Withernsea Old War Memorial

First World War memorial, unveiled on 16 April 1921.

MATERIALS: limestone memorial with Branley Fall stone base. Bronze plaques set within timber frames.

DESCRIPTION: Withernsea Old War Memorial is located in the Italian Gardens on Queen Street in Withernsea. It consists of a Latin cross with recessed front and rear faces bearing emblems in relief. The cross is set upon a tapering octagonal shaft which rests on the apex of a square moulded plinth set on a three-stepped base.

The front and rear of the plinth are recessed and contain bronze plaques framed with hardwood dedicated to those killed in the First World War. The side face recesses are each dressed with a wreath carved in relief.

The plaque on the front face of the plinth is inscribed: OUR GLORIOUS DEAD. Underneath in four columns are inscribed the names of 63 men killed in the First World War.

The plaque on the rear face of the plinth bears the inscription: TO THE UNDYING MEMORY OF/ THOSE SIXTY-THREE BRAVE MEN OF WITHERNSEA/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ AND OF THEIR COMRADES FROM THIS TOWNSHIP/ WHO IN OFFERING AN EQUAL SERVICE/ WERE NOT CALLED TO AN EQUAL SACRIFICE/ AUGUST 1920.

Inserted centrally into the top two steps is an inclined stone support onto which is mounted a bronze plaque dedicated to those killed in the Second World War which reads: TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD/ IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THOSE FROM THIS TOWN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND/ IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.