NHER 64749 (Structure record) - World War One memorial with World War Two additions, Watton

World War One Memorial with World War Two Additions
Location: Approximately 120m south of Queen's Hall, Memorial Way, Junction of Thetford Road and Merton Road, Watton.
Description:
The memorial is constructed from stone, in the form of a freestanding quadrate cross. It is used to commemorate thirty members of the local community who died in World War One, and latterly fifteen local men, and one woman who died in World War Two. It is described as “on a tapering pedestal at the top of a tall pylon, square on plan and slightly tapering. The pylon stands on a deep base, raised on two shallow steps”. The whole is further described as enclosed by a “spiked chain carried by eight urn-shaped ornamental metal posts, each post decorated with wreaths cast in low relief to each side”, and a square kerb (S1). There is an inscription for the former World War One dedication in incised lettering (Inscription A; S4), displayed to the front face of the pylon beneath a cast bronze wreath. With thirty associated names including rank to the remaining sides. The latter World War Two dedication is to a cast metal plaque on the east face, along with sixteen associated names including rank and service (Inscription C; S4). The memorial was relocated from the west end of Church Walk to where it currently resides at the junction of Thetford Road and Merton Road, Watton.
Proposed: June 1919 (by a war memorial committee founded in November 1918).
Constructed/Sculpted By: Unknown.
Unveiled: 1920.
Inscription A: IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ WATTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 + 1919/ FOR THE SACRED CAUSE/ OF RIGHT AND FREEDOM/ THIS MONUMENT/ HAS BEEN ERECTED BY/ THEIR FELLOW TOWNSMEN/ TO COMMEMORATE THEIR/ GLORIOUS SELF-SACRIFICE/ FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH.
Inscription B: 1939 1945/ THE FOLLOWING GAVE THEIR LIVES/ (17 NAMES)/ AND SO THEY PASSED OVER AND ALL/ THE TRUMPETS SOUNDED FOR THEM ON/ THE OTHER SIDE.
Information from Listing Description (S1) and Historic England Advice Report (S2).
See War Memorials On-line (S4) for images, the War Memorials Register (S5) and History of Watton (S6) for images, names and additional details; 1919 newspaper article (S7), 1920 newspaper article (S8), and 1921 newspaper articles (S9) and (S10).
P. Beers (HES), 13 October 2021.

August 2018. Listed. Grade II.
See Listing Description (S1), Advice Report (S2) and Consultation Report (S3) for details.
See also War Memorials On-line (S4) and War Memorials Register (S5).
P. Beers (HES), 13 October 2021.