Cornholme War Memorial

The memorial stands in the burial ground of Vale Baptist Church, facing the main road to the north and separated from the pavement by the burial ground’s railings. The tall monument consists of a statue of an Angel of Peace in white marble, with arms outstretched. That stands on plinth of Yorkshire sandstone, which is raised on a square, three-stepped, base. The base stands on a broader, square step within a small, kerbed, pavement.

On the front face of the plinth the principle inscription reads ERECTED/ BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ IN REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE MEN/ OF CORNHOLME WARD/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE CAUSE OF/ FREEDOM/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. Around the top step of the base a series of inscriptions read “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN, AND IN/ THE MORNING, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.”, “MAY THEIR REWARD BE AS GREAT/ AS THEIR SACRIFICE” and “TO LIVE IN HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND,/ IS NOT TO DIE”.

The names of 131 men who fell during the First World War are commemorated on the remaining three faces of the plinth. The legend 1939 – 1945 is carved into the front face of the middle step of the base. The names of 27 men who died during the Second World War are commemorated on the remaining faces of the middle step. All inscriptions are incised and painted black.

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, 31 January 2017.