONOUR OF THE/ 210 LAKE MEN WHO SERVED/ THEIR COUNTRY BY LAND/ SEA AND AIR/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 -1920/ 1939 – 1945 while the east face is inscribed: O RISEN LORD/ O SHEPHERD OF OUR DEAD/ WHOSE CROSS HAS BOUGHT THEM/ AND WHO STAFF HAS LED/ IN GLORIOUS HOPE THEIR PROUD/ AND SORROWING LAND/ COMMITS HER CHILDREN/ TO THY GRACIOUS HAND/ J.S. ARKWRIGHT. On the north face of the plinth is a granite tablet which reads: TO COMMEMORATE/ THE BRAVE MEN OF LAKE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ DURING ACTIVE SERVICE IN/ WORLD WAR II 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ MALAYA 1948 – 1960/ (NAME)/ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Brighstone War Memorial

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with added inscription and names from the Second World War; relocated from within the churchyard to its current location by the late 1970s.

MATERIALS: granite cross with metal lettering. DESCRIPTION: a Latin cross on a tapered plinth. The bottom of the shaft bears the lettering 1914 -1918 and the face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF BRIGHSTONE/ MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR with the names below. The left hand side of the base is inscribed ALSO OF THOSE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR OF/ 1935 -1945 with names below.

War memorial within the churchyard of Parish Church of St Lawrence

The memorial takes the form of a wheel cross with floriated terminals on a sharply tapered plinth and square base on a rubble mound. Inscribed on the arms of the cross is LEST WE FORGET and at the base of the shaft IN/ HONOURED/ MEMORY/ OF. The front face of the plinth reads (NAMES)/ WHO WENT FROM THE UNDERCLIFF AND/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED BY THE RESIDENTS OF/ ST LAWRENCE IN DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE BRAVE/ MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN AND WITH SINCERE SYMPATHY/ WITH THOSE WHO ARE LEFT TO MOURN THEIR LOSS. The front face of the base of the cross bears the inscription THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. The side of the plinth reads ALSO IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE MEN OF/ ST LAWRENCE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ AND IN/ MALAYA 1948/ (NAME).

Shanklin War Memorial

First World War Memorial erected 1920 to the designs of E C Cooper of Shanklin, with Second World War additions.

Portland stone with ragstone walls.

The memorial takes the form of a Latin cross with a sword of sacrifice carved in relief on the principal face which rises from a corniced pedestal with recessed panels on a two-stepped base. The south face of the pedestal bears the inscription TO THE/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE/ MEN OF SHANKLIN/ WHO FELL IN THE WARS/ 1914-18 – 1939-45. The names of the fallen from the First World Wars are recorded on the remaining faces. Further names are inscribed on a stone block which has been affixed to the foot of the north face of the pedestal.

The memorial stands within its own enclosed area which has been laid with crazy paving and is bordered by shrubbery. To the front of the memorial it is bordered by a capped ragstone wall with a set of later metal gates providing access to the memorial. These gates bear the initials 'SH' and 'RH' in memory of two brothers who fought in the Second World War. A curved, stone memorial wall commemorating the Second World War (added 1995) is positioned behind the cross.