Heckmondwike War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1922, based on the 1918 Cross of Sacrifice by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Imperial War Graves Commission.

MATERIALS: Scottish granite, bronze sword, leaded lettering.

DESCRIPTION: a tall cross with a sword mounted on its south-east face overlooking the entrance to the park. The cross is set on a large octagonal plinth that carries the original inscription, this plinth being set on a three-stage base, the lowest carrying inscriptions for the Second World War, the upper one to the Korean War. The memorial is enclosed by a low ironwork fence set on a stone kerb.

INSCRIPTIONS: To the south-east face of the main plinth: ‘1914 1919 / To the glory / of God / and in honoured / memory of the men / of Heckmondwike / who gave their / lives that others / might live in freedom. / Let those who come after / see to it that their names / are not forgotten.’ The other seven faces of the plinth carry the names of 150 service men listed alphabetically. To the upper stage of the base: ‘Korea 1950-1953’ with the names of 8 service men. To the bottom stage of the base: ‘1939 1945 / To the glory of God / and in proud remembrance of / the men of Heckmondwike who paid the / supreme sacrifice / their names liveth for evermore.’ the other seven faces carrying the names of 59 service men.