CREDITON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and copyright © Paula & Dave Kennington 2006

The memorial is located on Crediton High Street (A377) and takes the form of an open sided shelter with a tiled roof with a tiled steeple; the central stone is also octagonal and contains the names of those ho ided on the 8 faces the lower set of names cover World War 1 and the upper set World War 2. There are 136 names for the First World War and 40 for the Second World War, and one for Aden, all carved into stone tablets. The unveiling ceremony took place on 16 May 1923.

Extract from Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Thursday 17 May 1923 - page 3:

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILING CEREMONY.

The war memorial erected at Crediton to the memory of those who fail in the war unveiled yesterday in the presence of a great concourse of people by Field-Marshal Sir William R. Robertson, Bart., G.C.8., G.CM.G, K.C.V.0., D.S.O. It takes the form, as has been already fully stated in the “Gazette,” of an oak shelter, with stone centre-piece and oak shingle roof. The centre-piece is in reality a cenotaph with the names of the fallen carved in panels of Portland stone. Eight massive oak pillars support the roof, which is finished with a simple iron cross. The ground around the memorial is being prettily laid out, and will subsequently have seats. The monument beans the inscription:—“Crediton town and hamlets war memorial. For they died, 1915." And names of the 137 men are recorded. In addition, a beautifully designed oak tablet has been erected in the parish church bearing the names of the fallen. The design for this was Mr. W. D. Caroe, M.A., architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. People flocked into the town yesterday from the surrounding neighbourhood by motor, cycle, train, and on foot, and long before the hour fixed for the short service in the parish church that building was filled. Mr. C. G. Church was at the organ, and played suitable music. The Vicar (Preb. W. M. Smith-Dorrien) was unable, unfortunately, owing to ill-health, take part in the proceedings, much to his and the townspeople's regret and his place was taken by the Rev. Bastow (senior curate), who conducted the service, the Rev. P. J. Sykes (junior curate) being also present in addition to the Bishop of Crediton. At 2.30 the Field-Marshal arrived from Shobrooke Park in company with Sir John Shelley, Bart., and Lady Shelley and the Right Hon. Geo. Lambert, M.P. and entered the church. Others present included Sir Wm. and Lady Ferguson-Davie, Sir Laughland and Lady Mackinnon. General Sir Arthur Gay, Sir James and Lady Owen, the Mayor and Mayoress of Barnstaple, the Mayors of Bideford, Torrington, and Southmolton, representatives of the V.A.D. Devon 56 (under Assistant Commandant Hugo) and Devon 31 (Mr. Stanley Clarke), the Boy Scouts (Sgt. Wollacott), ex-Service men (Lieut.-Col. H. M. Brake), pupils of the High School, Grammar School, and Hayward's School. The band of the Depot Devon Regt. was also present, while a guard of honour was provided by a detachment from the same regiment.

AT THE CHURCH.

The proceedings in church were of an impressive character. After the entry of the choir the Bishop and clergy proceeded to the tablet, where the opening prayer was uttered by the Rev. Fraser Bastow. Following the Lord's Prayer.

Lieut.-Col. Montague, on behalf the War Memorial Committee, asked the Governors of the church to accept the tablet as a memorial of those who had sacrificed their lives for the good their fellows—the greatest sacrifice that a man could be called upon to make. That was not the occasion to make a speech, and he would content himself by asking the Church Governors to accept the tablet as part of the memorial.

Mr R Browne, as Warden of the Governors, formally accepted the tablet and said it would be preserved among the most valuable records in the church. The latter was rich in memorials, one of which they saw in front them—that otf Sir Redvers Buller, the man who was the soldiers' friend. "If," he said, “Sir Redvers were alive to-day, he would be the first to give honour to these brave men who sacrificed their lives, and, too, would think it an honour that his memory was associated in that old parish church with those who so nobly died for their country."

The Bishop of Crediton then dedicated the tablet according to the following formula:-— "In the faith of Jesus Christ we dedicate this tablet to the honour and glory of God and in memory of the men of this parish whose names are inscribed thereon and who gave their lives for their country in this Great War, in the name the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” The Bishop having offered appropriate prayers, the hymn "O valiant hearts” was feelingly sung.

Dr. Trefusis, addressing the congregation as "Brethren and beloved," said they were gathered that afternoon that they might ever bear in remembrance the young men who went from the parish at the call of duty and with willing hearts face a foe that was proud and cruel. They sacrificed all that they loved and cared for at the call of duty, and that was itself a Christian act. It meant an act of self-sacrifice. They went forth, then, not knowing what was to become of them in the Great War, but in faith and trust that the prayers of their country would go with them, and that the sympathy of every heart would be beside in them the battlefield.

These men went to skies that knit their hearts aright.
To fields that bred them brave
These saviours come not home to-night—
Themselves they could not save.

So they were there to honour and to sympathise with the parents of the young men in their sacrifices. The Bishop dwelt upon the virtue of self-sacrifice, and said that the men who went forth knew, perhaps not much of their religion and their God, out. He was merciful and taught them His love even in the distant fields of battle. "But," said his Lordship, “great as was their sacrifice, remember that those who have returned and are with us to-day have a still harder task before them than those who gave their lives in full sacrifice. You, too, have to continue the battle against wrong and sin, impurity and wickedness on every side. It requires discipline, it, requires encouragement from all around you, to go forward in your way of life to uphold the standard of the cross— that standard which is the great strength of our national life." It was, the Bishop concluded, for them to gain the victory over what was low and wrong and to lead their comrades forward in the truth and in the beauty godliness; to live the joyous, true life of a real Christian.

Through all the depths pain and loss
Sinks the plummet the Cross
But never yet abyss was found
Deeper than the Cross can sound.

That cross, he said, bore bravely and manfully by every true Christian was the power to make this world a better and happier world for them to live in. But it was not this world only on which their minds were fastened that day; they were thinking of the new world beyond, "for," said his Lordship, "we are one with them and they with us. So let me you this text for your thoughts to-day 'Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown life.' "

TRIBUTE GEN. BULLER.

Immediately after the service the Field-Marshal led the procession to the memorial, situated about 200 yards from the church gates. Here the guard of honour was drawn up, flanked on one side by the ex- Service men. The Field-Marshal having inspected the guard, the hymn “O God, our help in ages past," announced by the Rev. S. E. Harper (representing the Crediton Free Church Council) was sung to the accompaniment of the band. Than followed the Lesson, Wisdom iii. read by the Rev. C. E. Jewell (minister of the Unitarian Church and Hon. Secretary of the war memorial).

Mr. Lambert, who presided, said it was a peculiar privilege for him to introduce a distinguished soldier: it would distasteful to him to praise him, and presumptuous on his part to so. “But," said Mr. Lambert, “I have the honour of introducing to you Field-Marshal Sir Wm. Robertson to unveil this war memorial—a memorial I pray to God, to the last war waged by this country.”

Sir William Robertson said when asked by their member to come to perform the ceremony he at once consented, although he got many invitations of that kind. But he wanted to come to Crediton for two reasons. In the first place to pay tribute to the work a great soldier, about whom he used to hear a great deal when he was a younger man —he referred to their distinguished townsman, the late Gen. Sir Redvers Buller, who served his country so well and so long, who brought great credit to the county and to the town which belonged, and who enjoyed quite remarkable degree —in adversity as well as in success—the esteem and the confidence of the men whom he commanded. (Hear, hear.) As some of them might know, the legend of his memorial in Winchester Cathedral was: “A great leader beloved by his men.'' The valuable reforms made in the Army by Sir Redvers Buller and Sir Evelyn Wood in the 80's and 90’s, under the guidance of Lord Wolseley, securely laid the foundations of the successes we were to win in the Great War. The second reason why he was glad to come was that it was both a privilege and a duty to join with them showing honour to those men who fell in the Great War. "And,” said the Field-Marshal, “none of us ought to forget, and will not forget, the larger number of men who went out and lived to come back, because they, too, did their duty, although not called upon to give their lives. Many have returned as you know, broken in health, maimed for life, probably blind; many of them, too, as you know, find a great difficulty in obtaining a livelihood for themselves and their families. Now, I shall not attempt to describe what this County of Devonshire did in the war—at the front and at home—women as well as men. It is well-known to you, but I will recall that besides the men who went into the Navy, the Air Force, and the different branches the Army, the county provided 16 battalions from the old regiment—the old 11th Foot regiment—a regiment with which I first served 35 years ago in the Punjaub, afterwards on the North-West Frontier, and later still in South Africa, where your regiment distinguished itself so greatly inside and outside of Ladysmith. And now you have a greater cause than ever to be proud of what your men did in the last war. Some of your battalions, one or more, served in every theatre of operation— France, Italy, Macedonia. Gallipoli, Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. They also shared in most of the great battles on the Western Front —Mons, Aisne, Ypres. Loos, Neuve Chapelle, the Marne, Somme, Cambria—and so I could go on—names familiar to you all.”

A GREAT SACRIFICE.

"And then there was that great sacrifice of the Second Battalion in May, 1918, when fighting with the French Army. You went into the battle on the 28th May, I think, and came out on the 31st with one officer, one sergeant, and 20 men. Now, in front of an achievement like that all one can do is to bow the head and keep silence. We have heard in the war, and since war, about what the troops of the Dominions did—Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and London—and they deserve every word said about them; but we may well have heard more of what we owe the county regiments for what they did—regiments which well upheld the reputation they had won and which for 250 years or more had been the mainstay of our national security, and which, moreover, this fine regiment of yours may fairly be said to be second to none. What you did in the war is well shown by that long list of names on the tablet that the Bishop has just dedicated. That list speaks with far greater eloquence about your men than I could do. You knew these men; you knew them from their infancy, many of you. You remember them going out—when they went and how they went—and I am sure there is some sad memories passing through the minds of many of you standing here to-day. But may suggest that this can also be a day of great pride and gratitude, at these men of yours—that they were forthcoming in the hour of the country's need. These men well upheld the regimental motto, which I daresay these men here know—the motto: 'Ever Faithful.’ These men were very faithful—they were faithful even unto death. And you have done well to put this memorial here. It will stand as an abiding testimony to the great sacrifice that they made, and we may hope, and I think we may believe, that the remembrance of their sacrifice and their patriotism and devotion to duty will live as long in the history of your town as the name of shall Crediton shall endure."

Sir William then unveiled the memorial, “which you have placed here to the memory of the men who in the Great War gave for their country and for their homes here in Crediton everything that men have to give—their lives." The guard honour meanwhile presented arms. Then, after a moment's pause, Sir William saluted the memorial and laid a palm wreath at its foot. Other tokens of love and affection were laid by relatives and friends and associations. These included handsome tributes from the Crediton District Constitutional Club in the form of the Union Jack, the Mayor and townspeople of Boulogne (laid by ex-Sergeant Gearing), the Rugby Football Club (Mr. W. J. Discombe, Secretary), and the inhabitants of Bideford (the Mayor Bideford, Mr. H. W. Huxham). Prayers were offered by the Rev. F. Bastow, after which the Bishop Crediton dedicated the memorial.

FREE OF DEBT.

Lieut.-Col. Montague, on behalf of the Memorial Committee, formally presented the memorial to the Urban Council to be safeguarded and kept by that authority for all time. He explained the history of the scheme from its inception, and said that, while there was difficultly in raising the large sum of money required, the Committee had, by sticking to it, succeeded, and he was proud to say that the monument was now practically free from debt. (Hear, hear.) For that thought a great debt of gratitude was due to the Rev. C. E. Jewell. Without his perseverance he thought the Committee would have given up. But the Committee had stood by him, with the result now observable. He thanked the architect (Mr. Bligh Bond) for the beautiful design, Mr. Faulkner, who carried it out, and the workmen, and emphasised the durability the memorial, remarking that for centuries to come posterity would be able to admire it and read the names of the mighty dead upon it. Col. Montague then formally handed over the deed of the site.

Mr. W. Adams, J.P. (Chairman of the Urban Council) accepted the memorial and the deeds relating to it. He was voicing the feeling of the town in expressing warm appreciation for the great effort the Committee had made in raising the memorial, and congratulated the members that not only had they completed the work, but that it was almost free of debt. The speaker thought that, notwithstanding all the disappointments that came as a result of war, there still existed in the minds of the people those fine ideals that led their young men to rise as one in 1914 to resist the foe and save the country. The principles of justice, freedom, and of love home and country he seemed to see existing in the minds of the people in the erection of memorials for the dead. He trusted that the present generation and the generations to come, when they passed the memorial, would not only remember the heroism and the sacrifice, and all that meant victory, but, at the time, would remember what those sacrifices had kept for them —-honour, home, country, freedom, and all the things that were dear to them as Englishmen. In accepting the memorial the Council also accepted the responsibility of taking care of it and in holding it in full gratitude and deep reverence and in remembrance of what the men had done for them. (Applause.).

BOULOGNE'S TRIBUTE.

Mr. Frank Clarke, M.A. (headmaster of Queen Elisabeth's Grammar School), moved a vote of thanks Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson, and said that, while he would not desire anything said in praise of him on that occasion, it would be ungracious were they not to offer him their sincere thanks for coming to perform the ceremony. The memorial was one that for beauty of design and grace would certainly be deemed worthy to rank with the best examples of mediaeval art. (Hear, hear.) It was fitting that, it should have been unveiled by one who was not only a distinguished public servant, but also a fellow worker of that great soldier whose memory was still so much cherished in that district. (Applause.)

Mr. Seymour Pope seconded the motion, which was carried, at the Chairman's suggestion, by the assembly bowing in solemn silence.

The Bishop pronounced the Blessing, after which a verse of the National Anthem was sung Then the "Last Post” was sounded, followed by the inspiring notes of the "Reveille."

Accompanying the tribute from Boulogne, which was laid on the memorial, was the following letter sent to Mr. T. W. Gearing from the Mayor of Boulogne, France:—

“I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th April. The Municipality of Boulogne gives itself the pleasure, which it feels only a duty, to deposit a wreath on the memorial monument erected in honour of the glorious soldiers of Crediton who died in defence of the right. By reason of the impossibility in which I and my colleagues of the municipal authority find ourselves of assisting at your patriotic ceremony, I shall be grateful if you will place a wreath, to which you can easily attach tie tricolour ribbon that 1 will send you by post, with the inscription, 'Homage from the town Bofoulogne-on-Sea.' Kindly accept, sir, the assurance of my very distinguished consideration." rung tester.

The bells were rung later in the afternoon.

Photograph Copyright © Paula & Dave Kennington 2006

Crediton Town and Hamlets War Memorial 1914-1919.
For us they died.

Last updated 15 August, 2024