Bury War Memorial

The Bury War Memorial is a First World War memorial erected in 1924 by William Kirkpatrick Ltd, featuring two bronze plaques created by Hermon Cawthra. It is made of carved granite and includes bronze plaques and a sword.

The memorial is positioned facing outward from the corner of the parish church of St Mary the Virgin, at the junction of Market Place and The Rock. It consists of a Cornish granite Cross of Sacrifice, based on a design by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission. The cross stands on an octagonal base, flanked by curving walls that display bronze reliefs by Joseph Hermon Cawthra.

On the pedestal beneath a bronze wreath, the main inscription reads: "TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF BURY WHO GAVE THEIR / LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 / 1918." A later inscription for the Second World War, "1939 / 1945," has been added above the original, and the memorial does not list any names.

The ends of the curving flanking walls feature carved shields and brief inscriptions. The left wall displays the shield of Bury along with the words "PRO REGE," while the right wall shows the county shield and the words "PRO PATRIA."

The bronze panel on the left, created by Cawthra, illustrates military scenes with figures moving from right to left, including members of the three armed forces, a nurse, and a wounded soldier on a stretcher. The right panel depicts life on the Home Front, also with figures moving from right to left, showcasing individuals in reserved occupations such as coal mining, engineering, and munitions, as well as civilians, including children. These detailed reliefs reflect a choice by the artist to present a realistic and somber portrayal rather than a heroic or triumphalist one. Both panels are signed "H. Cawthra R.S.S. Scul."