War Memorial Obelisk and Tablet in Urmston Jewish Cemetery

The tall stone First World War memorial is located within the grounds of Urmston Jewish Cemetery, close to the Mortuary Chapel (not listed). It takes the form of an obelisk, square on plan, rising from a tapering pedestal that stands on a two-stage base and low step.

A crowned Star of David, encircled by laurels and swags, is carved in low relief at the foot of the obelisk to the front. The original inscriptions are incised into the faces of the memorial’s pedestal and base.These have been covered by white marble plaques that are stuck to each surface with mastic: the marble plaques replicate the original text.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front (south-west) face of the pedestal, in Hebrew, reads [in translation] THIS IS TO REMEMBER THE HEROES WHO SHED BLOOD AND WHO FELL FOR THEIR KINGS AND SAVED THE FLAGS IN HONOUR OF GOD AND WITH THEIR SWORDS AND IN HAPPINESS CLAIMED VICTORY OVER THE ENEMIES IN THE NAME OF THEIR FATHERS.

Below this on the upper stage of the base, in English, is THE KINGS MESSAGE, with below on the lower stage HE WHOSE LOSS YOU MOURN/ DIED IN THE NOBLEST OF CAUSES/ HIS COUNTRY WILL BE EVER GRATEFUL TO HIM/ FOR THE SACRIFICE HE HAS MADE/ FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

The three remaining faces of the pedestal record the commemorated First World War names. Each inscription begins FELL IN ACTION IN FRANCE with below the names given first in Hebrew and then English including rank, name, age and date of death.

The south-east facing panels of the base read THE CHIEF RABBI, and THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT/ THEIR NAMES LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ AND THE CONCREATION TELLETH THEIR PRAISE/ M.T.S.R.P. The north-east facing panels read PRESENTED BY JOHN LEVI ESQ/ OF SOUTHPORT and HIS SON 2ND LIEUT HARRY LEVI, SOLICITOR,/ ALSO IN PROFOUND SYMPATHY/ WITH OTHER FALLEN JEWISH IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The north-west facing panels read UNVEILED SEPT 1919 5680/ DESIGNED AND ARRANGED BY A.L. CARLIPH. These inscriptions are all in English.

The new (2004) white marble plaques, which are attached on top of the original inscribed lettering with mastic, record the historic information but are not of special interest in their own right. It is the original sandstone structure that has special interest.

The obelisk stands in a small square enclosure defined by a low stone kerb and ornamental railing. To the south-east side of the enclosure the Second World War plaque, in granite and inscribed with a small Star of David, reads WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ “PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS.”/ M.T.S.R.I.P. The Second World War names are recorded first in Hebrew and then English, including rank, name, age, and how and when they died.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 30 January 2017.