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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Calderbridge as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Calderbridge War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Bridget, A595, Calderbridge, Cumbria. It is prominently situated south of the church entrance, facing the main road junction in the heart of the hamlet. It comprises a red sandstone wheel-head Celtic cross with stylised relief-carved strap- and ball-work to the cross and shaft, with a dedication in relief-carved lettering to the base of the shaft front, surmounting a tapering four-sided plinth with relief-carved inscriptions, on a narrow two-stepped square base.
The memorial was designed and made by Mr Smith, monumental mason of Whitehaven, who also made the war memorial for Beckermet Cemetery in the same area (formerly two halves of the same parish). The memorial was made of red sandstone to match the red sandstone used in the church. It was unveiled on 5 September 1920 by Mrs Rymer, and dedicated by the Vicar.
The faculty for the addition of Second World War names was granted in 1948.
The inscription reads:
For their country in the great European war 1914-1919
C.Brown
A.J.Steele
W.Dodgson
W.H.Taylor
S.Moffat
J.W.Sibson
W.L.Mandle
T.Jackson
T.Tyson
M.Gunson
T.Hodgson
R.Harrington
In Memory of those who lost their lives in the second world war 1939-1945
D.McEvoy
S.Spedding
K.Smith
J.Satterthwaite
I.Tyson
R.Tyson
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Sources
Website: Historic England
Do you know any information on our war heros? Please leave your comments below or email them along with any photos to Community@calderbridgeandponsonby.co.uk.
We were told, probably by Atkinsons next door when we bought the house from Tom, that Cambrai House that it was so named because 2 villagers died in Battle of Cambrai WW1. We have never been able to find anything out about this but the oddity of the name being here would seem to lend support to the idea.
Does anyone in village know anything about this?
Battle of cambrai took place in 1917.allied losses were about 70,000 and German about 55000.it was really the first battle involving tanks. The Royal Tank Regiment commenerate this battle every year as it is included on the regimental battle honours.