GREAT YARMOUTH WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed Information
Compiled and Copyright © Martin Edwards 2009

Two memorials can be found in St George's Park, Great Yarmouth. The first, to World War 1, takes the form of a very tall, wide, obelisk on a broad octagonal plinth that supports twenty-three name panels. On each face of the obelisk is a large cross of sacrifice in high relief and bronze wreaths on each face of the capstone. The whole stands on a five stepped base. On one face of the memorial can ne found the inscription "Damaged by WW2 bombing. This damage is a memorial in its own right and will not be repaired." The memorial was unveiled by H.R.H. Prince Henry 7th January 1922 and dedicated by the Bishop of Norwich; it cost £4,000 to erect raised by public subscription. The architect was Major F R B ioward and the builder was Mr J E Pestell. There are 1,472 names listed on the memorial.

The second memorial, to World War 2, takes the form of a wall with arms extending from each end that form a hollow, half square, with a large pointed central pillar that bears the dedication, and then smaller pillars at each corner. The names of the fallen are to be found on 22 panels. There are small swords of sacrifice on the end of each arm. abd a wreath above the central dedication plaque. This memorial contains two separate lists of names, those from the services who gave their lives and those civilians killed in raids on Yarmouth. The memorial was decicated by the Bishop of Norwich 12th November 1949. There are 619 service personnel listed and 162 civilians.

The names from both memorials have still as yet to be transcribed - offers please.

From old postcards

World War 1 memorial

1914 - 1918
THEY GAVE THEIR ALL
THIS MEMORIAL
ERECTED BY PUBLIC
SUBSCRIPTION WAS
UNVEILED BY
HRH THE PRINCE
HENRY
AND DEDICATED BY
THE LORD BISHOP
OF NORWICH ON THE
7TH JANUARY 1922
TO PERPETUATE THE
MEMORY OF THE MEN
OF THIS BOROUGH WHO
LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES
FOR KING & COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT WAR
FOR GOD KING AND RIGHT
THEY HEARD THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL
THESE NOBLY PLAYED THEIR PART

World War 1 memorial

COUNTY BOROUGH OF
GREAT YARMOUTH
1939 - 1945
THIS MEMORIAL
IS ERECTED IN PROUD
REMEMBRANCE OF THE
MEN WOMEN & CHILDREN
OF THIS BOROUGH
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
AS THE RESULT OF
ENEMY ACTION
AT HOME & ABROAD
IN THE WORLD WAR
THIS MEMORIAL WAS UNVEILED BY
HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF GREAT YARMOUTH
ALDERMAN F KRUBER AND DEDICATED BY
THE RT.REVEREND THE LORD BISHOP OF NORWICH
ON THE 12 NOVEMBER 1949
CIVILANS
The names of the civilians are listed on five panels
SERVICES
The names of the service personnel are listed on seventeen panels

Last updated 16 March, 2009