Moira War Memorial

This is a First World War memorial, unveiled in 1922, with later additions to remember those who died in the Second World War. The memorial is prominently situated facing Bath Lane and is carved from sandstone. It consists of a two-stepped square base, topped by a pedestal supporting an obelisk with a moulded base and square section. Raised panels with incised inscriptions are set into each side of the dado, and there are angled, sloped panels to the front of the steps. A brass plaque has been added to the riser of the bottom step, recording the memorial’s rededication. The obelisk’s shaft is inscribed ‘1914 – 1918’.

The principal inscription, facing north-east, is dedicated to the officers and men of the Moira Colliery Company Ltd., the Donisthorpe Colliery Company Ltd., and the Donington Sanitary Pipe & Fire Brick Company Ltd., who died in the Great War. It notes that the monument was erected by their employers, Moira Collieries, and includes a list of names. Other inscriptions on the south-east, rear (south-west), and north-east faces, also accompanied by lists of names, further commemorate losses from Church-Gresley Colliery and Donisthorpe Colliery.

Sloped stone plaques on the top and bottom steps of the base remember those who died in the First World War (1914-1919) and Second World War (1939 – 1945), respectively, each quoting “Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.” The brass plaque on the bottom step records that the memorial was originally erected by the Moira Coal Company and has since passed into the ownership of the Ashby Wolds Town Council, leading to its upgrade and rededication as a war memorial for the village of Moira on 11th November 2000.