War Memorial Obelisk and Tablet in Urmston Jewish Cemetery

The memorial is a First World War obelisk situated within Urmston Jewish Cemetery, near the Mortuary Chapel. The tall stone structure takes the form of a square obelisk, rising from a tapering pedestal which stands on a two-stage base and a low step. A crowned Star of David, encircled by laurels and swags, is carved in low relief at the base of the obelisk on the front face. The original inscriptions are incised into the faces of the memorial’s pedestal and base; these have been covered by white marble plaques attached with mastic that replicate the original text.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front (south-west) face of the pedestal, written in Hebrew, translates as “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, is the inscription "THE KINGS MESSAGE," followed by "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 remaining faces of the pedestal record the names of those commemorated in the First World War. Each inscription begins "FELL IN ACTION IN FRANCE," followed by 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.” All inscriptions on these panels are in English. The white marble plaques, added in 2004 and covering the original sandstone inscriptions, record the historic information but are not considered to be of special interest themselves; the original sandstone structure retains the group value.

The memorial stands within a small square enclosure defined by a low stone kerb and ornamental railing. On the south-east side of the enclosure is a Second World War plaque, made from granite and inscribed with a small Star of David, that 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 records are recorded first in Hebrew and then English, including rank, name, age, and the manner and date of death.